Black Box

1/32 F/A-18A/C Hornet Exterior set

Product # CS32012 for Academy kit

Product Article by Everett McEwan

 

 

 

     Here is the new resin set by Black Box to improve the Academy kit, it is very impressive and includes many needed things.
      The set contains a GPS dome, dual chaff/flare dispensers (AN/ALE-47) and the main wheel doors that go with them, 2 BRU-33A/A CVER (Canted Vertical Ejector Rack), 4 LAU-7 AIM-9 Sidewinder launchers, Exhaust nozzles, Refueling probe and replacement panel and the external EPU panel (refueling and intercom).

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     Replacement exhaust nozzles are an improvement over the kit nozzles (which are already nice) and are also available separately from this set.

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     The refueling probe and new upper nose section are very nice and much easier than scrachtbuilding this area (as I did on a F-18F). As you can see from the
 pics it looks accurate and just needs painting.

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     The Canted Vertical Ejector Rack is now a common sight on both the Legacy and Super Hornets and if you want to hang some dumb bombs you will need these (especially if you are modeling a OIF jet). I even see LGBs under them in my Daco book- not sure if this is a test configuration, this could look cool too. The four winder rails are for replacing the AIM-120 rails that would be used in the under wing double launchers if you so wish.
     The other pieces represent some of the recent updates to the C and A+ models so check your references on which aircraft you are doing. I am planning on using the GPS dome and the new AN/ALE-47 dispensers since my jet will be a late lot OIF jet
 (VFA-105).

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    I plan on using everything in this kit except the LAU-7 Sidewinder rails (although somewhere down the road I might use them) and can highly recommend it.
 Stay tuned for my built up kit featuring all these parts.

Everett

Photos and text © by Everett McEwan