Group Build: F/A-18A-G Super Hornet/Growler

[Jantk14]

Got most of the decals on. Only two disasters. About par for me, but I covered them up well.

 

[Edbert]

from what I'm seeing, it's still very subtle, but you have eyes on, so it may look different in person under lights

I think my intense lights were washing it out a bit in the cell phone shots. But after a day I decided it was good to clear coat. That was yesterday, planning on doing some stickers tonight.

 

[Dan the Modeler]

I've received the replacements from Meng and all the upgrade goodies I'm going to use for this build, so it's on to the task of actually building this thing. Now all the upgrades are designed specifically for the Meng kits, however, they are not designed to work with each other, rather, kit parts only. Fortunately, I have learned over the years to check fitment and redundant parts or joins of parts between upgrade sets to look out for potential issues. So my best course of action was to start pairing up the upgrades that have to work together to replace all kit parts and make sure they will work.

Two of the most detailed upgrades are the landing gear and their bays, so off I went to check the compatibility. The landing gear is highly detailed with actual metal shafts for hydrualic parts and printed detail even includes fluid lines, brake lines, etc. They come in a very complex cage and supports, so you really need to identify all the detail of the parts before cutting into it. They do a great job of narrowing the supports that actually connect to the parts so it's not too hard to clean the parts up. I still have to clean up the parts and remove the bulk casting on the landing gear bays.

The intial fit of the bays with the kit air frame fit well. There are a couple connecting joins on the fuselage halves for the front gear bay and cockpit, so those will have to be removed. I took those notes and moved on to the rear gear and bays since they are both aftermarket, to do some test fitting. I worked patiantly with the rear gear and it's small hydrualic and pad eyes for the tie downs. Images below show how the left rear gear comes in it's packaging.




I started slowly removing the cage and support structures to get down to the base landing gear. You really want to take your time and make sure you aren't clipping or cutting into parts. Below is a few pictures of that process.



Once I had the main gear removed, I examined the connection points of the gear to the bay and noticed a redundant part join where I had to remove it from the bay, since it was already built into the landing gear. More to follow.

 

[Dan the Modeler]

Cleaning up the bay insertion point and strut frame, I corrected the sizing and removed what need to be and I achieved a perfect fit. Below are pictures of the main gear and bay joined (not glued), and all is right in the world, at least up to this point. The bottom of the bay needs a lot removed from the molded part, this is where the intakes will fit in later, so the next step is to get that part of the bay ready and test fit the aftermarket intakes to the bay and kit air frame to make sure all is well. Hope to have that done in the next few days so I can move onto the cockpit and bay to make sure they work together in the fuselage halves. anyway, here are the gear and bay for the left rear.



Again, the detail on these aftermarket parts are insane. I just hope my building, painting, and detailing skills are up to par for this, or I'm going to end up with a highly detailed hot mess at great expense...lol.

 

[BarleyBop]

detail on these aftermarket parts are insane

... Admire the way you are taking your time... Indeed, it would be very easy to snip the wrong thing!
...and it sounds like you have a healthy attitude going in: rather than hurdles to overcome, seeing inspiring steps to a great build!

 

[Dan the Modeler]

@BarleyBop Thank you. Slow and steady. Like the old adage, "Measure twice, cut once!" is one I try to remember on each step of the way.

 

[Wig41]

Got most of the decals on. Only two disasters. About par for me, but I covered them up well.View attachment 186105

She looks wonderful!!

 

[Wig41]

I am still working to get this kit to primer. Since this kit is actually one of the preproduction aircraft I needed to fabricate the extra long pitot tube that was for instrumentation. I used two brass tubes and one brass rod to get it done. Not much longer I hope and she'll be ready for primer. Since this is basically a gloss white aircraft in the end I plan to use Mr. Surfaces 1500 white as my primer.

 

[BarleyBop]

two brass tubes and one brass rod

Nice!

 

[Edbert]

I spent much of my bench time today watching one of my favorite old (70s) movies, "A Bridge Too Far". What an outstanding cast!

I did get a lot done in the last few day though...

The top doors were painted (red) using an AK paint marker. Easy to control, and would recommend, except they are pink not red, it says "Signal Red RAL 3020" but is not insignia red at all. The bottom few was me putting some real red (enamel) on top of the marker, wanted to be sure I liked it before finishing. I did.

This picture is showing the gray overspray on the jagged edge (radar suppression) of the wheel bays. That needed another coat of white.

You can see I did the touch-up of the white, also the landing gear doors are in place, still lots of fiddly bits to be put on, actuators and other miscellaneous stuff.

The said fiddly bits.

I've been having issues with decals lately, but not these. I think I have to give credit to Meng, it is not like my skills have increased since earlier this year. Thinkin about it more, the stickers that gave me fits are from "Special Hobby" or "Svezda", so maybe the Slavs are to blame not me

There was almost 200 stickers. Take away maybe 40-50 for the two color schemes being duplicated. It nowhere near F-4 Phantom levels, but lots of stencils nonetheless. I decided to skip many of them, above is one reason. They gray paint was nearly identical to the grey stickers. See there's a relatively large stencil below the USN insignia? You have to look close, and this sticker is 6-8 times the size of many others. You can see another one near the front of the ECM pod, nearly invisible. So I'm skipping them.

 

[Bob T]

I spent much of my bench time today watching one of my favorite old (70s) movies, "A Bridge Too Far". What an outstanding cast!

I love that movie.
It came out in 1977, while I was in the 82nd, and the jump scene is still the best I've ever seen in a movie.
It gives me goosebumps every time I see it.
It was a very popular movie in the Division at the time.

 

[Edbert]

It came out in 1977, while I was in the 82nd

There was one line when they handed 30Corp over from the 101st to the 82nd you probably remember..."watch your wallets around those fellas" LOL

 

[Jantk14]

I spent much of my bench time today watching one of my favorite old (70s) movies, "A Bridge Too Far". What an outstanding cast!

I did get a lot done in the last few day though...
View attachment 186351
The top doors were painted (red) using an AK paint marker. Easy to control, and would recommend, except they are pink not red, it says "Signal Red RAL 3020" but is not insignia red at all. The bottom few was me putting some real red (enamel) on top of the marker, wanted to be sure I liked it before finishing. I did.

View attachment 186352
This picture is showing the gray overspray on the jagged edge (radar suppression) of the wheel bays. That needed another coat of white.

View attachment 186353
You can see I did the touch-up of the white, also the landing gear doors are in place, still lots of fiddly bits to be put on, actuators and other miscellaneous stuff.

View attachment 186354
The said fiddly bits.

View attachment 186355
I've been having issues with decals lately, but not these. I think I have to give credit to Meng, it is not like my skills have increased since earlier this year. Thinkin about it more, the stickers that gave me fits are from "Special Hobby" or "Svezda", so maybe the Slavs are to blame not me

View attachment 186356
There was almost 200 stickers. Take away maybe 40-50 for the two color schemes being duplicated. It nowhere near F-4 Phantom levels, but lots of stencils nonetheless. I decided to skip many of them, above is one reason. They gray paint was nearly identical to the grey stickers. See there's a relatively large stencil below the USN insignia? You have to look close, and this sticker is 6-8 times the size of many others. You can see another one near the front of the ECM pod, nearly invisible. So I'm skipping them.

I ran into and issue with my landing bay doors as well. The marker was too pink and who would have thought a sharpie wasn't water proof. Ended up removing the doors, painting them again and I just got an AK red paint marker so hopefully it's not pink.

 

[Edbert]

I just got an AK red paint marker so hopefully it's not pink.

Your's is a different part number, mine is black and says RCM003, so fingers crossed!

 

[Jantk14]

Happy to say the red is actually red. Pretty easy to use. Only one piece do I need to do a touch up.

 

[Jantk14]

Fly Navy

 

[Dan the Modeler]

@Jantk14 Wow, awesome job! Really like the weathering, gives it a very realistic look! Bravo!

 

[Rockin' Rob]

Great job! That's a showstopper

 

[Jantk14]

Thanks. I appreciate that.

 

[Pantherman]

Fly NavyView attachment 186564View attachment 186565View attachment 186566View attachment 186567View attachment 186568View attachment 186569View attachment 186570View attachment 186580

Really nice build, I like it. Pantherman

 

[BarleyBop]

Fly Navy

Awesome job!
Love how it turned out.
Canopy is literally the cherry on top!

 

[GCB]

Fly NavyView attachment 186564View attachment 186565View attachment 186566View attachment 186567View attachment 186568View attachment 186569View attachment 186570View attachment 186580

Very nice one! And congrats for the paint and weathering!

 

[kevin]

That's a good looking build.

 

[wjbrandel]

That's a good looking build.

I agree

 

[Glenn S]

Fly NavyView attachment 186564View attachment 186565View attachment 186566View attachment 186567View attachment 186568View attachment 186569View attachment 186570View attachment 186580

It turned out fantastic! Beautifully done!

 

[blakeh1]

@Jantk14 great work!

 

[Wig41]

Excellent excellent! You should be very proud of that build. I would be.

 

[Wig41]

Got some painting of the ejection seat done. Going to get it into the cockpit, button up the canopy and she should be ready for primer.

 

[MRDuczz]

Since no one has posted here for a while, I'll put up a photo of my build, now in primer. My version has white lower surfaces, so I went with Tamiya rattle can white primer. It's how the lazy kill 2 birds with one stone. Hopefully, the colors with follow soon, if I can catch up with all of the spring outside work that I have to do.

 

[Edbert]

She looks great Duc!

Since no one has posted here for a while

Good call out, speaking for myself I'm still debating the final weathering. Right now it is modest, and I'm leaning towards keeping it that way and putting a clear coat down and pulling off the canopy masks. But part of me wants to dirty it up a bit too. I'm thinking I'll not, since I did not apply low-vis (tactical) markings she would not be rode so hard and put away wet as many of the ones running sorties daily.

I need to make up my dang minds and either call it done of get out the oil and dirt