1/48 HobbyBoss F/A-18D Hornet

[IanG]

This is going to be my next build.
HobbyBoss 1/48 F/A-18D, in the markings of VMFA-121 "Green Knights", during Desert Storm.
The aftermarket I'll be using is:-
Quickboost resin seats
Eduard PE Cockpit set
ModelMaker decals for VFMA-121
LAU-10 rocket pods from Hasegawa Weapons Set B
Eduard canopy mask
I'm intending to use Hataka Orange Line paints.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[shortCummins]

will be watching with interest

rgds
John(shortCummins)

[bfrd]

Up the Irons!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Looks like a good build plan, I am in

[IanG]

And we're off!
Made a start on the pilots cockpit, with the Eduard PE.

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[IanG]

Cockpit completed, and seats finished. Although the kit supplied instrument panels are well detailed, the rest of the cockpit is a bit bland. With the combination of Eduard coloured PE, and Quickboost resin, it has really been brought life.
All painted with the following acrylics:-
Hataka A100 Jet Black - seats
Hataka A054 Grey FS36270 - belts
Hataka A004 Olive Drab (Early) - seat cushions
Hataka A018 Olive Drab (Late) - belts
Hataka A011 Light Polish Khaki - belts
Mission Models MMP-041 Hiway Yellow - ejection handles
Vallejo Metal Colours Chrome - belt buckles

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[xSCAR45]

That pit is awesome! Nice work so far.

[Vindicare]

very cool!

[IanG]

That pit is awesome! Nice work so far.

Thank you.

[IanG]

very cool!

Thanks.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Super clean cockpit and the chair looks the business as they say
Good work

[IanG]

Super clean cockpit and the chair looks the business as they say
Good work

Thank you Scott.

[IanG]

With the fuselage together, and wings attached, I decided to improve on the kit.
The instructions call for the control surfaces to be assembled flat, and flush to the wings. The rudders are moulded into the one piece vertical stabilisers.
With the flaps, it was a simple case of cementing them into their lowered/extended positions, and a slight adjustment made to the flap hinges, under the wings. The flaps were help in place with some Tamiya tape, until set.
The rudders were cut so that they could gently bent into position. Warming the vertical stabilisers first, helped with this procedure.
So, I'm now about ready to start priming, and that goes for all the "hangy-off" bits too.

DSC_0122 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_0125 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

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[xSCAR45]

It's all coming together very nicely.

Love your style by the way. I may replicate it when my shipment comes in late next week.

[IanG]

It's all coming together very nicely.

Love your style by the way. I may replicate it when my shipment comes in late next week.

Thank you.

[IanG]

Priming done, with Ultimate black primer, and some marbling with Akan Faded White, and Vallejo Light Khaki.
I've also decided to replace the kit exhausts, with some very nice resin ones from Attack Squadron.
This is my first time at using (modern) lacquer based paints. I've used Hataka's Orange Line Light Ghost Grey, and Dark Ghost Grey, for the airframe.
Coverage is brilliant, and the finish is very smooth. I only had to wipe the needle tip once in 30 minutes of airbrushing. Couldn't do that with acrylics.
Underside is done, and tomorrow I'll do the topside.

DSC_0138 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_0139 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[SMAddict66]

Nice work Ian

[Twokidsnosleep]

Gheeze, it looks great unpainted and then when you get the lacquers on her

[IanG]

Gheeze, it looks great unpainted and then when you get the lacquers on her

Thanks you Scott.

[IanG]

The upper fuselage has now been sprayed with Hataka's Orange Line (lacquer) Dark Ghost Grey.
Very pleased with the way it's come out, and again, the finish is really good.
The last photo shows the dry fitment of the Attack Squadron resin exhaust nozzles. These have sprayed in Vallejo's Metal Colour Exhaust Manifold.

DSC_0143 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_0144 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_0146 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_0145 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[Twokidsnosleep]

Wow again
Looks great with that underlay of mottling, subtle shades and highlights....just great
I am taking notes for when I do my Hornet(s)

[Vindicare]

that paintjob

[IanG]

Wow again
Looks great with that underlay of mottling, subtle shades and highlights....just great
I am taking notes for when I do my Hornet(s)

Thanks Scott. I wasn't sure how the mottling would turn out, as normally I use a light grey, over the black primer. Because of the 2 different shades of Ghost Grey, I decided to use white, and some tan for dirty areas underneath.

[IanG]

Been a gap in my updates, mainly due to a change in work shift.
Now as far getting the decals applied. Had a mishap with the original set, as some of the decals were to light a grey, and were lighter than the airframe colour, where they should have been slightly darker. Managed to track down an OOP set of SuperScale decals, for the Gulf War USMC Hornets, in Canada.
Pylons, fuel tanks, and weapons ready. The Meng Sidewinders are exquisite.
The decals are sealed with Alclad's Aqua Gloss, and the next step is give the whole airframe a Ultimate Dark Dirt wash.

DSC_0156 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

DSC_0157 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

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[xSCAR45]

Breathtaking!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Wow, Holy Molars!!!
The fuselage looks great and the weaponry is no slouch either
Great to see you posting up again, thanks for the update

[Fridgy]

As always mate i love watching your work come together

Making me want to do another Hornet, your blows mone out of the water

Going to have to sit down and watch videos on how to pull off the marbling of the paint job

[IanG]

Calling this done.
After cleaning of the Ultimate wash, I gave the whole airframe a matt coat, in readiness for next stage of weathering.
For this I used AK pigments for the first time. Lesson learned from this, you don't need much. I've used Humbrol, and Vallejo pigments in the past, but with the AK ones, you only need the smallest amount on a brush. So the wing control surfaces, which were done first, seem a little over done. Colours used were Smoke, Burnt Umber, Light Grey, and Light Dust.
I did use a small amount of Tamiya Weather Master Oil Stain on the drop tanks.
With the weathering completed, I removed the masking from the canopy, then attached all the undercarriage and doors, the crew ladder, and fitted the seats.
Overall, a great kit, with only one major issue. I had to cut 4-5mm from the section between the front and rear cockpits (and the cowling too), in order for the tub to fit in the fuselage. Other than that, there was no problem.
The Meng missiles are excellent, as are the Eduard Brassin rocket launchers.
Another first was using Hataka Orange Line lacquer paints. I used HTK-C037 Light Ghost Grey, and HTK-C035 Dark Ghost Grey.
Problems with the original Repliscale aftermarket decals caused a delay in the build. They were supposedly for a Gulf War VFMA-121 Hornet, but some of the grey markings were lighter than the main colour, were they should have been darker. So I had to source an alternative SuperScale set, which were more accurate.
So here it is, all finished.

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Ian G-6 by ian gaskell, on Flickr

[xSCAR45]

Stellar work!

Nice job on the weathering. Looks like its been doing Carrier Ops for quite some time.

[IanG]

Stellar work!

Nice job on the weathering. Looks like its been doing Carrier Ops for quite some time.

Thank you.
They certainly don't stay clean for long, when doing continuous sorties.