Academy's 1/32 scale
F/A-18C Hornet

by Przemyslaw Przybulewski

Tamiya's 1/32 F-4C/D Phantom II available online from Squadron.com for only $100.98!

My fifth and so far last my last model of 1:32 scale planes (as of end of 2014).

It was not my favorite plane but I wanted to check quality of Academy product – ending this build I finally liked the plane very much.

Made OOB except exhaust nozzles from Aires/Quickboost.

As always first I made my choice of armament, it was a variety of bombs and missiles to show versatile of F/A-18.

This model is much better then both of previously completed Trumpeter products. It’s not perfect but it needed some special attention in two places. In joins between upper and lower fuselage (at the bottom, right behind a main wheel wells). And in joins between front and rear fuselage. Apart from this it was a very well fitted plane. I had also some problems with Aires resin, it came out that diameter of nozzles is too small. Difference was about 1,25-1,50mm s- quite big.

The display base was made as usual, but this time I wanted to do something similar to aircraft deck. So instead of engraving lines, I drew some circles to prepare pattern of equilateral triangles.

Then on apex of triangles I had drilled 8mm holes. Holes was filled with epoxy putty and black painted. On the whole surface I glued pieces of sand paper.

All was painted black, with white and red stripes.

At the end I had glued in holes pieces of plastic self-made tie-downs.

Painting was made in typical light/dark grey scheme. Very good decals were for Year of Golden dragon. I had to cut some bigger one to smaller pieces to ease their placement.

Only concern was for gears strut. White or yellow? I could not find any picture of this particular plane (side number 301) so I decided to go white.

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After decals I made an oil based wash and at the end some red brown hydraulic oil streaks.

It was a very fun build. I was quite pleased with Academy quality but a little bit disappointed with Aires product.

Anyway this model is highly recommended. Even made OOB is an amazing plane, big and mighty. A wonderful addition to every collection.

Text and Images Copyright © 2015 by Przemyslaw Przybulewski
Page Created 29 September, 2015
Last Updated 30 September, 2015

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