1/48 Hasegawa F/A-18C Hornet

by Kelly Quirk

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VMFA-122 WEREWOLVES

This is the very nice limited edition Hasegawa kit, which includes metal parts for the wing folds and the correct “swept back” antennas to bring the airframe up to date. I also used a Black Box cockpit tub, and a correct NACES seat obtained from an Avionix ejection seat set. (picture 3, 4)

I added a photoetch Multi Function Display screen to more accurately represent the BuNo # of this aircraft. The screen has the angled upper corners. (picture 5,6)

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Year ago, Dave Roof had planned on making his own Hornet cockpit set (under the Orion label) and he was generous enough to give me a sample copy of it. I used his avionics bay as the Black Box part is too small. Pictured is a size comparison of the two sets. (picture 7, 8)

As Flying Leathernecks instructs with their decal sheet, the vents under the nose are filled in, and will be replaced with decals. (picture 9)

The depressions for the stiffening cleats at the base of the tail have been filled in. Later production Hornets did not have these. On the inside of the vertical tails, there are three small plates that match the plates on the outside that Hasegawa did not mold. Pictured are the plates on the inside of the vertical tail fins, made from thin styrene. (picture 10, 11)

The molded on antennas under both intakes have been removed as well.

Hasegawa gives you the option of dropping the flaps. I did so, but make sure the outer flaperons and leading edge flaps will be in the neutral position if you plan to fold the wings.

A GPS dome was also added to the spine. This was made from a disk of styrene and a clear lens from my spares box, then painted white. (picture 12)

I made simple intake covers with tissue paper soaked with white glue. (picture 13)

Hasegawa molded the antenna on the nose gear door backwards. So it was removed, laminated to a piece of plastic and relocated. The small square behind the antenna in the picture will be a small blade antenna. (picture 14, 15)

One detail usually overlooked on parked Hornet models, are the gun and chaff safety switches. You will find them on the port side of the aircraft, under the front of the LEX. Front one (gun safe indicator) is orange/red and the rear one (chaff/flare safety) is yellow. 

A hole was drilled in the appropriate spot, and rod styrene was painted and placed in the hole. Paint the end of the rod light ghost gray to match the fuselage. 

At this point all the sub-assemblies have been completed and ready for the paint booth. To achieve a worn and used look, I simply lay down a base coat of the correct color, then slowly start adding light gray to the paint cup and start airbrushing touch up spots. It will actually tone down a bit as I start the weathering process. Then at the very end, I'll come back and airbrush a few more very light spots to show recent touch ups. (picture 16, 17)

The decals for this squadron were purchased from Flying Leathernecks Decals. A full review on this set can be seen here: 
http://www.arcair.com/Rev3/2101-2200/rev2193-FL48022/00.shtm

The vinyl paint masks for the tail provided with the decal sheet worked flawlessly. Follow the directions provided to the letter, and you will have no problems. (picture 18, 19, 20)

After the decals were applied, a coat of Future was airbrushed on to seal them, and an oil wash was applied. Then a final coat of flat was sprayed, and a small amount of weathering with pastels was applied.

In Hasegawa's usual style, there is no ordnance included with the kit. The GBU's and Maverick came from the Hasegawa weapon set, and the LITENING pod came from the Hasegawa Harrier kit.

Kelly Quirk

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Photos and text © by Kelly Quirk