1/72 Hasegawa F-18A

Gallery Article by Bernhard Pethe

The Hasegawa 1/72 scale Hornet is somewhat old, but it's still a nice kit that requires no major modifications. I only corrected the rudders and slats to give the model a more realistic appearance. 

I used the VERLINDEN detail set (resin and PE parts) for the seat and  cockpit as well as for the nose radar assembly. The resin weapon pylons were also used and I added two very nice resin Harpoons from the same set.

Click on images below to see larger images

As I wanted to do a more colorful USMC F-18A Hornet, I used the HI-DECAL LINE sheet 72023 with markings for 163180 DW/01 a F-18A Hornet from the VMFA-251, stationed at Beaufort MCAS in 1993. This aircraft had a big red lightning bolt on the tail - something different from the usually drab USMC liveries. I also used the data sheets and formation stripes in correct colors from the HI-DECAL sheet 72034.

The model was painted according to the instructions with XTRACOLOR glossy enamel paints. When the paint was dry, I applied a much diluted acrylic paint into the panel lines, using the capillarity method. The excess paint was removed using a small cosmetic cotton pad. Of course, this method can be used in case of negative graved, fine but relatively deep panel lines. Hasegawa's Hornet fortunately was such a model.