1/32 Academy F/A-18C Hornet

Converted to CF-188 Part 2 of 2

by Douglas K. L. Chan

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Now we move onto painting and decal application. The marking I used is 20 Years Hornet special produced by Leading Edge. This set should be out of production now. I got mine from Uncle Rick who had barely one or two left. The instructions provided by Leading Edge is very clear, telling you how to paint the Hornet and making it ready for decal application. My advice would be to cut the decal and double check before you paint. For a marking this complicated just a few milimeters would be a total disaster. So, measure, measure and measure before you go.

After the model was sanded smooth, I double check with a coat of white primer. This served two purpose, one to check for any flaw and two as a base for the yellow color. Then the model was masked and sprayed according to Leading Edge's instruction. The decal included a black curve and a converging line for the marking stretching from the formation light at the forward fuselage down to the center pylon. I chose not to use them, made a mask by myself, and had the mark sprayed.

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A gloss clear coat followed by three weeks for complete dryness, I was ready to apply decal. A very clear warning in Leading Edge's instruction is "Large Decals must be soaked only in hot water to prevent possible cracking". I had no problem with the large ones but somehow I had cracks on those black strips on the bottom of my Hornet. After one or two weeks I tried to touch up with black enamel paint but there just cracked again. I dared not to do anything more so there is a little unpleasant mark. Except this the decal went on very well.

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This Academy Hornet is a very nice kit and the Leading Edge decal set is of high quality. I enjoyed very much the build but I don't think I would do such a colorful demo jet again. Thanks CC for buying this for me.

Accessories I used are :

  • (1)   BlackBox CS32011 Cockpit set with tail fin conversion for Academy Kit
  • (2)   Eduard 32105 F/A-18 Hornet Exhaust Set
  • (3)   Eduard 32106 F/A-18 Hornet Exterior
  • (4)   Eduard 32508 F-18 Hornet Placards
  • (5)   Eduard 32510 F/A-18C Hornet Interior
  • (6)   Eduard 32519 F/A-18 GRU/SJU Seat Detail Set
  • (7)   Eduard 32107 F/A-18 Hornet Armament
  • (8)   Eduard XL051 F/A-18 Hornet Mask
  • (9)   Seamless Suckers Seamless Intakes for the Academy 1/32 F-18 Hornet
  • (10) Leading Edge #32.09 CAF CF-18 "Hornets 20" Special

 

References :

  • (1)  DACO Publication "Uncovering The F/A-18 A/B/C/D Hornet
  •         By Danny Coremans and Nico Deboeck
  • (2)  Building the CF-188 by Steve Bamford

        http://www.arcair.com/tnt1/001-100-TNT100_CF-188_Bamford/tnt100.htm

Douglas

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Photos and text © by Douglas K. L. Chan