1/48 Monogram USMC F/A-18A+ Hornet

by Jim Sullivan

--------------------

 

Hello everyone!  Here is my F/A-18A+ Hornet of VMFA-112 "Cowboys" a Marine Reserve squadron stationed at Carswell Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, Texas.   This is a converted Monogram F/A-18C that was done over many times....it originally started off as an out of the box project as a return to modeling after a brief hiatus while in college.  Thinking I would do better studying if I put modeling on stand-by.  It worked, but I missed the hobby tremendously.  So, for my sanity, I bought this Monogram F/A-18C from Walmart with the then new bright green and yellow VFA-105 "Gunslingers" decals.  Which was a refreshing change from the previous series kits' decals.  After about 7 years, I re-did the plane again, in high viz VFA-113 "Stingers" CAG markings by Superscale.  Then, I redid it a year later in the original kit's low viz VFA-113 decals.  I was ready to toss the kit after the landing gear broke in a house moving accident.  However, I couldn't part with a beloved Hornet, and this summer I decided to redo it again, this time as an F/A-18A+ in USMC service, after seeing the "B" side decals on a Superscale sheet I  specifically bought to do an F/A-18D for VMFA(AW)-242 "Bats ".

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

Modifications for a F/A-18A+ from a F/A-18C included creating the IFF AN/APX-111 antenna or "bird shredder" in front of the windscreen with styrene strip.  Addition of the large blade antenna on the dorsal spine and a GPS dome on spine (from a Monogram A-10's AGM-65 Maverick laser seeker lens).  Removal of the ECM blisters behind the canopy, on the top of each of the vertical stabilizers, on the nose gear door, and from the upper sides of the nose.  For static display, flaps and elevators were cut and dropped and the flaps modified with styrene.  Rudders were cut and canted at hydraulic rest, and the cockpit touched up with a True Details SJU-8 ejection seat.

Hope you enjoy! 

Semper Fi!

Jim

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

  

  

Photos and text © by Jim Sullivan