Anthony D'Agostino I have two of these in my stash, and I wish I had been a member of these sites before I bought the kits. I am new to modelling after a thirty year layoff, and as one of my favorite subjects, I had to have them. Recently while going thru all my research regarding the kit, after market options etc, I started to read about the kits construction. Every single build review speaks of horrible fit problems that seem to compound as the build moves forward. Some parts look aligned, only later to find that they create a worse problem with subsequent parts being added, just a never ending nightmare of problems. Most are inexcusable flaws based on the kit itself and not builders errors. For a kit this expensive from a company this well know and trusted, there is absolutely no excuse for the aweful way the kit builds up. For experienced modellers, there is nothing that can't be overcome, but for people like me, it will take me years of building to regain the skills it requires to complete this kit and have it look half decent.

I hope you are able to finish the kit with success. Mine will likely become a test bed for experiments, never making too a finished, presentable model. Shame too, cause it can look great in the right hands. I spend more money on aftermarket kits, most of that will be wasted as well.

I will never buy another kit without first finding out what is wrong with it. As for hasegawa releasing a kit this poor, theu should be embarrassed about it.

Michael Hickey That's a shame to see this kit is disappointing to you and others that have done reviews on it. I built my kit last year or so and enjoyed every bit of it, sorry you feel this way.

VF-11/VFA-11 Red Rippers | Project by mikestomcat (1:48)

Sören Reifert I must say that Ive read a lot of reviews and also talked with some mates, who build this kit and NONE of them is saying what you are writing.

Sure it has here and there some fitting issue here and there, but nothing "horrible" like you are saying.

Nathan Dempsey I had the opposite impression of this Hasegawa's Super Hornets. I had several kits from other manufacturers and found Hasegawa's to have LESS problems with both fit and accuracy (at least with test fitting). I'm super happy with mine.

Sören Reifert Maybe he read about the A to D versions, which have some more issues?!

Nathan Dempsey I'm also easily pleased. For the newer kits I'm happy as long as it fits together reasonably well. Accuracy concerns come and go for me. Sometimes I care and sometimes I do not (as long as it is a good attempt by the manufacturer).

Anthony D'Agostino Hey guys, I haven't even started to build these kits yet, my negative views are based on multiple accounts of fit issues from modellers of extraordinary talent, far beyond the beginner level. This was not a one off bad review, it is multiple reviews from different sites. I hope you guys are correct, as I love the subject so much, it breaks my heart (and my bank) if these turn out to be the horror I keep reading about. And no, it is not the wrong version/kit, I can tell easily the difference between a C and the F aircraft, the intakes and sheer size make it impossible to mistake one for the other.

Here are the links to the build reviews that I am referring too, all of which are linked above, that is how I knkw about the reviews in the first place.

ipmsusa.org/reviews/Archive/.._FA18F/Hasegawa_48_FA18F.htm

https://modelingmadness.com/scott/mod/us/f18f.htm

I also came across at least one more review with the exact same issues, and apparently, once the fit issue begin, they progressively get worse because many parts go on without the aid of interlocking/alignment points, where the builder just rough estimates the location based upon matching lines. Any degree off, will certainly begin such a cascade event, leading too giant gaps later on. Plus they all mention the bottom insert of the flaps is ridiculously small for the space it is supposed to fill. How can that even be? Having a seam to fill is one thing, but if their right, and only when I begin to build the flaps will I know, that is inexcusable.

At worst, I have a kit that leaves me with very low expectations. Sadly, the kit arrived already with damage, lots of parts are broken off the sprue, which is why I have two kits. The store sent me a replacement, which also arrived damaged in the very same way. I was hoping to make one as a finished airframe, the second as the cannibalized aircraft, since that is how the navy has been coping with budget cuts, sacrificing one plane to allow others to keep flying.

Add in the aftermarket additions though, and my investment is pretty steep. I hope these will at least build ONE decent kit, as with the fit issues, I won't be starting this kit any time soon. I will work on my MH-XX series of helos to sharpen my skills with all black birds (hard to mess that up) while giving me a chance to work with both PE and resin, before I tackle these expensive kits.

Thanks for the input, I hope you guys are right, only time will tell.

Anthony Stalker6recon D'Agostino

Eric Juvyns I also have the old C and D kits. And the fit of these is not that good. But for me the fit of the E version is very good. Als always one has to take the time (a lot of it) to do some dry-fitting and make up a build sequence very loosely based on the instructions. For me this means finetuning the fit before using any glue. Also trying to glue as many parts together (sub-assemblies) before painting. Paint can ruin the fit with most Hasegawa kits. Most of them have a very tight fit.
So IMO you just have to make up your own conclusions, don't listen to much to al those reviews and just build the kit and foremost have a lot of fun doing so.

Anthony D'Agostino Roger that! I keep seeing reviews from online stores, all in the positive..... So my hopes for agood build are growing! Now I just need the E and G kits.

Jens Valkeneers Superb painting! The black colour, is it just paint or a special primer like mr surfacer 1500 form gunze?

Holger Kranich Thats a promising start, Eric! What coloures do you use? Light seagull grey?

Bart Goesaert nice painting so far...

Eric Juvyns Thx.
Jens, it's black mr surfacer 1500 thinned down with mr leveler.
Holger, i used the paints indicated in the manual. H307 for the top and H308 for the bottom. Both from gunze sangyo.

Holger Kranich Looks awesome Buddy!

John Dunbar Oh cool!

Michael Hickey Looking very nice.

Jos Jansen Nice progress on the painting!

Bryn Crandell Looking good so far. Watching!

Holger Kranich Splendid Eric!!!

Neuling I agree with Holger.

Spanjaard excellent!

Bart Goesaert As Spanjaard says... Excellent... that says it all..

Erik Leijdens Beautiful!!

Roberto Rocat Wow. You got a real show stopper. Amazing painting and weathering skills.

Eugen P. Impressive camo.

Eric Juvyns Thx everyone. I really appreciate all your comments