VMFA-232 F/A-18C
VMFA-232, F/A-18C
VMFA-232 CO Aircraft
VMFA-232 CO Aircraft based out of Japan. These are the marking I am going to use
Squadron patch
The kit
Kit parts
Kit decals, I will use markings for VMFA-232
I wash all my kits before starting work
Kit cockpit
Kit cocpkit. I added some small details
Added details to cockpit
I used the kit decals for the panels
Decales for panels
Cockpit painted and finished
Cockpit
I will use True Details resin seat
Resin seats are very nice
I washed resin seat in windex
Kit seat
Kit seat
Kit seat and resin seat
Resin seat
Added some weight
Cockpit installed
Kit airframe upper and lower
Cockpit installed
Kit main wheel wells are very incorrect, so I will grind them out
Grind out wheel wells
Grind out main wheel wells
New wheel wells detail
New wheel well in place
The kit does not have any intake ducts you could see inside so I made one out of thin plactic
New intakes
New intakes
New intakes much better
Intakes
New intakes and wheel wells
Added nose weight
Kit nose cone
Kit upper and lower halfs
Fuselage glued together
Fuselage glued together
Cockpit
Kit wings and tails
Wings glued on
Tails glued on
Airframe complete
Airframe cpmplete
First coat of paint MM dark ghost gray
First coat of paint MM light ghost gray
Here is something new, I used a metal washer to mask in nose radome
The washer mask worked very well
Just find the one you need and spray
Metal washer mask
Just to cool, metal washer mask
The kit comes with a decal for the red tail flash but I masked it and sprayed it
Masked and sprayed tail
Red tail flash
Red tail flash
I did some light weathering with a brown wash
Hard to see brown wash
Future for clear gloss coat for decals
Future clear gloss coat
Future clear gloss coat
Kit drop tanks
Kit drop tanks
Kit drop tanks glued together
Kit drop tanks
Kit drops painted
The kit comes with no bombs so I used two GBU-12's from the Hasegawa's Weapons set 2
GBU-12 used
GBU-12's
Kit gear doors and wheels
Decaling under way
Top view, Kit decals worked very nice
The Aircraft does not have a lot of markings
Nose decals
Squadron markings
The tail has the most markings. The slime lights are a little too yellow
Only one decal on the bottom wing
Comments
5 April 2019, 12:26
Konrad -Count me in here Mr. Thomas! I`ve build this one years ago with the ACADAMY Kit. Like it a lot and the markings are striking!!
5 April 2019, 12:31
John ThomasHey guy's I have a new Project up today. I have not posted in a few months but now I am back to work. The kit is Hasegawa's F-18c in 1/72 scale. The kit goes back to the 1990's but not a bad kit. It does need a little TLC, so I did add some details to the cockpit and main wheels wells
5 April 2019, 12:47
Stefan FraundorferI'm in too. I will not miss it because the Hornet is one of the most beautiful fighter aircraft ever.
7 April 2019, 15:16
Maciej BellosHey Thomas, will you correct the rogue red color that got away and lies on the top of the left engine? It's a shame to leave it there...
7 April 2019, 20:53
John ThomasMaciej, Yes I know it's there and I will handle it. There are also some small little details that all so need some attention
8 April 2019, 00:25
John ThomasNew photos up today. I had to fix a few little details before I start decaling. Decals photos up start soon
14 April 2019, 13:21
John ThomasNew photos up today. Decaling now complete. Starting to work on the small bits. The kit Decals worked great even being from 1999. The aircraft has very few markings and fewer Stencils. I used "Micro Set" and "Micro Sol" on the kit decals with no problems.
17 April 2019, 11:53
