F-18C Hornet: VMFA-232 Red Devils
US Marine Hornet outfits seem to get short shrift in many modeling venues;
invariably Hornet models depict US Navy groups. As a long time admirer of the
Marine "Red Devils" air unit. I finally paid a bit of tribute to them
with this build.
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As I mentioned a number of ARC submissions ago, I'm sold on the Academy
1/72 kit of this aircraft. I ask the reader to refer to an earlier submission,
for the "Golden Dragons," to appreciate why I prefer using Academy's
molded kit. Besides the outstanding recessed panel lines on the molded parts,
the Academy offering allows one to pitch the rudder by using a razor saw to
separate this detail from the vertical stabilizer, followed by minimal filing to
clean up the cut edges. Also the horizontal stabilators are separate parts
(unlike the older Hasegawa kit, with these molded to the upper tail section
part), so adding any desired pitch is super easy.
The only weakness that comes to mind with the kit is with the interior,
particularly the cockpit seat. I remedied that using a purchased Quickboost
seat. It doesn't cost that much, and it's much more detailed than what comes
with the kit. Elsewhere, I ask the reader to refer the earlier submission to
better prepare oneself for the only major fit area of concern: the front
fuselage half with the rear wing and aft section.
I used Ammo/Mig black enamel wash for the recessed panel lines,
and followed this up with airbrushing with my enamel paints. For the wheel
wells, I used Black Detailer. I found this water based ink is very easy to clean
to one's linking, leaving only as much effect as one desires in such deep
detailed areas.
I went heavy on exhaust and fuel dump stains on the rear
underside, employing a black colored fine mist of the airbrush; then - without
cleaning the cup - adding brown color. The kit decals fit very well; I sealed
them in place with Testor's decal set. I used dullcoat spray over the entire
model at the end, of course masking canopy parts first so as to not be affected,
or one could leave off the two canopy parts for the last assembly act.
Carl Jarosz
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