Boeing F/A-18F Super
Hornet VFA-103
This model is
a Hasegawa 1/72 F/A-18F Super Hornet low visibility from VFA-103 Jolly
Rogers kit number 00844. This special scheme represents the plane with
low visibility marks and skull & crossbones on mat black tails in 2009. This
squadron is embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower supercarrier. This plane
166619 is from F/A-18F lot 27, it replaced the Tomcat in 2005. All decals are
from the box, I followed HASEGAWA instructions regarding colors, the upper
camouflage is grey FS36320 Gunze acrylic H307, and lower camouflage is grey
FS36375 Gunze acrylic H308. I added a light weathering on paint scheme
to show time wear and the beautiful engraved panels of the kit.
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images below to see larger images
To enhance the model I used Wolfpack
Design resin wings with down flaps reference WP72008 and modern
hobbies resin NACES SJU-17 ejection seats. I also used prepaint
photoetched parts from Eduard reference SS229 (multifunction screens,
cockpit panels, nose antennas, ejection handles) with open canopy to show
the work. I decided to add some armaments two live AMRAAM air-air
missile AIM-120C, two live Sidewinders air-air missiles AIM-9X on end
wings, two anti-radar AGM-88 HARM on pylons coming from a F16CJ box to
show a SEAD mission (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses). I added from the
kit one centerline 480 gallon fuel tank and a AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR pod for
target illumination.
I hope you will like my model,
this kit is very easy to mount and very detailed, resin wings from Wolfpack are
fragile because flaps are very thin. I like the cockpit with prepaint colors
screens it seems engines running. As a Tomcat fan I find the Rhino less sexy
than his illustrious ancestor but I'm sure it is an incredible war beast
regarding which variety of Air Air and ground weapons is able to carry and
deliver with accuracy. And what marks!!!!
FEAR OF THE BONES
Jean-Charles Goddet
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