This time two models shown for the price of one. One Hasegawa 1/72 F/A-18A blue
46 from US NAVY NSAWC in 2004-2005 at Fallon NAS Nevada accompanied by one
Fujimi 1/72 F/A-18A desert 44 from the same unit. For years I'm a great fan of
Navy adversary planes and camouflages. The blue scheme represents the hornet
Bu number 162834 Lot 8 and the desert scheme represents the hornet Bu
number 162906 Lot 8. I'm not sure they are always flying or in stock at
AMARC after a hard life of air combat training. I used decals sheet from
TWOBOBS 72001 for 46, and decals sheet from FIGHTERTOWN 72001 for
44 they are both accurate but very fragile to fit.
I followed decal
manufacturers instructions regarding colors.
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46 upper dark
blue FS35109 Gunze H322, clear blue FS35450 Humbrol 47, grey FS36375 Gunze
H308
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44 upper brown
FS30140 Humbrol mix 110/113, sand FS30279 Humbrol mix 121/118,
green FS34095 Humbrol 80
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same lower
colors for both models : 3 greys FS36375 Gunze H308 for wings,
FS36495 Humbrol 147 for lower fuselage and FS36440 Gunze H315
for sides.
I added black
juice for weathering the panels (Fujimi kit is better engraved and more detailed)
plus flat varnish Humbrol 49 to fix decals and add sun weathering.
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I added only external centerline tank and no weapons for better
maneuvrability during fake flight combat and decided to show canopies
opened and airbrakes for both models to expose cockpit. Fujimi kit is
better detailed so you can see the ladder and an opened radar cone.
NSAWC (Naval Strike Air Warfare Center) ex Top Gun school is the center of
excellence of new combat tactics and training for Naval and Marines
pilots. Now it was renamed Naval Aviation Warfighting Development
Center (NAWDC). Planes used nowadays are Hornet F/A-18A/B/C/D perhaps no
more A & B and Super Hornet E/F, Falcon/Viper F-16A/B, Growler EA-18G
electronic attacks jets and SH-60R/S choppers.
Top
Gun spirit never left my mind!
Jean-Charles Goddet
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