Subject: Re: Gallery Submission - Revell 1/72 F/A-18C CONA VFA-106 Gladiators
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Michael Choo" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2014 10:57:27 -0800

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Michael Choo 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2014 3:14 AM
  Subject: Gallery Submission - Revell 1/72 F/A-18C CONA VFA-106 Gladiators

  "Revell 1/72 F/A-18C CONA VFA-106 Gladiators"

  by Michael "Chewie" Choo

  Forum screen name: Mike C
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

  If you're interested in reading through my build thread for this project, please refer to the following thread on ARCforums: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=270428

  When I first opened up this kit, I got a rather nasty surprise to learn that it's actually reboxing of the woeful Italeri rendition of legacy Hornet (which I had the displeasure of building when I first got back into this hobby in 2008/2009). Almost everything about this kit was very bad. 

  But, as far as I'm concerned, the things that (for some strange reasons) bothered me the most were:
  - Non-existent gun port on the nose
  - Fin antennas molded in rather than separate parts
  - Non-existent jet exhaust turbine

  At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to bother finishing this project, and I came really close to abandoning it. But then I decided to look at it as a challenge for myself to make this piece of junk somewhat presentable. Was I successful? Well, I think so. At least from my own selfish point of view.

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg 

  Initially, I was thinking of building this kit only with gas bags, but as usual, I changed my mind. Since I have quite a bit of spare missiles in the stash, I decided to load it up with an AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-88 HARM, AIM-9 and AIM-120C. The Harpoon and HARM came from my old Italeri Hornet (which, as I said, was the original boxing of this kit anyway), which I resanded and repainted. The AIM-9 was originally from.... Hasegawa I think (can't remember which kit/boxing). The AIM-120C was from Raptor kit, but I can't remember which one, Revell's or Italeri's.

  Here is the list of paint that I used for this project:
  - Overall coat: Gunze Aqueous H54 Navy Blue
  - Post shading: Gunze Aqueous H54 Navy Blue mixed with a few drops of Gunze Aqueous H311 (FS36622)
  - Base of burner cans: Mr Metal Color Aluminum, brush painted then polished using cotton bud
  - Burner cans: Mr Metal Color Dark Iron, then dry-brushed with Mr Metal Color Stainless followed by Mr Metal Color Bronze for highlights
  - AGM-84 Harpoon: Gunze Aqueous H311 base then Tamiya X-1 (Gloss White)
  - AGM-88 HARM: Gunze Aqueous H311 base then Tamiya X-1 (Gloss White)
  - Finishing coat: LifeColor Satin Clear

          
        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here 

  The only "weathering" I did on this project was the post-shading. I didn't use any oil wash at all (except for the HARM and Harpoon).

  BTW, the stand is Italeri's discontinued Stand Base for 1/72 scale planes and helicopters.

  Hope you like it!

  Michael "Chewie" Choo

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 07.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 07.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 08.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 08.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 09.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 09.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 10.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 10.jpg