1/72 Hasegawa F/A-18E Super Hornet

Gallery Article by Jean-Charles GODDET on Jan 30 2013

 

 

Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet VFA-31

This model is a Hasegawa 1/72 F/A-18E Super Hornet CAG bird from VFA-31 Tomcatters kit number 00882.  This special scheme represents the plane with high visibility marks and Felix the cat cartoon on gloss black tails in 2007 just after VFA-31 ex VF-31 transitioned from F-14D.  This plane 166776 is from F/A-18E lot 29. 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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To enhance the model cockpit I used extra seat belts from EDUARD SS229 and fix its on NACES SJU-17 ejection seat and opened the canopy to show the work.  I decided to add no armaments except a centerline 480 gallon fuel tank and a AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR pod for target illumination from the kit.

I hope you will like my model, this kit is very easy to mount and very detailed (engraved panels are fantastic).  US Navy CAG are always interesting and colorful and for the history VFA-31 is the second oldest Navy squadron established in 1935.  This plane saw the fight in 2008-2009 with USS Theodore Roosvelt deployment in support on operation Enduring Freedom above Afghanistan.  I use Photoshop to show in situation the model (anti-collision lights or through night vision goggles with formation lights)

FELIX ONE

Jean-Charles GODDET

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Photos and text © by Jean-Charles GODDET