1/72 Hasegawa McAir F/A 18D Hornet

Gallery Article by Cho Shiou Hwa on Aug 31 2003

  Malaysian National Day 2003 

 

McAir F/A 18D Hornet in TUDM markings

The Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (Royal Malaysian Air Force) placed an order for eight F/A 18D worth of US $600 million, the contract covered the cost of aircrew training, spare parts and the armaments package comprising of AIM-7A Sparrow SARH AAM's, AIM-9M Sidewinder AAM's, AGM-84 Harpoon ASM's, AN/AAS-38 Nitehawk targeting & FLIR pods, MK 82-based PGM's (such as the GBU-12 and CRV-7 rocket pods.

 

Click on images below to see larger images

The eight aircraft were delivered in two batches of four, all arriving here by July 1997 and serve with No.18 Squadron (Lipan Squadron) located at TUDM Butterworth, tasked with interdiction and maritime strike mission.

TUDM F-18D Hornet are broadly equivalent to USN and USMC which equipped with APG-73 fire control radar. GE F404-402 engines and twin ALE-47 countermeasures dispensers.

This kit is build straight from 1/72 Hasegawa F18D (D9) with the local after market decals (www.F-4DableModels.com). The entire aircraft painted in overall  Gunship Grey (FS 36118).

To All Malaysian and Warga Lipan, "Selamat Manyambut Hari Merdeka Ke-46" 

Cho Shiou Hwa

      

Photos and text © by Cho Shiou Hwa