1/72 Hasegawa '91 Tiger Hornet

Gallery Article by Emil Varosi on July 1 2005

  Canada Day 2005 

 

 

Just A bit of history on this Hornet. This Hornet was Unofficially painted for the 30th Anniversary of the Tiger Meet. Given the previously flamboyant schemes of the CF-104 era this was not as colourful but very intriguing scheme. Basically a stock Hornet was painted with some tiger stripes, This aircraft won the "Best Tiger Livery" prize. NDHQ must have taken a favourable view as aircraft #188764 was given a similar scheme to celebrate 439 Squadron's 50th Anniversary in 1992 which is available in Decal Form from Leading Edge Models.

 

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For this build I used the Hasegawa 1/72nd Scale Hornet F/A-18C Chippy-Ho boxing. The kit comes with the 'A' Tails which is what I need for a CF-188. This build was for the Tiger Group Build here on ARC. Because I needed Symmetrical Era Markings I had to find some CF-188 markings in 1/72nd scale from Arrow Graphics. I also needed detailed pictures of this Particular aircraft which I found on the web and Sean Bratton also provided me with some good detailed shots. Originally I had found the Revell Boxing of this particular aircraft and purchased the kit from ebay only to be disappointed with the Decals. I did find use for the tiger stripe decals though as a template for the masks I used (What can I say I'm a masochist). On the original submission for the Tiger Group Build I had made decals of the Tiger Head for the tail, I was not satisfied but at that time it was all that was available that looked decent. Later I came across the Signiagraph Edgeless Decals (they are rub on decals) which I later used to replace the tail Tiger Head. I also found that the stripes were a lighter shade of grey than what I used... well it looks good to me. I also used some decals from the Hasegawa TF-18 boxing of the kit (I tried the Fujimi decals and found them too Opaque). The Stock Colours are FS35237 for the top, FS36375 for the bottom and FS36118 for the False Canopy (the tiger stripes are supposed to be this colour also).

This aircraft had a lens cover installed so I used the Hasegawa decal for this. The Numbering and Symmetrical Lettering came from the Arrow Graphics Sheet and the flag on the Tail came from my spares box. I first painted the scheme then applied Future to seal the scheme. I also used Future as my decal setting solution which impressed me greatly. I added a top coat of Future then Used Tamiya Dull coat from a rattle can. For those of you who are familiar with the Hasegawa Hornet this is not a kit that will just fall together, there is some elbow grease involved as you will find many ill fitting parts and gaps. Particularly with the area if the intakes also the tail fins had a gap at the bottom which had to be filled using white glue. I used the Fujimi sheet for the Cockpit details and I spruced up the kit seat using tamiya tape for seat belts and some styrene for small details. As to the end result I am very satisfied, although I don't think I will revisit building this scheme for a very long time I would not change one thing.

Finally this was my first attempt at 'Weathering'. I used oil paints Black and Raw Umber and dry brushed this on using lighter fluid to thin the paint. As this aircraft was operational it did get quite dirty which was how I wanted to depict it. Finally I found a really cool base to use for my Photography. Mike Grant had posted a Printable Tarmac Section in the Tools and Tips section of the discussion forum recently... Mike Thanks!!! As to the lighting I used... well this was shot out doors on an overcast day using my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10 in Auto mode. The nice thing is that this Camera has a Macro mode and many other features I am still learning to use.

My References were:

  • Various Web sites from which I down loaded pictures... Now forgotten as I did not write them down.

  • "Wings of Change: Canadian Airmen in Europe" by Stephen Will    ISBN 0-9697582-0-0 

  • (This book is still available at Aviation World in Toronto for $10 CAD)

  • Sean Bratton who would direct me to things he had or had found on the web.

  • And a little imagination...

Also going to Plug my Local Hobby Shop Air Support Books in Kitchener, Bought all of my supplies there. 

Happy Canada Day folks, may your glasses be full today.

Cheers

Emil Varosi

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Photos and text © by Emil Varosi