This model is an
Hasegawa 1/72 Boeing/McDonnell Douglas F/A18 Hornet from the box. It shows the
special scheme for the 20th duty anniversary of Royal Australian Air
Force F/A-18 in 2005. Decals come from a limited edition of MODEL ALLIANCE
MAS-729015. The lower camouflage is FS36375 Grey Gunze H308 and
the upper camouflage is FS15050 Gloss Oxford Blue Mr Color 328. The
decals are not very easy to install particularly white/red lines between
vertical tails and the big national kangaroo insignia on lower wings but I
think the result is eye attractive. I did my best to paint it with classical
brush and I added a light weathering to show rivets and structure lines on
grey bottom surfaces. I saw on the web pictures of the real plane, it is very
clean and gloss.
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The front and
main gears with all internal doors are painted in white Gunze H1, the
edge of doors are Gunze H327. To make the model more real I decided
to show the canopy open like after a public show.
For an European
modeler like me, it is very exotic to add a plane to my collection from a so far
country like Australia. But it is a real pleasure to see the South cross stars
constellation shining on this model because until now I've never gone in the South
hemisphere to see the real night sky.
Jean-Charles
Goddet
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