I did ALMOST finish the Sea King last Summer but discovered that I do not have the right decals for the camouflage paint scheme, only the decals for the festive livery are included.
So while I was trying to source the missing decals, I started working on the T-33, and used the late summer weather to also prime the F-104 sprues.
That then got interrupted in October by drawing my little brother for Sinterklaas (you know, the thing @schurem made an AT-AT for), who LOVES the Super Hornet. So I made him the Academy 1:72 F/A-18E.
Completely in style, I worked on it for months and only barely finished it in time.
The kit is amazing, clicks together perfectly, you barely even need glue, and the gaps between parts are naturally masked and all on panel lines. The decals are great too!
I kept the canopy off and left the pilot unpainted, since the recipient is much better at painting miniatures than âthis old manâ (referring to Santa and me).
In more recent news, I finally found some Belgian Sea King decals that are being sent to me this week.
So after 2 gift build interruptions and finishing a total of 5 kits, it seems I will finally get back to the second kit I started building.
But first the simpit.
P.S. I suspect the AIM-120 on the shoulder station is not allowed when the inner wing pylon is occupied. But he likes it so I think I got away with it
The shape really grew on me during the build. I much preferred the âslimâ Hornet before but I see the appeal of the bigger LERX and the chonky fuselage now.
Great model - it looks fantastic, and a very thoughtful gift for your brother!
I love the EA-18G âGrowlerâ (despite the name ). One of the most important aircraft in any fleet. But you think an -E or -F looks cursed with the canted pylons? Try putting ALQ-99 jamming pods on - it looks ridiculous!
Growler is the one âsuperâ I actually like. Iâve got a Hasegawa kit collecting dust in my closet. Speaking of dustâŠmy half-built Intruder has been looking forlornâŠ
Werenât the canted stores due to slipstream issues when jettisoning them if they were in-line with the fuselage?
I read the same thing about the canted stores, not sure why youâd ever want to jettison the jammer pods but I suppose separate pylon attachment points is just more weightâŠ
I wonder if the âcanted pylons, good enoughâ is the same type of thing that led to the problems with 737-Max?
Itâs always fun to learn little tidbits like that while modelling. I remember when building an E-2C, I was so confused as to why there were exhaust stains running parallel to the wing axis when the engines are of course mounted perpendicular. Then it hit me: They taxi around carrier decks with the wings folded. Interesting note on that, Japanese Hawkeyes only have that exhaust stain on one wing because they unfold the wings on the ramp after starting up the first engineâcanât remember if it was left or right.
). One of the most important aircraft in any fleet. But you think an -E or -F looks cursed with the canted pylons? Try putting ALQ-99 jamming pods on - it looks ridiculous!