OK, I have a problem. One of you guys needs to step in. Really, someone slap me. Why do I do this to myself?
So my first thought was, “Well, I’m building the blue -A, why not use my HobbyBoss two-seater to build the brown -B on the sheet at the same time?”
Well, it turns out my HB kit is a -D. So my next thought was, “Well, I could use my Hasegawa -B to build the brown option.”
Then, as I thought about it further, I figured why not just build the HB -D as a -B? Only the hardest of the hardcore will know that I’m faking it. Then I could use the Hase -B to build a third Omar! A gray two-seater!
So, that’s what I’m gonna do. Instead of one Omar, there will be THREE!
I started with the HB noses and removed the molded in searchlight that’s only found on foreign Hornets.
Then I got all three noses assembled and cleaned up.
While the glue dried on the noses, I modified the HB -D fins. I removed the middle fairing by first grinding most of the plastic off with my Dremel. Some fine chisels followed. Then I finished with various grits of sandpaper. Notice that the HB fins has some reinforcement plates molded on. From what I can tell from my references, the Omar airframes don’t have them. I left them because trying to remove them would be too much.
After the noses and fins were squared away, I moved to the cockpits. The only additions I made were some simple shoulder harnesses made from paper. Otherwise, everything is OOB. You can see the HB’s backseat does not have the flight controls like the Hase -B does. Again, unless you’re in the know, you won’t know. Besides, my builds are usually built with the canopy closed, so I no one is going to be looking to notice anyway.
HB -D and -A (L to R)
Hase -B
So, here we are! As usual, comments, questions, and criticisms are welcome. Feel free to drop your two cents into the bucket on your way out. I’ll post more when there’s more to post. In the meantime, someone come find me and give me a good swift kick in the you-know-what. Obviously, I need one.
Cheers!
-O
