To: Canadian Scale Modelers/Hornet Fans
From: Jim Turnbull
Re: Academy’s 1:32 scale F/A-18"C" Hornet Kit
Anyone either working on OR set to begin this kit would greatly benefit from an exchange of information between modelers, I think.
I have almost completed my Hornet and I have a note book nearly filled with pointers and tips and advice on this kit.
Despite many inaccurate reviews of this kit, it isn’t perfect and there are quite a few problem areas with it and a modeler should be aware of them BEFORE stumbling into a quagmire of problems.
Fit issues, incorrect and misleading instructions and poor detail(in areas) are present with this kit.
If you’d like to exchange information on this project, then please contact me at my personal email address and I’d be happy to assist other modelers in any way I can.
not from Canada- but just finished mine last night- very good kit but some areas were troublesome and the decals absolutely are terrible- I want to put more weapons on her but the decals DO NOT WORK…I used Two Bob’s for the VFA-22 markings:
Nice job on your Hornet. I wasn’t restricting comments on this kit to Canadians specifically;just that I thought some of my Canadian compatriots would like to toss ideas back and forth on this kit.
I’m not sure ;what you have to say regarding this kit but since I am about 85% finished, I think I have a fairly good handle on its overall quality.
I’d give this kit a 7.5 out of 10. Very nice in some areas and poor in others.
I expected much more in the cockpit/seat area given the cost of the kit. If you really want to dress up the tub etc, then it forces you to buy an aftermarket kit which adds another $40 or so to the overall price of the project.
The spitter plate/intake areas are a treat and every modeler I have spoken to about this kit has had serious gaps between the splitter plates and the LEXs on the underside.
Some of the early kits had warped wings and poor fitting nose panels as well.
Step 11 in the Instruction Booklet badly advises you on how to assemble the intakes/splitter plates.
I would add that the kit decals are a huge downfall- nothing gets them to work! I stopped work on weapons because I could get the stencil decals to adhere no matter what I tried…
Some parts fit like a dream- main wing section is cleverly designed and barely needed glue…hor stabilizers attach also in another clever way allowing movement and stability- no glue here either.
Landing gear- very well and smartly done- much care needed on main gear in final steps to attach linkages.
Intakes did not fit well at all- much putty- could be me but I think I handled construction well up to that point so much of the blame lies with the kit.
Overall- I would rate it a little higher than you- it was enjoyable and I am proud of it…hope the F-16 is even better…
It’s probably a little bit too late but I’m waiting to receive mine and that’s my first big scale aircraft since I was a kid and not to serious about modeling. I don’t want to screw that up and if your offer of sharing information about building this kit is still valid, I would like to know your e-mail adress. You can send me a reply at yann.desrochers@globetrotter.net
