Ok… This is for any canuk out there…I want to build a canadian hornet and was wondering wich kit should I pick and what modifications should I make…I’ll do a 1/72 scale…any aftermarket I should be aware of??
thanx
My understanding is that Hasegawa are the best Hornets in 1/72.
As for aftermarket, both Arrow Graphics and Leading Edge make a wide variety of Canadian Hornet decal sheets.
You can find their products here:
Sorry I help with any info on 1/72. Should you decide to do a 1/48 kit, I know of two that already have Canadian markings. I recently purchased the testors offering (#524) that comes with markings for 410 squadron, North Bay. Shortly after a friend saw what I was going to build, he arrived with the Italeri offering (#827) and much begging for me to build his too. The Italeri also comes with Canadian markings for 409 squadron, CAF Baden Sollingen. Both A/C are done in the overall grey scheme. Turns out that both kits are completely identical, just different boxes and both have the parts to build either a single or dual seat version although only one kit actually actually mentions building the dual seater as an option. They both look to be a reasonable OOB build with good detail and recessed lines. I was thinking of building mine OOB but chances are I just won’t be able to resist adding something.
Hope this helps should you decide to try a 1/48.
I just purchased a 1/72 Hornet on ebay by Revell Germany #4612 (I think). I haven’t receieved it yet but the auction said it had Canadian markings (Don’t know which). When I get it I will update this.
Hi,
I recently built a Canadian CF-18 at 1/32 scale using the Academy kit. It turned out very nice without to much surgery, just a couple of things to sand out. Also, I don’T know about those 1/72 kits but Canadian CF-18 have a spotlight on the LH side of the nose. You should check for a kit that give you that option.
For decals, there is a very good company that makes great decals for CF-18 in differnt scales. There are several retailer but here is the link to the manufacturer. http://lemdecal.com/ I used those decals on my bird and I must say these are the best decals I had to put on any model, very thin and sticks well. Will look like painted on with just a small amount of Microsol. Here are some pictures of my CF-18.
Luckymodel also sells those decals at low price and they delivers pretty fast. http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?search=Y&q_brand=LEM&q_category=&q_scale=72&q_word=
Also, here’s a link to a good site for reference pictures. http://www.airshowphotography.com/
I modeled the exact plane that is shown there. You can use those pictures to check the differences between US and CDN ones.
Have fun
I have built the Hasegawa 1/72 Hornet in Canadain markings (came with the kit back in the mid 80’s) and I highly recommend it. As for after market stuff do a search on Squadron or Great models websites and I’m sure you’ll come up with tons of stuff. Leading edge decals has lots of nice Canadian markings. Good luck and make sure you post some pics along the way [:)]
All I ever build is RCAF aircraft…I usually build in 1/48 scale. But 1/72 I would go with the Hasagawa kit. And then get a set of Leading Edge decals or possibly a set of Belcher bits decals. BOth of these gentlemen that produce these decals are Canadian so have some of the best sources. One thing that you should put on your kit if it is not included is the Lexx fence that is above the intakes… this was a Canadian design and is on all our birds. It is just a peice of metal that is mounted above the intakes to split up the airflow. The squadrons ussually put their squadron logos on it. For good pics of a CF-188 hornet visit the DND websit…it is www.dnd.ca Hope this helps.
Colin
I don’t know if I would go with teh testors markings from kit 524…there is no 410 squadron in Northbay…Since I was posted to CFB Northbay in the 80’s, it was 414 squadron. they flew the last two Voodoos, and T-birds…no 18’s there. Latest posting was 4wing Cold Lake…there you will find 410 squadron , and 416 squadron plus AETE…all flying the CF-188. A little unsure about 409 squadron BAden Sollingen…might find some CF-104’s there a long time ago…but Baden was shut down…The CF-188 has always been on Canadian soil. Baden had a base but mostly just leopard mark 1 tanks. No planes there. CFB Lahr in West Germany had some RCAF planes but mostly just transports…no fighters ther.
Hope this helps…
creid: The CF-188 was indeed deployed to Baden-Soellingen until the early 90’s. 421 squadron and 439 squadron both operated the CF-188 from Baden-Soellingen until 1993 or so.
409 Squadron flew CF-188’s from Comox, BC until it stood down the first time in 1994. It’s recently been reformed at Cold Lake Alberta from 416 and 441 squadrons. 409’s been based in Western Canada since it was reformed initially post-WW2. Its only european deployment was in WW2.
I am interested in the Tiger Meet CF-188’s. UNfortunately the decals for these all seem to be sold out. Both by Leading Edge and Flightdecs. Question on the Light on the CF-188. How easy is it to scratch build? Also, if a kit offers Canadian decals, does that ususually mean they would offer the option to place the light in the plane also? BTW, I am a relative newbie to plane building so please excuse the simple questions.
At which scale do you want to make it? Cause the 1/72 Tigermeet decals are marked as “available” at luckymodel.com. That means they do not have it in stock but they can have it fairly quickly.
I am thinking the 2003 TMOTA set in 1/48 but the 2001 TMOTA or 1992 TM in 1/72. Which set does Lucky have in 1/72?
Yann Solo … excellent build on the Hornet. My compliments to you.
The 1992 one.
Thank you very much, it was fun project with a lot of learning, if you know what I mean.
When 409 reformed to take the Hornet, they replaced 441 at Baden. 441 was rotated back to Canada and based at Cold Lake with a small detachment of Hornets at Comox. There has not been a full squadron of fighters headquartered at Comox since 409 was there as a Voodoo unit.
409 was in fact, the first Canadian fighter unit to be sent into the Persian Gulf during Desert Storm, it was eventually replaced by the “Desert Cats” unit comprised of 416 and 439 squadrons.
After Baden was shut down, 409 was returned to Comox as a T-33 unit until the T-33 was retired. 409 was disbanded at that time and has very recently been re-established at Cold lake as a Hornet unit with 416 and 441 squadrons combined to create it.
Here’s a link to a brief 409 Sqn. history:
http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/4wing/squadron/409hist_e.asp
As for the Testors kit with the 410 markings, they are innacurate on many counts anyway don’t waste your time with them.
BTW, the last time 410 was based at North Bay was very early in Canada’s Voodoo era, I believe 410 was posted to North Bay for a short while in the early 60s after it converted from the CF-100.
upnorth: I stand corrected on the subject of 409 squadron, my source (RCAF.com) was obviously incomplete. I will note that the CT-133 outlasted 409th squadron though. It was indeed stood down in 1994 as a T-33 squadron, but the CT-133 lasted in other units until 2001, making it the longest-serving aircraft in Canadian service.
No problem Mycroft:
I used to use rcaf.com all the time, but a year or so ago they changed their format and who knows what else and the quality went down.
They used to have great big photo galleries of all the aircraft types, but if they still have them I’m not sure how to get to them.
Generally I find that the DND does a pretty good job of promoting itself and its gear on the net, so their homepages are generally a good spot to start online research into Canadian military hardware and units.
mykroft: you are right. I forgot…they were overseas for a bit. But the kit decals that I was origonally replying to are wrong as we both know…since the kit decals were saying 410 squadron was in Northbay. When it is actually in cold Lake. 414 squadron was split up a few years back and i believe that a few of their t-33’s from Northbay are flying in comox under the 414sqn. Have you heard if they are going to deploy a few of the 18’s from bagottville to Afghanistan? My older brother is part of that squadron and they have been doing a bit of training, for that reason.
Rob Brown:the search light on the CF-188, is ussually used for visual identification in the dark. They used to use them quite alot years ago when the russian Bears used to approach our airspace. Fly up beside them and light them up…say hello.
Very easy to model. I have an older testors kit that it was included as a clear lens. Just don’t use the decals as they were in accurate. The easiest way…410 tactical fighter training squadron used to block them over and not install them. Since they are not always needed on trainers they would just remove them and put a white peice of tin in their place and mark “do not paint” in the center. So if you were to model a 410 bird and you left the light out or just put a white decal in its place would be accurate. your choice. Best bet is to source some pictures of the aircraft you are to model and check to see if it is installed.
hope this helps