Tools (limited to the following):
exacto knife
tweezers
sand paper
cuticle file/emery board
liquid cement or tube glue
CA glue
filler
paint brushes
spray can or bottled paint
toothpicks
Start Date: 02/07/03
Deadline:
30 days from starting date.
Other:
Keep cost of kits under $30 US. Straight from the box build, no aftermarket stuff. If it doesn’t come in the box, then it doesn’t go on the kit.
Please post discussions regarding the Community Build Project for the 1/48 F-18C here. If you’ve never built an airplane before, here’s your chance! This is an opportunity for all of us to learn from each other, try new things and most importantly have fun!! Anyone can participate - beginner to advanced, young and old! Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question. If you don’t know or are unsure about something ask! Aside from having fun [;)] that’s what this is all about. [:D]
For discussions about the Community Build Project - rules, tool lists, etc., please refer to the discussion open challenge to all modelers!.
I believe Italeri also has at least one 1/48 F/A-18 C.
If you like something a bit more exotic and out there than an American example of the aircraft, I believe that kit includes Swiss air force markings (That’d be something different) I’ve also heard that kit includes Finn air force markings as well.
Well Guys and Dolls, today’s the day…! Still awaiting delivery of my (Super) Hornet, but it won’t be long before I can get started. Should we confine our CBP post here?
Well, I’m not really sure, but I was thinking of a nice ‘flame’ job, and maybe a tinted canopy?? (Can you tell that I’m into cars as well?) Of course, that’s going to be tough to do without an air-brush, but I like to start with a vision, and then build the plan to get there.
I’m assuming that would be OK as long as I used the restricted tools and kit parts. If I’m pushing the envelope of the ‘intention’ of the CBP, then let me know and I’ll ‘fall-in-line’.
I was also just over at the aircraftresourcecenter and they have ALOT of pics of nice F-18’s in their gallery and in the walk-around section. In particular, there’s this one http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/AWA1/101-200/walk168_50thF-18/walk168.htm of an RCAF 50th anniversary version. I think I could do that one with just paint and the decals that are in the model I have (or at least very close to it.)
Plan to start on some of the basic pieces/assemblies tonight, but the final vision is not yet clear in my head. If it doesn’t become clear very soon, I will just complete it in the Canadian F-18B normal version/colors.
What’s wrong? Can’t you paint a straight line? [:p][;)]
Masking tape? The brown stuff, right? That’s pretty common I would think. Any store that carries stationary, envelopes, etc. should have masking tape. But then again, the list is going to start getting larger again. [8)]
Painting - I would think any kind of paint scheme that can be achieved with the list of tools is acceptable.
We might want to review the original intention of the CBPs. [:)]
We could always revise or modify the list of tools for each CBP too. We don’t always have to limit each one to basic tools - but that’s a discussion for the other thread I think. [;)]
You got me thinking a bit about this, Bayonet. I think I’m going to relax on the ‘alternative’ paint schemes and go with the regular old CF-18B. My original intention in this CFB was to get back to the ‘roots’ of building a model as if it was my first one. Custom flame jobs probably wouldn’t have been on my mind when I was 8 or 9 years old and getting a kit for the first time.
I’m changing my ‘perspective’ and going with the OOB design and look. Others should feel free to paint as they wish, but I’m choosing to restrict myself to what my original intention was. Who knows, the whole project might be more ‘challenging’ this way anyways.
No I have not fallen off the face of the earth. I’ve been in the home stretch of another project. Now with that done I can shift my focus back to the CBP[:)]. I went to Walmart on Friday but had no luck. There is a Hobbytown USA 30 minutes away that should have something. Either that or I will have to travel about an hour and a half to a well equipped shop (The Spare Time Shop), sorry for that shameless plug. The number of real hobby shops in this area is shrinking so I do what I can for them. I’ve been looking for a “reason” to make the trip anyways.
It’s great to see people already starting and posting pictures!!! I’m still surprised to see the amount of interest this has generated. It would appear that we have a nice cross section of modelers with varying interests participating. It’s even better to see people taking on a project that they are not familiar with. I’m looking forward to working on subjects that I have never tried before. It should be a lot of fun.
Heres a funny thing that happened to me today…My son is buliding his first glue together model completely on his own. He has done very well for his age (9 yrs old). Today he started painting the exterior using a can of Model Master paint. Now I have always considered spray cans to be a beginners tool not used by “experienced” modelers. After a few attempts to explain the proper procedures of use it dawned on me that it’s harder than it looks. It takes skill to get good results from a can. This got me thinking about our list of tools for the CBP. Is a spray can really a basic tool? I found this to be a gentle reminder that sometimes we take seemingly simple tasks for granted. Most of what we do requires a certain amount of skill, otherwise it would get boring very quickly. By the way, my son did a great job with his first paint job[:I].
I have been following with great interest your postings regarding the Community Build Project - February 2003 - F-18 HORNET. I would like to toss my hat into the ring and build along. [:p] It really is a great idea, the limited tool list and format are very interesting and help make the whole project fun … and gee if you aren’t having fun … why do it???
I plan to build an old (1988 issue) AMT/ERTL (ESCI) 1/48th scale F/A-18A HORNET. I had never opened the box until today … it doesn’t look like a bad kit. [:)] The decals allow building one of the following F/A-18A’s … a U.S. NAVY a/c; A Royal Australian Air Force a/c; a Spanish a/c or a CF18A of Sq. No. 410 Canada. Gee can’t make up my mind … but time enough for that. [:D]
Well, better go clear off the workbench and get out the “approved” tools. Say, BTW are we allowed to use masking tape ??? [:)]
Thanks for a really great project … looking forward to building and sharing … and then moving on to the next CBP. [8)]
I built that kit when it was released, in the late 70’s…! I think it’s more like the Hornet’s prototype rather than a production item. I remember having a whale of a time building it, though. I’m curious to see what you’ll make out of it! And, by the way, welcome to the CBP…!
Welcome to the group! Any new volunteers are certainly welcome at any stage of the game. And, you’ve got a kit and everything (as you’ve probably read, not everyone is so lucky to have one in the ‘stash’.)
I was lucky enough to find one the other night and I started on it this morning (happy to say I didn’t ‘cheat’). I must say that the ‘spirit’ of this project is definitely alive in me. As I opened the box, I could feel the adrenalin (ok, maybe I’m exagerating) surging and all I wanted to do was have the darn thing finished!! I started putting it together and gluing like a mad-man. At one point, I was examining the front gear-bay and thinking “Oh, I could make this way better.” Then I remembered what we were doing and I realized that when I was 7 or 8 years old, the last thing I’d be thinking of was puting some additional details into a gear-bay! “Just get the thing together so we can get some paint on it,” would have been more in-line with my thoughts then!!
So, I’m probably spending a little more time cleaning the parts up and removing the flash (than I did when I was 8), but all-in-all I’m really looking forward to the PAINT stage.
I’ve made a leap of faith and put the front fuselage together BEFORE I’ve installed the cockpit. I test fit theparts and it looks like I’ll be able to slide it in there when it’s finished. Boy, I hope I’m not wrong or it’s gonna be one funny looking jet…
I haven’t sliced my finger with the knife yet, so I guess I’ve improved my modelling skills somewhat since I was 8.
I don’t have a digital camera, so you’ll just have to visualize my progress for now. I should be able to get access to one in the next few days, so I’ll post a picture then. (the way things are going, I might even have paint on it by then!!)
Anyone correct me if I am wrong, but, FreedomEagle, I believe masking tape is allowed.
btw, I wish I did have a digital camera. Afraid to buy a cheap one, don’t want to pay for a good one. I happned to be takking pictures of another finished project on Saturday, and thought to snap the just opened F-18. I just used our point and shoot. The other project was basa/tissue P-40, 28" wingspan, so it worked for that. But for the 1/48 scale, etc., getting a good picture is hard. Need an SLR with a macro lens, I guess.
I’ve got the Testors version which I believe is the same as the Italeri. It comes with decals to build either US Navy or Canadian in either A or B config. I’m not really impressed with the quality of the mold as there seems to be quite a few places where the panel lines are weak and faint, and others where they are fairly crisp. The surface looks like it has quite a bit of ‘dust’ embedded into the plastic (ie. kinda like a paint job that had lint and other dust particles settle in while it was drying.) The wings don’t really fit to the body very well and leave a large gap that will have to be filled.
I’ve decided to build it in the Canadian F-18B config and am going with an ‘in-flight’ model (even though there is no pilot figure). I always liked having a model I could ‘zoom’ around the room as if it were really flying!! There is no ‘stand’ for the model, so I’ll either have to hang it or rig up some sort of stand.
Haven’t got any paint on it yet, but I’m hopefully starting on the ‘filling’ and seam cleanup tonight.