Converting Revell 1/48 F/A -18E (top gun) to Blue Angels

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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I purchased the Revell 1/48 Top Gun kit from Hobby Lobby and figured it would be a good base for a Blue Angels build.

What Modifications are needed?

What aftermarket decals are recommended?

Any extra painting needed after I lay down the Blue? (i.e. do I really need to purchase the yellow paint?)

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Depending on which decals you use will determine how much yellow you will have to paint. All the sheets have the lettering, numbers and fuselage stripes included. Some decal sheets also include the yellow bands for the tails and wing tip, some do not. The one part that you will for sure have to paint is the wingtip missile rails - no one that I know of makes decals to cover that part.

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The only modification that the Blues do to their Super Hornets are to put in a plug on the gun port and adjacent gas vents. Otherwise the aircraft are the same. The airframes are supposed to be able to be reconfigured into fully combat capable mode within a 24 hour timespan if needed.

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This is pretty good news!! I’ll have to see which decal sets will give me the best results for this project.

Appreciate your feedback!!

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I’m going to need to find out what that looks like. I’m glad the Blues keep it pretty simple!!!

Thanks for the tip!!!

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It looks smooth and shiny where the gun and gas ports are sealed up

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Appreciate that photo so much. I was wondering how that looked!!

Much thanks!!

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Can anyone recommend the best decal set in 1/48 scale for this project? A set that would involve minimal painting would be great!!

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A quick search turned up these:
MILSPEC DECAL, MS 48-056 1/48 SCALE, F/A-18E/F SUPER HORNET, BLUE ANGELS, 2021 – Cam Decals

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Darn that was fast!!

Thanks

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Google is your Friend…

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I used the CAM Decals for my ‘87 Season Blue Angels A model Hornet that I built a couple of years ago…

Highly recommended!

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First, that is a GORGEOUS looking model!!

I ordered the CAM decals and will use them for this project. I hope I can get my Super Hornet looking half as nice as yours!!

Thanks for sharing!

Quick question; what did you end up painting yellow? I’m sure I’ll have to do something similar.

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Thank you. I think I only had to paint the wingtips & missile rails, and a few small items like the blade antennas on the fuselage, and perhaps the tips of the vertical and horizontal stabilizers.

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don’t they have the oil pipework leading to the exhaust?