i am just returning to modeling after a very long time (about 35 years).
This return has been trig by the fact that I have a son in the RCAF ani I have decided to start making models that represent the aircraft of the Canadian Airforce.
now this is where the help part comes in. I am looking to start with a kit for the CF- 18 Hornet and I am not sure which kit is best and where to get them and supplies ( in Canada would be a bonus). I could work with a kit up to 1/32. Also looking for marking decals for the RCAF as well.
i know it is a big ask for a newbie but I would really appreciate any help and suggestions this learned group would have.
For decals…for pretty much all things Canadian…google “Leading Edge Decals.” They have a great range of markings, from the ‘plain wrapper’ to the elaborate yearly CAF ‘demo’ schemes. (And pretty much all their art is available in all the common scales.)
As to kits…it would really help to nail down your preferred scale. There is a dizzying variety of kits available, most of which have (or have been issued with) options for a Canadian variant.
Of course…starting at the ‘silly’ end of the spectrum…I can heartily recommend the Hasegawa ‘CF-Eggteen’:
If you can find it, Academy made a big 1/32 F/A-18 with the necessary parts to convert it into a Canadian bug. From what I read it was a really stellar kit.
One thing you’ll probably notice is how much of the hobby is online. There are a lot of good online sellers, and a ton of info.
I don’t build jets, so I can’t help you with who makes the best CF-18 kit. But as a general recommendation, I’ll suggest Sprue Brothers to you. Whether it’s to find that particular subject, or to look for kits and supplies in general, you might like to have a look at their site:
A little bigger than I was thinking but not out of the questio. I was thinking 1/48.
as there are som differences both externally and in the cockpit and my son is in the Airforce stationed in Cold Lake I should get it right as he does not the plane.
I plan to pair it with an Alpha Plane which is what they use for the " bad guy" in there Top Gun style games.
We had a great ‘Silly Egg’ group build here on the forum a while back…‘egg’ planes, Toon tanks, and the like…and I did it up with the Hasegawa kit and a set of decals from an old Italeri 1/72 ‘legit’ kit.
I love RCAF/CAF subjects, and do them with some frequency. [:D]
The number one recognition difference between the Canadian 18 and a US bird is the presence of a spotlight on the left fuselage below the chine & canopy. There are also some differences in the antennas on the tail fins. If your son is in the ‘correct’ field he may know the differences. You will also find some differences in the ordnance. IIRC, among the diffs will be a Sniper targeting pod at station 5 (left missile trough).
Before I retired I worked on the RCAF Hornet flight simulators, integrating a GBU-49 weapon model into the baseline. Made a couple trips to RCAF Bagottville. The threatened to send me to Cold Lake in February
Look at the Kinetic 1:48 scale Hornet kit. They have a RCAF version with the spotlight and fins. It does get a bit fiddley around the refuel probe door on the nose. Kinetic also makes a 1:48 scale Alpha Jet, i think there may a version with the markings for the Top Jet commercial combat adversary company. Be sure you do it up in the bright blue & white arctic cloud scheme. Saw some on the flightline at Bagotville - looked sharp
You can find most of the ordnance and sensor options in 1:48 scale from Eduard of CZ
yes he is in the right field to know the differenc, that is why I was fussy about getting the CF-18.
i just picked up the Kinetic kit…it was the only one in the city. CF-18 kits are like hens teeth…damn hard to find. I don’t think anyone is produ them any more. Store owner tried to reorder when I bought mine and couldn’t.
I will worry about the Alpha Jet when I get this one done…unless I get it into my head to have 2 on the bench.
Going to take my time as it has been many years since I have done this and this will be my first jet.
now to research cockpit photos, landing gear photos etc. Wish the had one at the aviation museum in Hamilton for reference
We had a great ‘Silly Egg’ group build here on the forum a while back…‘egg’ planes, Toon tanks, and the like…and I did it up with the Hasegawa kit and a set of decals from an old Italeri 1/72 ‘legit’ kit.
I love RCAF/CAF subjects, and do them with some frequency.
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Hmmmmm… might have to do one just to get my hand back into modeling after a 35 year break.
The thing makes me smile when I look at it and I think my son would get a giggle out of it
