Hello guys.
Just built this CF-18 with the most beatufiul livery performed back in 2017 to celebrate 150th Annivasary of Canada. Seen it in person in Toronto, I had to get it when the kit came out.
Actually I started back in April 2019 but really picked it up since I am home now. [:#]
Though the top is shiny like a show car, they don’t seem to keep the belly side that clean.
Here some build photos
Kinetic Models did not include decals for cockpit, ejection seat, or landing gears which they do in their other FA-18 kits [:^)] and their instruction manual was very vague.
Had some fitment issues with nose, intake, fuel prop, and the canopy.
The antenna disc behind the canopy was missing, so I used this thumbtack in the draw.It’s been sitting in their since the 80’s for this moment lol.
Used Cricut machine to cutout masking. This was a test fit with Green tape. Used Tamiya one for actual masking on White base coat.
This was a OH F#%k NO moment.[bnghead]
I masked the top gloss area to dull coat the bottom and a chunk of decal came off with the Tamiya masking tape. I guess there wasn’t enough clear coat.
So I took those decal pieces with tape into Goo Gone bath. 
Then came back from lunch…Phew! [:D[ Saved it. It still broke into pieces but I was able to manage.
The other side, I just sprayed it and used the extra White strip decal and it was rescued.
Wow[8-|]! And a fantastic job recovering those decals, I learned the hard way to never tape over decals, even with clear coat, they are very susceptible to pulling up; their adhesive is too weak. Again, super job!
Thank you so much!
I’ll think twice masking over decals next time haha
That is beautiful work. I love it.
I have one with the same scheme in my collection but in diecast [:)]
That is a striking bird! Nice job. And interesting trick with the goo gone
The Goo Gone was a life saver 
That diecast looks pretty good!
Looks great! Great decal work and photography too.
That paint scheme is quite something! That red really pops. Quite beautiful. Very well done from start to finish. A clean paint job like that has have a perfect finish underneath or it’ll show. Kudos on being dilligent. =]
Thank you for kind words gentlemen [:)]
Spectacular work! I was just watching growing sidewinder on YouTube who decided to do a US VS Canadian simulation and he used that paint scheme so I went looking to see if it existed in 1/48 scale and there you are.
That is going on my list for sure
elation, that looks AMAZING! I love those markings on the F-18. Go Canada!!!