The cockpit is amazing and your build up is really nice too. I am also eager to see how your 2-3 tone pre-shading is going to come out.
Ben
So, the top side has been sprayed. Using a different paint for the first time time, Alclad Mil-Spec Enamel. Haven’t quite figured it out yet as seems very prone to ‘pebbling’…very unlike the MRP I have been using of late. Instructions on bottle say to spray @ 15-20 psi, I started with 20 then worked my way back to 15, had this problem all the time. sprayed from 2 to 3" and still there! It seemed to work OK for the first 10/15 seconds then started going bad…maybe I should add flow improver (if I had any 'cos I’ve never had issue before with MRP or Tamiya. Any suggestions?
I would be interested to now anyone else used this Alclad paint with or without success??? I can’t be the only one.
Undecided if the black and white pre-shade worked. The black is fine though the white doesn’t seem to show too much.
As for the pebble-dash effect…hmmmm. Have found that a good rub with a soft cloth removes the pebble-dash so it’s not a train wreck!
Anyways, onward and upward as they say!
Oops, TPS = Tactical Paint Scheme, the current USN a/c painting format. Uses a bunch of pre-catalyzed paints that never dry to match. The brownshoes call it “easter egg.”
And the sentence ought read “render like”–referring to how the same base color scans as not just light and dark but greener and/or bluer at the same time.
And, I’m still not decided if they render better as an undercoat, or as a tonal variation put on top.
Hope that helps any.
So I have the major painting done now, and I also have a clear coat on as well (Alclad ALC-310 Klear Kote Gloss)
Was ‘surpised’ to note a big difference between Aclad and MRP, both claiming to be FS 36375 - LGG (A+B) and FS 36320 DGG (C+D). When Alclad used on model (B+D) I had to double check what I used as the difference between the Light and Dark was so little that I thought I’d accidentally used the Light on the top side…(I hadn’t).
Used a thinned down Tamiya X-18 semi gloss black for the exhaust stains.
Not so much difference between the dark and light ghost grey (Using Alclad Mil-Spec). Wasn’t terribly impressed with it to be honest and had planned on using MRP for the underside. However, I didn’t think I had enough on hand so I persevered with the Alclad for the underside. Still had issue with slight ‘pebble-dashing’ despite playing around with pressures…bottle says 15-20 psi…I went down as low as 10 psi (which was slightly better). Once dry, a rub down with a soft cloth removed the dusting/pebble-dash effect.
With the painting and clear coat done and dry I have started with a ‘dark dirt’ flory wash.
This may be well known, but it’s a new discovery for me. Stumbled upon a better way to remove the flory than with a damp cloth…just scrub it off with a dry piece of sponge. To my eye, it leaves a better look (and slightly dirtier than with a damp cloth).
Just a quick note on the Alclad paints. I sent an email to Alclad asking if they had any explanation for my experience with their paint. I was contacted within 20 minutes by a guy called Robert asking “Could you please tell me what Mil-Spec you have, also if you have any Alclad Airbrush cleaner you can use this to thin the Mil-Spec down”. Sent him details and he again relied within 20 minutes with “What is your address I will put some replacements in the post also with an Airbrush Cleaner, I won’t use any of the ones you have. It looks like bottle from the end of a filling run that has dragged some think stuff up”. Sent him my address and again quickly got “Hi Steve, It will go in the post tomorrow”
So…, maybe I just got a couple of bad bottles which they are replacing FOC, along with FOC cleaner as well!!
What great customer service 
Progress report. So, I’ve got her all dirtied up and sealed with another clear coat…and now on to the mind-bending business of decals…there’s loads of the little blighters!! This is going to take a few days I think, keep popping out to my shed and do a few and then take a break as I am getting cramps in my hand and I’m sure I’m boss-eyed when I come in…
An excellent WIP my friend. Your progress is amazing for the amount of detail that’s been applied!
Your friend’s, Toshi & Ezra
Looking very nice.
Finally got all the decalling done! On the home leg now, got a semi gloss top coat to go on, finish up the ordinance and then final assembly of flaps/wheels/doors/ordinance etc.
All in all, not as bad as I was expecting given the reviews I read online, few few quite bad fit issues and a fair few minor ‘niggles’…but not so bad as to make me want/need to shelve it.
Off to do the clear coat now…then finish up painting/decalling and weathering of the bombs.
And before anyone else says anything, I have just noticed my ‘deliberate’ mistake and the stars’n’bars are upside down on the right side of the cockpit…oh well!!!
Well, that’s a bit of a PITA! Someone in Revell messed up as they do not supply you enough decals on the sheet!
For the weapons pylons you have 4 inner and 2 outer. For each inner pylon side you require 1 x #74, 1 x #78, 1 x #80 and 1 x #81…2 sides per pylon (obviously!) so 2 x 74, 78, 80, 81. 4 pylons so need 8 of each for all. So…what do they give you…6!!! well done Revell!!!
Need 12 of each when you do all the inner and outer pylons 
So I’m just gonna have to do one side of the pylon only…dammed annoying.
Just caught up on this thread - what a great build! I had a similar paint issue. I blamed it on my impatience. I think it’s a hot paint over not fully gassed out/dry primer. In my case I had a pretty heavy coat of Tamiya white primer and shot MM insignia yellow thinned with laquer thinner. Pebbled the entire thing! Mine went into the trash after some mock sidewinder hits ;). You recovered very nicely!
Nice build. I don’t know how I’ve missed this so far, but glad I found it. Man, those modern jets in 1/32 take up some realistate when done. Looking forward to seeing it complete.
BK
Thankyou Brandon, these big models really to take up quite a bit of room. gonna have to sacrifice something in my shed to make room for this puppy…think my Eurofighter might be the one to move to the loft space!
Thanks keavdog, glad you like it. As mentioned earlier in thread, I emailed Alclad to ask if they had any suggestions for the paint and they very kindly sent me replacements for both paints along with a bottle of their thinner…all FOC! Haven’t used the ‘new’ stuff yet so cannot report if it was ‘user-error’ or a paint issue. mine was Alclad Mil-Spec over Tamiya grey primer…but my primer had days to go off so I feel it was not some reaction between the 2 (unless others used same combination with similar results?).
Happy how it turned out in the end, a rub down with a soft cloth is not so much of a big deal.
So I’m calling this one done for the moment, everything is on except the center line tank, undercarriage/doors), and the gun thingy for the nose (on the way from Revell as was missing from the get go). Can’t put them on until the new parts come from Revell in 4/6 weeks. I had a massive brain fart a few days ago and threw away an ‘old’ sprue with 1 of the undercarriage assy still on it…Doh!!!
So this is 99.9% finished, until the bits arrive.
All in all, this kit was not the nightmare I was expecting from online reviews. Sure, it didn’t just fall together like Tamiya, but nothing so major that a little care and clamps couldn’t sort out. Also, there a couple of very good build logs around that will show where the issues are, forewarned is forearmed as they say.
Hope you enjoy, comments and critique as always welcomed.
Love it! Beautiful.
I was at MDC during the whole development, from McDonnel’s involvement with the F-17 through flight tests of -18.
Nicely done Steve! Had an opportunity to photograph this exact bird a few months ago at work, but I had left my real camera at home.
Spectacular job !!! That model must weigh a ton . Now sit back have a pint and look at your work. (Or tea) [H]
Awesome job! That’s a big girl.
Aha!
A very commendable bird build. Very nice effort to put the realism in and on the kit. Now, point of Fact! Did You Know the “Blue Angels” have transitioned to a new Aircraft? Yessir, They have gone from the FA-18 Hornet to the F-18 " Super Hornet".
Oh yeah, does any work get done in that fine looking office?