Until the appearance of
this new tool from Revell a few weeks ago the LS F-18s
were still the best in this scale - the awful Dragon offering
doesn't bear mentioning. Revell Germany is one of the
few companies that seems intent on keeping 1/144th scale
alive and this kit certainly won't hurt that effort as
it is superb. The choice of markings should certainly
help sales as well (worked on me anyway!), although to
be pedantic the box should be labeled 'CF-18' or 'CF-188'
and not 'F/A-18C' since the featured aircraft is Canadian.
A US Navy F/A-18C can be built from the box of course
and alternative markings are included for a colourful
example from VFA-115 "Eagles".
The parts are to Revell's usual high standards with fine
recessed panel lines (still oversize for the tiny scale
of course but you've got to have them these days or we'll
bitch) and crisp flash-free mouldings. Parts breakdown
indicates a two seater is in the cards as well which will
be very welcome. Cockpit consists of an ejection seat,
instrument panel (with decals for this and the side consoles),
control stick and cockpit tub. Not too shabby for 1/144th.
The canopy is a two part affair (a first for an F-18 in
this scale?) which can be posed open, but it is unfortunately
quite thick.
The LEX fences are very nice albeit very slightly on the
thick side - easily corrected with a bit of sanding. The
three tiny strengthening tabs are finely moulded on the
inside of the fins although the corresponding bits aren't
present on the top of the fuselage. Hardly noticeable
in this tiny scale I would think. Curiously Revell have
moulded the gun gas vents on the nose cone but not the
cannon muzzle itself, which is a bit odd as the muzzle
is more prominent than the vents. Shouldn't be too difficult
to drill out if desired. Another slight omission is the
starboard navigation light just outboard of the LEX fence.
The port one is depicted as a fine engraved line but there
is nothing on the starboard side. A tiny drop of green
paint will fix that.
Surely you know what to do by now:
There are a couple of slightly
more noticeable problems, both of which will be easily
cured. The first is the lack of any depiction of the searchlight
on the nose. Most Canadian Hornets have these, and 720
most definitely does, so it should be added as it is quite
visible. My own method which I used on my LS CF-18 is
to drill a shallow hole (don't go all the way through),
paint it silver and then add a drop of 5 minute epoxy
on top for the lens. Alternatively, you could use an MV
Products lens.
The other anomaly concerns the flaps. Revell have depicted
these as extending beyond the trailing edge of the wings
and, unless this is a recent modification that I've not
seen, this is incorrect. The trailing edge of the wings
should be a straight line from root to tip. Again, easily
corrected by slicing off the offending bit and sanding
back to a sharp edge, but it's curious that Revell depicted
the wings this way.
Stores in the kit include one drop tank and two each of
the following: Sidewinders, Sparrows, Harpoons, and (I
think) Walleyes. These are nicely done although the fins
are of course too thick. There is also a targeting FLIR
pod and an ASQ-173 laser pod included.
Markings for two aircraft are included, the aforementioned
VFA-115 example and the aircraft painted to commemorate
the 20th anniversary of the Hornet in Canadian service.
Revell decals are usually excellent and these seem to
be no exception, being thin, well printed and in register.
My only complaint is that the 'faded' effect on the upper
wing markings of the Canadian machine are very "dotty",
no doubt caused by the limitations of the printing process.
It may be possible to carefully cut out the gray outlines
and stylised maple leafs and apply them over an airbrushed
background. On the other hand, that might smack of effort
and I may just ignore it.
Another great little kit
from Revell and at £2.99 here in jolly old England
I consider it a bargain.
Markings for two aircraft are included, the aforementioned
VFA-115 example and the aircraft painted to commemorate
the 20th anniversary of the Hornet in Canadian service.
Revell decals are usually excellent and these seem to
be no exception, being thin, well printed and in register.
My only complaint is that the 'faded' effect on the upper
wing markings of the Canadian machine are very "dotty",
no doubt caused by the limitations of the printing process.
It may be possible to carefully cut out the gray outlines
and stylised maple leafs and apply them over an airbrushed
background. On the other hand, that might smack of effort
and I may just ignore it.
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