F/A-18A+ Hornet of VMFA-312 (1/72 Academy)

[LyleW]

Had to get my "Tim 'The Toolman' Taylor" Binford 9000 Magnifier out! I don't know how this could be much better. Great work.

[Manny1943]

Nice. Can you expand upon your choice of load-out?

[frankc]

Nice. Can you expand upon your choice of load-out?

The two AIM-9s on the wingtips are for self-defense, as is the lone AIM-7 on station 4 (outside of starboard engine inlet). The four GBUs are used in built up areas throughout Middle Eastern battlefields to minimize collateral damage and fratricide. I added the ablative coating using Vallejo Plastic Putty. It's overdone for this scale so next time I'll use Tamiya Extra Thin Cement and a stiff bristle paintbrush. The ablative coating is required on all bombs when aboard an aircraft carrier. If the bombs on a Navy or Marine Corps aircraft don't have it, the jet was armed on a shore-based installation. This includes aircraft operating from a carrier since it's not uncommon for a combatant commander to grab a squadron for a month or two and put them where he needs them.

The empty station, no. 7, on the port wing is standard operating procedure for Hornets due to the FLIR pod mounted on station 6 (outside port engine inlet), which has its line-of-sight blocked when a fuel tank or large piece of ordnance is mounted there. Rather than mount anything there most squadrons left it empty. This is standard on USN, USMC, and Canadian Forces Hornets.

Station 7 is perfectly usable and usually mounts a fuel tank when the aircraft is in transit or ferrying fuel tanks from an aircraft carrier or forward operating base. (When I worked aboard Naval Station Norfolk, it was common to see aircraft fuel tanks loaded aboard flatbeds to be carried to or from nearby Oceana Naval Air Station. Carriers, aircraft, and other equipment returning from deployment are pretty dirty and. As I always encountered these on busy I-64 or I-564, it wasn't safe to photograph the trucks, but the photos would make great references.)

I work for the Navy and Marine Corps, to include something to do with the Fleet's corrosion control and prevention on aircraft. In addition, I'm a former Marine sergeant (armor).

[Manny1943]

Nice. Can you expand upon your choice of load-out?

The two AIM-9s on the wingtips are for self-defense, as is the lone AIM-7 on station 4 (outside of starboard engine inlet). The four GBUs are used in built up areas throughout Middle Eastern battlefields to minimize collateral damage and fratricide. I added the ablative coating using Vallejo Plastic Putty. It's overdone for this scale so next time I'll use Tamiya Extra Thin Cement and a stiff bristle paintbrush. The ablative coating is required on all bombs when aboard an aircraft carrier. If the bombs on a Navy or Marine Corps aircraft don't have it, the jet was armed on a shore-based installation. This includes aircraft operating from a carrier since it's not uncommon for a combatant commander to grab a squadron for a month or two and put them where he needs them.

The empty station, no. 7, on the port wing is standard operating procedure for Hornets due to the FLIR pod mounted on station 6 (outside port engine inlet), which has its line-of-sight blocked when a fuel tank or large piece of ordnance is mounted there. Rather than mount anything there most squadrons left it empty. This is standard on USN, USMC, and Canadian Forces Hornets.

Station 7 is perfectly usable and usually mounts a fuel tank when the aircraft is in transit or ferrying fuel tanks from an aircraft carrier or forward operating base. (When I worked aboard Naval Station Norfolk, it was common to see aircraft fuel tanks loaded aboard flatbeds to be carried to or from nearby Oceana Naval Air Station. Carriers, aircraft, and other equipment returning from deployment are pretty dirty and. As I always encountered these on busy I-64 or I-564, it wasn't safe to photograph the trucks, but the photos would make great references.)

I work for the Navy and Marine Corps, to include something to do with the Fleet's corrosion control and prevention on aircraft. In addition, I'm a former Marine sergeant (armor).

I love your expanded explanation and want to read it again...

[BorgR3mc0]

Great model, pretty pictures and good research. All in all a perfect combination.