1/32 Academy F-18C

[Paul]

I spent a lot of time today just assembling landing gear. You know the drill. Glue,let it dry, paint and weather. That took almost four hours just trying to get it right along with a pork roast in the crock pot and a nasty litter box my day is spent.

For weathering the main gear bays I used black Tamiya panel line accent and I really like the way it flowed. In my opinion it looks good also.



Tomorrow Ill go and paint all those separate lines and then maybe get more done to the fuselage.
I did manage to get the gear all weathered also.



For that I used Humbrol decal fix and Vallejo dark gray pigment as a pin wash. Honestly, I can't tell much of a difference other that the latter is easier to build up.

Have a great evening.

[Stikpusher]

That has a very nice well used look now!

[Paul]

Thanks. It's amazing how filthy things get at sea and even more so on a carrier.

[Paul]

Things are going wrong in Hornet land....

Here are a few issues that I am having with this build so far. I am convinced that the wing assembly , intakes and turtle deck are out to get me. Wings being really my fault but I dont know where I went wrong here but after I tried to remedy this problem I figured out a way to do it on the next kit to alleviate this from happening. Going along with the instructions I wound up with gaps between the flaps and ailerons. big gaps so I sort of forced fit them and glued them tight which left an uneven step as seen in the pics.











This is looking like one of my very first builds but I think I'll just use this kit now as a learning experience.

I read a review that this kit did have a prob with the intakes so I will be ready for my next kit and know where to go from there.



The turtle deck seemed to go on good bur after a bit I wound up with a serious seam/step.



Then when I put the nose piece top on I wound up with a small one which can be filled and straighten up.



As far as all the glue mess I am sure that I can clean that up and maybe make those wings look some what resembling a wing. As far as the turtle deck goes I will see if I can remove it and come up with some sort of a solution. I am too far in this kit to shelve it but I do want to get it done in the next couple of weeks.

[Stikpusher]

Yeah, it always happens that way. My F-4G has a couple of similar fit challenges. Nothing huge, but enough to slow things down.