1/72 F/A-18A Blue Angels 2006-Hasegawa

[Ledsled]

I have seen the Thunderbirds, Blue Angels, Snowbirds and Starfighters a few times. They are all good but my favorite is Blue Angels. I did a 1/48 F/A-18A long ago but that was in the 80s or 90s, the Monogram Blue Angels kit. It was quite decent for an older kit. I have the cockpit in the fuselage and the top and bottom fuselage closed up.

[BlackSheep214]

Looking good. One of these days, I want to do the Blue Angels formation version like Revell did with the1/72 scale Thunderbirds team set kit back in the late 70s, early 80s. I believe I still have the stand from that kit.

[Stuart]

Great progress Jon - love the pilot!

[Medicman71]

Yes!! Hornets and the Blue Angels!! Doesn't get any better than that.

[Ledsled]

Thanks, I have the intakes installed and the sink hole in the left LEX filled and sanded. I built my first 1/72 Haseagwa Hornet in the early 1990s and the 7 or so since have all had a sink mark in the left LEX by the holes to mount the wing fence.

[Ledsled]

I may try making the stiffeners the A models had on the inside of the vertical tails. See images of real deal and Hasegawa 1/48 model below.

[BlackSheep214]

Interesting to see they had stiffeners. I can see the reasoning why since the Blue Angels do tight turns and such. Good eye on the stiffeners.

[Ledsled]

They were for fleet planes, the Blue Angels just happened to fly them too.

[Stikpusher]

Whatever mods are done to line aircraft, are also done to the Team’s aircraft. They are supposed to be capable of being put into combat configuration within 24 hours if need be.

[Ledsled]

WOW 24 hours, I just went to a Thunderbird show and they take 72 hours to get back to combat ready! Navy is FAST! More parts. I will be slowing down a bit, need to fill some seams then putty then scratch those tail brackets.