This is the first in what will undoubtedly be a continuing series on the F-18E/F Super Hornet. Fortunately for us, in 1/48 there are a couple of very nice kits (well, actually three). Hasegawa does a superb F-18E and F-18F while Revell does a nice F-18E. I know the pundits have ripped into the Revell kit, but for the majority of modelers, this is a viable, and less expensive option to the Hasegawa offerings. There is also the Italeri kit which I've been told, has been modified up to production standards. Like all F-18s, these are painted in FS 36320 over FS 36375, two colors that fade to about the same shade after a few years.

First up is Skipper's bird from VFA-103. This takes over the black tail with crossbones of VF-84 when that unit was disestablished. The area around the canopy is also painted black. The yellow fin tips are included as decals so no need to paint that section.  The other VFA-103 aircraft is the CAG bird. Unlike days of yore, all the CAG colors are not normally part of the motif and that is the case here as well.

The other option is the Skipper's plane from VFA-115, one of the attack squadrons that transitioned to the F-18. This one carries some nice nose art.

 Insignia and basic data are included for two of the three options. Both of the kits have excellent decal sheets so you can glean whatever else you need from that source.

July 2006

Review copy courtesy of YellowHammer Models