Revell 1/72 F-18F Super Hornet

With the need to develop a replacement for the F-18A/D Hornet, McDonnell/Douglas (later Boeing) went to work. What they came up with was basically a new aircraft that had a very strong resemblance to the earlier aircraft. The single seat F-18E and two seat F-18F were larger and more capable than the types they replaced.

The F-18F is, like the single seat F-18E, a multi-role aircraft and basically replaced the F-14 Tomcat. Gone was the long range Phoenix system, but it got excellent ground attack capabilities when those were needed. The F model also takes over the SAM suppression role and the airframe was developed into the EA-18G 'Growler' ECM platform. An advanced type has been developed, but there is no indication that the Navy will actually buy it. The Navy has made minimal purchases of the F-35C as the F-18E/F is longer ranged and has greater weapons carrying abilities, so there is always the possibility that more Super Bugs will be built.

The Super Hornet has been kitted in 1/72 by several companies over the years. For some time, the best one available was tooled by Hasegawa and that has been released in a number of boxings, each with different decals. While a nice kit, it does have some fit issues regarding the intakes that require some careful fitting. The Hasegawa kit also makes only an early version without the later fins on the aft upper fuselage exhaust vents. Later Academy produced a nice looking kit that does a later version and now we have this very nice kit from Revell, that also does a later variant.

The cockpit is standard stuff with a pair of cockpit tubs that use decals for the instrument and console panels. The seats include a molded on harness. The design of the intakes is quite similar to that of Hasegawa so we'll see how well this fits. Once the interiors and intakes are attached, the one piece horizontal stabs are put in place and the fuselage halves are glued together.

Next the nose section is assembled and attached to the fuselage. No nose weight is indicated. Fins simply slot into place along with the exhaust (which are somewhat shallow). Landing gear are well done and can be installed after painting. One thing I do not like is that all the gear doors are molded as a single piece that need to be cut into the separate pieces.

Wing tips are separate parts that cannot be posed folded. Holes are already opened for the various pylons. Things under wings are FLIR pod, fuel tanks, Mk 83 bombs, HARM missiles, Sidewinder missiles, and AMRAAM missiles. A boarding ladder can be built raised or extended. Canopy can be posed open or closed.

Instructions are very well done. All color references during the build are in Revell paint numbers with some needing to be mixed. Two markings options are provided. One is the box art plane from VFA-103, which has to be the most kitted set of markings ever done for the F model super bug. The black on the fins and fuel tanks will need to be painted. The second set is from VFA-11. The decals are very nicely done and include a full set of stencils. There are lots of aftermarket decals if you are so inclined. 

Not having built this yet, I cannot tell you how the fit is. However, I can tell you that it is not festooned with little teeny piece (other than a few antennas) and should be a very straight-forward build. One nice feature is that it does include weapons which some manufacturers do not include.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_F/A-18E/F_Super_Hornet#

August 2026

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