Academy 1/72 F-18C 'VMFA-212 Lancers'

In 1992, the original Hughes AN/APG-65 radar was replaced with the Hughes (now Raytheon) AN/APG-73, a faster and more capable radar. A-model Hornets that have been upgraded to the AN/APG-73 are designated F/A-18A+. Thanks to reliability issues with the AN/APG-73, Marine legacy Hornets are being upgraded with the AN/APG-79, which is currently installed in later F-18E/F/G Super Hornets. In addition, thanks to the slower than expected integration of the F-35B/C, low time F-18A/C airframes are being pulled from the boneyard and brought up to current standards. This is done as the current legacy Hornets operated by the USMC are reaching the end of their airframe life.

This is the standard F-18C boxing upon which the other legacy Hornet kits are based. Note that this aircraft is a later C model as it has the IFF antennas on the nose and the swept back radio antenna on the spine. Of course, it is no problem to make the earlier C by sanding off the IFF antennas and not installing the radio antenna as that pretty well does it for external cues. Unlike the earlier previewed A+ kit, this one does not include the sprue with the A model fins.

Overall, the molding looks excellent and based on building other Academy kits, I am hoping this one fits well. One thing about Hornets is that there are several tricky areas, one of them being the intakes. After having built several Hasegawa Hornets, I'm really hoping this one does a better job. Like most Hornet kits, this one is designed as a two seater, with the back seat being covered over by an upper fuselage insert for the single seat plane. It has a basic four piece bang seat with some belt detail a control stick and an instrument panel onto which you can put decals. Rudder pedals are molded into the floor. Pretty standard 1/72 jet stuff.

The fuselage seems to require a lot of parts and if there are any build issues, it will be here. The wings are separate and already have the holes open in them for the pylons. Intake trunking is about a half inch deep. All the landing gear can be attached once the airframe is complete if you wish and appears to be well detailed. I don't recall if any nose weight is required, but I'll say it isn't and if you feel a need for it, there is room for a bit.

The only optional position items are the canopy and the speed brake. The Hornet normally sits on the deck with the flaps and ailerons drooped full down as shown on the box art so duplicating this will require some cutting. Academy does provide a lot of things under wings including fuel tanks, AIM-9 and AIM-7 missiles. you aslo get GBU-12 laser guided bombs and the two targeting pods.

Instructions are well drawn with generic and FS 595 paint references. There are three markings options in this boxing. The box art aircraft is the squadron commander's plane from VMFA-212 in 2007. Next we have a VFA-94 'Shrikes' aircraft, also from 2007. The third option is from VFA-192 'World Famous Golden Dragons' from 2003. Now this later option may not have the later upgrades. Searching through photos of F-18Cs I noticed that even as late as 2005, there were un-upgraded aircraft. You really need to see if you can find photos for planes of this unit from the dates given on the sheet to be sure. Of course, you can use aftermarket markings. The fairly large decal sheet is very nicely done and provides stencils and LEREX walk area markings.

While there are things I'd like to have seen on the kit (the ability to lower the flaps and ailerons), it looks to be a very nice kit. What's more, it is quite reasonably priced if you don't mind ordering it from Korea and having the box arrive a bit smushed from its trip.

June 2018

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