McDonnell Douglas
F/A-18C Hornet
US Navy, Swiss Air Force,
Finnish Air Force and Top Gun

Kinetic, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Mick Evans

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The F/A-18C is a later version of the original F/A-18A variant and is the result of a block upgrade in 1987 incorporating upgraded radar, avionics, and the capacity to carry new missiles such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile and AGM-65 Maverick and AGM-84 Harpoon air-to-surface missiles.

Upgrades include the Martin-Baker NACES (Navy Aircrew Common Ejection Seat), and a self-protection jammer. A synthetic aperture ground mapping radar enables the pilot to locate targets in poor visibility conditions. Aircraft delivered since 1989 also have improved night attack abilities, consisting of the Hughes AN/AAR-50 thermal navigation pod, the Loral AN/AAS-38 NITE Hawk FLIR (forward looking infrared array) targeting pod, night vision goggles, and two full-colour (formerly monochrome) multi-function display (MFDs) and a colour moving map. (Wikipedia)

This new release from Kinetic has been expected for some time now and is a worthy replacement for the aged Hasegawa Hornet family first released some 25 years ago.

The kit contains approximately 280 light grey injection moulded parts, 17 clear parts and 22 photo-etched metal parts.

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Thumbnail panels:

The moulding in this kit needs to be seen to be believed, currently I would doubt if there is a better kit manufacturer on the market.

The fuselage is a horizontal two one piece halves construction with the upper fuselage containing the upper wing surfaces to which is added the lower wings and optional nose sections.

The intakes are well done having full intake ducting back to the engine compressor face, a big plus. Full length after-burner cans are also provided with some very nice internal detail. Here is my only criticism of this kit. Kinetic only provide closed engine nozzles and Hornets very commonly shut down with one closed and one open, but if that is all I have to complain about with this kit then I can live it.

The cockpit has sufficient detail with nicely embossed instrument panel and side panels provided. A Martin Baker NACES ejection seat is provided with etched parachute harness provide.

The cockpit is made up from 27 parts with adequate detail not to need a replacement aftermarket resin set. A two seat F/A-18D is obviously on the horizon as the cockpit tub is a two seat tub but no other two seat parts are provided.

A separate speed brake is provided but most of the time when a Hornet is on the ground the speed brake is closed, but up to the modeller’s discretion for posing.

The wheel wells look good with all the prevalent plumbing and structure detail that is evident in the wheel well.

The nose wheel well detail looks great as does the undercarriage legs and doors and includes some etched metal plumbing to be fitted. The wheels are typical of Kinetic construction having separate hubs that are sandwiched between the tyre halves making them easy to paint without masking. The undercarriage is nicely detailed and is much better than the Hasegawa kit. The undercarriage is the heavier carrier gear so anyone wishing to build an Australian Hornet will need to modify the main gear or maybe Kinetic will address this when they release an F/A-18A kit. This is the same for the tail fins which have the extra ECM fairings fitted so these will need to be modified if Kinetic do not provide the earlier fins. The earlier fins also have reinforcement brackets and plates fitted.

Kinetic also provide separate leading edge and trailing edge flaps along with actuator covers for either streamlined or drooped. The outer wing panels are also provided as separate parts allowing for them to be displayed in the folded or extended configuration. First you have to cut off and discard the moulded on outer wing panels. Also provided to attach the outer wing panels are very nice wing hinge assemblies making after-market parts redundant.

An extended air to air refuel probe is also provided for those who wish to display it in the extended position.

Alternate ECS exhaust outlets are provided so you will need to check your references for these. All of the correct antennas are provided as are nicely etched metal chaff and flare dispensers.

Three external fuel tanks are also supplied allowing for a three tank configuration.

The stores supplied for this kit is extensive with the following supplied:

• 2 x AIM 7M Sparrow Air to Air Missiles

• 2 x AIM 120B AMRAAM Air to Air Missiles

• 2 x AIM 120B AMRAAM Air to Air Missiles

• 2 x AIM 9L Sidewinder Air to Air Missiles

• 2 x AIM 9X Sidewinder Air to Air Missiles (Not used)

• 2 x GBU 87 cluster bombs

• 2 x GBU-12 Laser guided bombs

• 2 x GBU-38 Bombs

• 2 x AGM -88 Harm anti-radiation missiles

• 1 x AAQ-28 Litening pod

• 1 x AAS-38 FLIR Pod

• 1 x AN/AAQ -33 Sniper XR laser pod

• 2 x Vertical ejector racks (VER).

The transparencies look great and are crystal clear.

Most importantly they are the correct shape.

Markings

Seven schemes are provided on the large and colourful decal sheet, printed by Cartograf and designed by Fightertown Decals.

The markings supplied are as follows:

• F/A-18C 164266 of VFA-25 “Fists of the Fleet” of the United States Navy, aboard the CVW-17 USS Carl Vinson in 2011

• F/A-18C 164250 of VF-87 “Golden Warriors” of the United States Navy, aboard the CVW-8 USS George Bush in 2013

• F/A-18C 163746 of NSAWC of the United States Navy in the “Russian Splendor” scheme in 2009

• F/A-18C 163754 of NSAWC of the United States Navy in the “Sukoi Blue” scheme in 2009

• F/A-18C 163746 of NSAWC of the United States Navy in the “Russian Splendor” scheme in 2009

• F/A-18C 163746 of NSADC of the United States Navy in 2016

• F/A-18C J-5014 of the Swiss Air Force 2014

• F/A-18C HN-457 of the Finish Air Force in 2006

A second decal sheet is supplied for the weapons.

Both decal sheets are printed perfectly in register and colours look great.

This is a superb kit of the F/A-18C Hornet and a vast improvement over the earlier Hasegawa and HobbyBoss kits with very little that I can criticise. I cannot wait to build this kit and see how it assembles but it looks a breeze. My only very minor gripe is there are no open exhaust nozzles but a big kudos to Kinetic for this excellent kit. If this is the new standard of moulding for Kinetic then the other manufacturers need to look out as this is superb.

At USD$39.99, it represents remarkable value too!

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Lucky Model for the samples

Review Text Copyright © 2016 by Mick Evans
Images Copyright © 2016 by Brett Green
Page Created 18 May, 2016
Last updated 18 May, 2016

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