1:72 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

The Hornet that replaced three types at once

The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 grew out of the YF-17 prototype and the US Navy hoped it would be a machine able to handle fighter and strike tasks at the same time. It worked: the Hornet gradually pushed the Phantoms, Corsairs and Crusaders off the carrier decks and became the workhorse of the Navy and of the Marine Corps. Side air intakes, two engines and large flaps made it an aircraft that behaves well on a slow approach to the deck.

What the sheet offers

Among the machines covered is an F/A-18A+ of the Marine Corps from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112, nicknamed the Cowboys and based at Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in Texas, and also an F/A-18C. The Texas reserve squadron tends to interest modelers precisely because it kept more prominent markings on its fins than the frontline units aboard the carriers carried.

The decals are of the classic wet type: you cut the square out, dip it in lukewarm water for a few seconds and, once the film has released, slide it onto the surface of the model. The base should be glossy, otherwise a matte discoloration shows under the film. Once it is in place, a decal softener helps the marking settle into the panel lines and over the curves of the forward fuselage.

Before applying them and afterwards

It pays to measure the length of the individual titles in advance and compare it with the model, because kits from different makers differ in small details. Once dry, a thin clear coat goes over the markings, which buries the edges of the carrier film and evens out the sheen of the whole airframe so that the markings do not look like a sticker laid on top.

The sheet does not contain a kit or paints.