1:48 Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet cockpit set including ejection seats

F/A-18E Super Hornet cockpit 1:48 (Aires)

This is not a kit of the aircraft but a detail resin set with which you replace the cockpit of a base F/A-18E Super Hornet model in 1:48 scale. On modern combat aircraft the cockpit is practically all visible under the large clear canopy, so the detail pays off - and it is precisely there that production injection-molded kits most often economize.

The real subject

The F/A-18E Super Hornet is the single-seat variant of the carrier multirole aircraft, powered by a pair of F414 engines. The pilot's station is fitted with an ejection seat of the SJU-17 series and the instrument panel is worked out with large-area displays, so it differs noticeably from the older F/A-18C series. The two-seat version carries the designation F/A-18F.

Building and painting tips

First try putting the set into the fuselage dry - resin tubs tend to be fuller than plastic ones and the inner walls of the fuselage halves usually have to be thinned with a sanding bit or a scalpel. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw, never snap them. Wash the mold release agent off the parts, otherwise the paint will not hold on them; use a primer before spraying. Paint and shade the cockpit before you close the fuselage up, because afterwards you will not reach it. The detail of the instrument panel stands out once brought up with a dark wash and a dry brush, while the seat is painted separately and fitted only at the end.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the F/A-18E model in 1:48 scale who want a cockpit on a par with the rest of the build.
• Modelers building with the canopy open, where the interior is visible.
• Those who have experience of resin, cutting casting blocks and fitting parts.
• Competition builders, whose cockpits are judged from close up.

This is an accessory for a model, not a kit. The base model, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.