1:72 McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

The real subject

The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is an American carrier-borne combat aircraft that brought the fighter and the attack role together in one machine. Operating from a carrier stamped its typical features on it: reinforced landing gear, folding wingtips, an arrestor hook and a nose wheel adapted for a catapult launch. The Hornet served with the US Navy and the Marine Corps and spread to other users as well; as a modeling subject it is among the frequently built types, where a difference in the fineness of the detail shows at first glance.

What the set offers

Photo-etched parts in thin sheet metal for 1:72 scale. In a small scale photo-etch makes the most sense exactly where a plastic part is necessarily thicker than it should be. The set is tuned to a particular kit; the kit it is meant for and the extent of the parts are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

Work over a light-colored surface and with fine-tipped tweezers, as the parts in this scale really are tiny. Separate them from the fret with a sharp knife, not with cutters. Make the bends in a bending tool or over the edge of a steel ruler in one go; repeated bending fatigues the metal and the part snaps. Dose the glue with a toothpick, otherwise the wicking of super glue floods the very detail you bought the set for. Degrease the metal before painting and apply a primer so that the paint holds on the smooth surface.

Who it is for

For modelers who build the Hornet in 1:72 scale and want finer detail than an injection mold can reach. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.