Minicraft 1/72 F/A-18A/C Hornet Kit First Look
by Dave Manter
| Date of Review | September 2013 | Manufacturer | Minicraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | F/A-18A/C Hornet | Scale | 1/72 |
| Kit Number | 11673 | Primary Media | Styrene |
| Pros | Great color schemes | Cons | Raised panel lines |
| Skill Level | Experienced | MSRP (USD) | $35.98 |
First Look
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The F/A-18 was developed for the United States Navy and Marine Corps as an aircraft carrier based attack bomber. First flown in the mid 1980's the F-18 has proven to be so effective that later versions are still in front line use as fighters, attack bombers and airborne electronic warfare systems.
The Minicraft kit consists of just 60 styrene parts molded in grey and 1 styrene part molded in clear. The parts feature decent detail but the panel lines are raised in this kit. There is a fair amount of flash present. Fit of the major components is good. The kit features a very unique decal sheets with markings for 2 aircraft.
The sheet represents 2 special F-18's decorated to commemorate the centennial of the US Navy representing two "classic" US Naval aviation color schemes based on two classic schemes from World War II, the US Navy "Tri-color" scheme, the other a glossy sea blue color scheme from the 1950's.
The markings are:
- F-18A 162866, VFA-204, NAS New Orleans, LA – early 1950s USNR scheme
- F-18C 163733, VFA-122, El Centro NAF, CA – mid-WWII scheme
This kit will allow you to build a modern fighter, but in a WWII paint scheme.
My sincere thanks to Minicraft Models for this review sample!