Which F/a-18 Hornet Model To By?

[PolluxDeltaSeven]

Hello everybody!!

I wanted to build a F/A-18A/B/C or D Hornet in 1/72 as a Royal Navy plane, but I just don't know wich model to buy.

In a perfect world, I will buy a 1/72 model with fine engraved panel lines, parts that fit perfectly and even a full load of weapons and moreover EXTERNAL TANKS in the box.

But well, I know it's not a perfect world! Forthe moment, I know 4 models of Hornet:
-Heller F-18A Hornet: absolutely OUT OF QUESTION!! This is an HORRIBLE kit, probably the ugliest I ever saw!!
-Revell F/A-18 Hornet (with a special "Eagle" scheme): engraved or raised panel lines? Is it a good kit? Moreover, I didn't see it for a while, and I don't know if I could still find it.
-Zhengdefu F/A-18D: engraved panel lines, cheap model (only 11€), but is it easy to build? Is it an original design or an illegal copy of another kit?
-Italeri F/A-18A/B/C: not a bad one, with raised panel lines. But I don't know it's price yet.

What else? Hasegawa? Tamyia maybe? Is the Airfix one similar to the heller?


Well, all comments and help is welcome!!
Thank you!

[Radish]

Hasegawa. The only one worth looking at at a reasonable £6.50 or there abouts.

[upnorth]

If you ever come across a 1/72 Hornet in AMT boxing, run the other way really quick. Horrible kit! bad shapes, out of scale....

I was told once that the AMT kit came from old Esci stock, but I saw an Esci Hornet once and it wasn't nearly that bad.

[anthonyp]

If you can find a Fujimi kit, grab it!  Great kit, love building them.

[PolluxDeltaSeven]

For the Hasegawa, Radish, I didn't mention it because here in Lyon, they are just too costly!! More than 30€ for a 1/72 model with no weapons, while a Revel Typhoon with 3 differents full loads of missiles (including Taurus, Meteor, ASRAAM and IRIS-T) cost only 12€!!

(I don't blame Haseg, of course, but the only hobby shop in the city that sell their kits )


But Fujimi, yes!! Their is a hobby shop that has plenty of Fujimi models for not so expensive prices! I will look at it! Thanks Anthony


@upnorth: I can't imagine the AMT Hornet beeing uglier than the Heller one! We have to make a competition for the ugliest model ever, those two will probably win!

[Captain Canada]

The Hobby Crap Hornet is pretty stinkin' bad.......another one to avoid !

:f16:  

[Maverick]

To be honest, the Hasegawa Bug is a rip-off in my opinion.  They've brought out C and D models which are just their very early A & B with some extra bits thrown in and as usual precious little loadout to boot.  I concur on the Fujimi boxing, gotta be one of the best I've seen by far.

[Lord Darth Beavis]

I'm working on a couple Zhengdefu kits, and my advice is to RUN AWAY!!! from them, as they are steaming piles of fecal matter.

Well, not really, but they do leave a fair bit to be desired...especially the two I have under way (Su-35 Versatile and Spitfire Mk XIX).  I can't imagine the Bug being any better.

[PolluxDeltaSeven]

OK Beavis!!

As it is impossible to find the Fujimi kit in Lyon (more than a million inhabitant, and still no good hobby store!!   ), I was hesitated in buying the Italeri or the Zhengdefu kit.
The Italeri is just few € more expensive than the Zhengdefu, but it has raised panel lines, while the chinese copy has engraved panels...

But well, now I think I will go for the Italeri one, even if I have to engrave the kit myself!! (I already did it for a Crusader, a Rafale and a Mirage 2000, so why not another one!    )

[PolluxDeltaSeven]

I finally chose Italeri F/A-18A/B/C kit instead of Zhengdefu Wild Weasel one.

-The bad points of the Italeri over the Zhengdefu is that it has raised panel lines and it is not a Wild Weasel variant and has no HARM missiles (and I LOVE Wild Weasel aircrafts!).
-The good points is that it is finally cheaper (due to lower shipping costs), it has PLENTY of different decals (including CAF one, FINALLY!!), the assembly is easier and after all, I really enjoy engraving models!  

[gooberliberation]

The Hobby Crap Hornet is pretty stinkin' bad.......another one to avoid !

:f16:

I don't know what you're talking about! Mine came out okay.

In all seriousness though, that kit doesn't even have the right wings!

If I were to get another hornet kit, I'd probably get the hasegawa as it appears to be the easiest to build, even though they don't have all the extra bits for other variants. The fuselage is made up of simply top and bottom halves. Pretty much all the other kits have the forward fuselage as a seperate assembly that youve gotta cram in between LERXs. I'm in the middle of the italeri kit and that sort of assembly has me doing more puttywork than I think is necissary for a non-kitbash.

But then again, I've never been good at building them like im s'posed to :dum: