1/72 F/A-18 Marinated Hornet

[UhuFin]

In March 2023 (more than a year after Russia's invasion of Ukraine), the Finnish Prime Minister, who visited Kiev, unexpectedly opened a discussion about handing over the aging Hornet fighters to Ukraine. The Prime Minister's statement caused quite a stir in public, but behind the scenes, the possibility of the project was being explored in secret.



The best solution was found to hand over all seven two-seat F/A-18D Hornets to Ukraine. Their importance to the Finnish Air Force was now lower (thanks for NATO membership), and the Ukrainians would have them at their disposal more quickly. The arrangement was secretly agreed with Ukraine and soon about twenty Ukrainian Air Force pilots and dozens of flight mechanics were smuggled into Lapland for type training.



In late 2023, permission was obtained from the United States to hand over Hornets and JASSM missiles to the Ukrainian Air Force. The operation had been kept secret throughout and was kept secret until the end. It was decided to smuggle the Hornets into Ukraine in trucks disassembled. A Finnish food industry company was recruited for the covert operation, that was ostensibly supposed to supply wholesalers in Ukraine with spicy marinated chicken wings.



The transfer operation was successful. However, careless loading had caused some of the chicken packages to leak, leaving the Hornets' wings covered in orange marinade. The mechanics of the 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade were unable to clean off all the stubborn greasy paint in a reasonable time. As a solution, pixel camouflage of almost the same shade was painted around the marinade stains.



The model is made from Hobby Boss kit with some additions. I tried to make it match Finnish F/A-18D Hornet with MLU 2 upgrades. Only the painting scheme is whiffie with self-designed digital camo, that I painted with selfcut masks.

[DogfighterZen]

That is excellent work, great backstory and model!  

[kerick]

I saved a couple pics of that digital camo for future reference. Well done.

[NARSES2]

That's tremendous 

[Old Wombat]

  

[Weaver]

Love it, and that's a gorgeous paint job.    

[PR19_Kit]

That deserves a Whiffie Nomination, and I'd do so if I could make this borrowed laptop do what I want it to do.

(See elsewhere about the laptop issue.......)

[UhuFin]

Thanks, all!

That deserves a Whiffie Nomination, and I'd do so if I could make this borrowed laptop do what I want it to do.

(See elsewhere about the laptop issue.......)

This got nominated already   I hope you get your laptop issue resolved

[perttime]

In March 2023 (more than a year after Russia's invasion of Ukraine), the Finnish Prime Minister, who visited Kiev, unexpectedly opened a discussion about handing over the aging Hornet fighters to Ukraine. The Prime Minister's statement caused quite a stir in public

In the Real World, what most were saying was (mainly) polite versions of "Are You Mad?!?!?

... "Marinated"? Is that a reference to the name of the Prime Minister in question?

[UhuFin]

In March 2023 (more than a year after Russia's invasion of Ukraine), the Finnish Prime Minister, who visited Kiev, unexpectedly opened a discussion about handing over the aging Hornet fighters to Ukraine. The Prime Minister's statement caused quite a stir in public

In the Real World, what most were saying was (mainly) polite versions of "Are You Mad?!?!?

... "Marinated"? Is that a reference to the name of the Prime Minister in question?

Yes that is part of the joke referencing to her name Sanna Marin (in the picture with leather jacket):



Also for many years a Finnish food giant Atria has been selling some spicy marinated chicken wings with the name "Hornet":



One clumsy joke that I heard during that time was "those chicken Hornets are the only Hornets Marin is allowed to send". That still somehow sticked in my head and so got an idea for this model with brown digital camo parts.

[UhuFin]

In March 2023 (more than a year after Russia's invasion of Ukraine), the Finnish Prime Minister, who visited Kiev, unexpectedly opened a discussion about handing over the aging Hornet fighters to Ukraine. The Prime Minister's statement caused quite a stir in public

In the Real World, what most were saying was (mainly) polite versions of "Are You Mad?!?!?

... "Marinated"? Is that a reference to the name of the Prime Minister in question?

Yes that is part of the joke referencing to her name Sanna Marin (in the picture with leather jacket):

I also added her name here in the nose of the fighter, but it is crossed out due her moving to work with the Tony Blair Institute.

[buzzbomb]

terrific work all through on this. Really like it

[Mossie]

Very clean job, great work! 

[kerick]

A job well done!

[loupgarou]

Very clean job, great work! 

Given the details on the "paint" history, I wouldn't call it "clean",    but it's a very good job and a beautiful story.