Kinetic F/A 18 A - CAF

[Bomber_County]

Awaiting to take pictures of P51D  and Mosquito and with the Sd.Kfz.7/1 2cm Flakvierling in the paint shop it’s time to start a fresh project. The F18 was purchased off eBay for an 2/3 of RRP so I added a beautiful RedFox IP to it. As I know absolutely nothing about jets there is little point in buying update / backdate AM galore. This is only my second jet……straight into the build, the cockpit OOB isn’t to bad at all for 1/48 but with the RedFox it does make it pop……onwards with a piece of modern machinery…..

The AM or kit doesn’t supply harnesses. When I first started out in industry, we used to layout printed circuit board masters with black crepe tape up to scales of 10 to one. I still have some crepe tape that utilised  to give an impression of harnesses, I think it works?

 

 

[Peterpools]

Phil

Nice choice for your second jet and some mighty nice work on the front office - looks good and busy. Yes, your method for doing the belts and harnesses worked exceptional well.

One of the biggest differences for me between RedFox and Quinta is Quinta does come with seatbelts. They also make a Light Sets where there are no belts for less, but I always buy the Quinta sets with the seatbelts and have no issues with them and one less AM item to buy. 

[Bomber_County]

14 hours ago, Peterpools said:

Phil

Nice choice for your second jet and some mighty nice work on the front office - looks good and busy. Yes, your method for doing the belts and harnesses worked exceptional well.

One of the biggest differences for me between RedFox and Quinta is Quinta does come with seatbelts. They also make a Light Sets where there are no belts for less, but I always buy the Quinta sets with the seatbelts and have no issues with them and one less AM item to buy. 

Thanks Peter, it is a different mindset doing jets. I hear what you saying about Quinta but rather support RefFox.

[Peterpools]

Phil, got ya. 

 

[CANicoll]

VERY nice start and I hear you about doing jets.  Very different from the Mustangs/Spitfires/Airacobras/etc.  I've seen where Kinetic is making some nice kits.

Your belts look terrific - I especially like that there is some texture to them, not just flat.  The IP is AMAZING, esp for 1/48 scale!  Had not heard of Red Fox before...

[Martinnfb]

Nicey! Will follow with interest. 

[Bomber_County]

23 hours ago, CANicoll said:

VERY nice start and I hear you about doing jets.  Very different from the Mustangs/Spitfires/Airacobras/etc.  I've seen where Kinetic is making some nice kits.

Your belts look terrific - I especially like that there is some texture to them, not just flat.  The IP is AMAZING, esp for 1/48 scale!  Had not heard of Red Fox before...

Thanks Chris, I’m really impressed with Kinetic so far, the fit is very good. Apparently this boxing is their previous moulds as the now have their Gold series which by all accounts is even better. 
 

Well recommend RedFox, I use them exclusively because of the country they are in. 

[Bomber_County]

10 hours ago, Martinnfb said:

Nicey! Will follow with interest. 

Much appreciated Martin……

[Bomber_County]

A question for all people who know about F18’s, are flaps in the down position when parked up? Do not want to fall foul of the “flaps should be up” fraternity 😃😃

[Martinnfb]

down

 

[FullArmor]

Flaps wing landing, ailerons and trailing edge flaps will gradually go down when HYD pressure lost. Leading edge flaps will not...they remain position which left when shutdown.

[FullArmor]

Also rudders will gradually go outwards when HYD lost.

[FullArmor]

When wings folded also aileron locked vertical.

[Bomber_County]

Martin / FullArmour, you guys are brilliant thanks for your help…….👏👏👏👏

[Jeff]

I think I might actually know this pilot, it is possibly a fellow I went to Cadets with WAY back in the day............. wish I could read his name tag.... would be cool if it read Craig Hallowell, sure looks like it could be... he flew in the first Gulf War then retired shortly there after and was on 747's for Cathay Pacific.... sorry for the deviation, Phil, but this could be really cool...

Jeff

[Bomber_County]

On 5/16/2024 at 5:49 PM, Jeff said:

I think I might actually know this pilot, it is possibly a fellow I went to Cadets with WAY back in the day............. wish I could read his name tag.... would be cool if it read Craig Hallowell, sure looks like it could be... he flew in the first Gulf War then retired shortly there after and was on 747's for Cathay Pacific.... sorry for the deviation, Phil, but this could be really cool...

Jeff

No problem Jeff, always good to have a back story.

Couple of observations on Kinetic, the part alignment and fit are very good but instructions not the worst I’ve seen but dry fit a few times. The mould release agent they used needs to be soaked off before you begin. 
 

The size of the F18 amazes me, the fuselage in 1/48 is as long as the Mosquito in 1/32………

[Bomber_County]

Enjoying this, not sure where the props go though……..

[Peterpools]

Phil

Looking mighty good and the Hornet being twin engine, figuring out where two props go is a lot harder then a single prop. Of course, maybe they would be counter rotating and helping solve finding the location. 😉

[BlrwestSiR]

On 5/18/2024 at 6:01 AM, Bomber_County said:

The size of the F18 amazes me, the fuselage in 1/48 is as long as the Mosquito in 1/32………

You should see it in 1/32 Phil. Here's mine standing on its tail tucked behind some other bench warmers which are also 1/32.

 

[BlrwestSiR]

Oh and the props go in the spares box for when the hair dryers crap out. 

[Bomber_County]

16 hours ago, BlrwestSiR said:

You should see it in 1/32 Phil. Here's mine standing on its tail tucked behind some other bench warmers which are also 1/32.

 

I think 48th for any and all hairdryers is plenty big enough. I must admit this is my first Kinetic kit and I’m suitably impressed…….I keep biding for their 104 on evil bay, I’ve missed 6 now…….

[BlrwestSiR]

6 hours ago, Bomber_County said:

I think 48th for any and all hairdryers is plenty big enough. I must admit this is my first Kinetic kit and I’m suitably impressed…….I keep biding for their 104 on evil bay, I’ve missed 6 now…….

Check out Lucky Model. They're having a huge sale. Minimum 20% off everything. 

In case you didn't know, Lucky Model is the parent company for Kinetic. They even have a UK warehouse so that should possibly  circumvent any duties. 

https://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?search=Y&q_brand=KIN&q_category=&q_scale=&q_item_no=&q_word=&q_show_instock_only=Y&q_whse=UK

 

[Bomber_County]

4 hours ago, BlrwestSiR said:

Check out Lucky Model. They're having a huge sale. Minimum 20% off everything. 

In case you didn't know, Lucky Model is the parent company for Kinetic. They even have a UK warehouse so that should possibly  circumvent any duties. 

https://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?search=Y&q_brand=KIN&q_category=&q_scale=&q_item_no=&q_word=&q_show_instock_only=Y&q_whse=UK

 

Thanks Carl…I never knew this, the prices are amazing compared with other UK retailers….also I never gave them a thought due importing but with UK warehouse, a win…..

 

[Bomber_County]

Been a couple of weeks since an update, getting to time when I need to break out the CRPlus. u/C and doors etc ready for the booth. As I said before two observations, the release agent has to be completely cleaned off and the instructions could be …….. better. But hats off to Kinetic it goes together very well……..the canopies had part lines down the centres but with care and Tamiya polish they came out well…..

 

[Jeff]

I'm lookin forward to MORE , Phil....