‘SUPER BUG’ BUILD GUIDE
Polish publisher Kagero now has a book with advice on completing F/A-18E Super Hornets in 1/72 and 1/48 scales.
If you’re considering US Navy aircraft build projects, and especially if you’re a novice, the new A4 softback from Kagero could be right up your street. Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet – Kit Build 5, is a 60-page publication with step-by-step narrative for builds of Academy’s 1/72 ‘Super Bug’ (here employing item 12565), and for 1/48 modellers, Eduard’s limited-edition Super Hornet 11129 (Hasegawa parts, plus extras).
The modellers, Adrian Wolnicki and Sebastian Piechowiak, describe their progress via captioned photos that are preceded by introductory paragraphs; the text us dual English-Polish. Various techniques and aftermarket additions are employed, and the modelling generally sound throughout. Pre-shading, painting, varnishing and weathering are all explored, the last method being particularly important considering how US Navy aircraft display wear and tear… and how it’s mitigated through spot-spraying of panel surrounds after they’ve been opened and closed.
It’s a very visual guide, with in-progress and finished images, although some are a little lacking in light and good depth of field, but everything is easily understood. The book closes with ten good-quality colour profiles of E/F airframes from different US Navy units, for inspiration as much as anything else.
Also included is a free vinyl masking foil sheet offering canopy masks for F/A-18Es in 1/72 and 1/48, but there are no instructions on placement.
All in all, this is a handy tutorial for both builds, with techniques and advice that can be carried forward for many other fats jet projects. It’s available in the UK via: www.casematepublishing.co.uk for £18.95.
