1/48 Super Hornets:
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Introduction
Now operational with several fleet squadrons and with a proven combat record in Afghanistan and Iraq, the multi-role F-18E/F Super Hornet is rapidly becoming the backbone of naval strike aviation for the 21st century. (I dislike the designation "F/A" and will use the "F" in this article.) The larger size of the Super Hornet offers greater range, payload, and bring-back capability compared to the earlier F-18 A/B/C/D Hornets. Equally important is the Super Hornet's room for growth, since extra space for future upgrades in avionics, electrical power, and cooling has been designed into the airframe. An electronic warfare version, the EA-18G Growler, is also being developed.
Previous 1/48th F-18E and F kits from Italeri (also released by Revell Germany) had serious shortcomings in accuracy, detail, and fit. Modelers need wait no longer for better 1/48th kits of this subject, since we now have near-simultaneous releases of the new Revell F-18E and Hasegawa F-18F.
Kit Overviews
Both kits have crisp, well-molded parts without flash, although there is some flash on the Revell part tree runners. The Revell kit has few ejector pin marks; the Hasegawa kit has more--especially on the inside of the wheel bay doors. Curiously, the Revell kit has raised copyright lettering on the lower right wing surface which will have to be removed by the modeler. This is an anachronism from the 1950s Revell kits.
Hasegawa
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Regarding surface detail, Hasegawa's scribing is more petite than Revell's. Additionally, Hasegawa has managed to convincingly reproduce the panels with tiny recessed perforated areas( wing fold top, inside air intake, etc.) Both Revell and Hasegawa offer decals to represent these areas, too.There is a noticeable difference in the shape and size of the upper fuselage spine in the two kits--Hasegawa's is more accurate. Also Hasegawa's air intake trunks go all the way back to where the engine faces would be, while Revell's trunks are much shorter. Both kits provide engine face parts at the end of the trunks. |
Revell
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Wings
Hasegawa
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The parts breakdown is similar for both kits except for the wings. Hasegawa provides complete wing upper and lower halves, while Revell has molded the upper and lower main wing sections into the upper and lower fuselage halves, respectively--and provides the wing tips as separate pieces. Revell's method obviates the task of applying filler to the wing roots. On the other hand, Hasegawa has produced separate wing control surfaces with up or down hinge units to go with them. (There are also separate positionable rudders.) The Hasegawa instructions show how to cut the wing tips off for placement in the folded up position, but I question the practicality of this because of the multiple angles involved and the need to completely remove a small upper wing panel. |
Revell
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Wheel Bays, Doors & Landing Gear
Hasegawa
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The main wheel bays of the the Hasegawa kit are more realistic than Revell's as they are deeper and have an appropriate level of detail. Revell's bays have an overabundance of oversized coiled tubes and cables. For the main landing gear legs, Hasgawa includes both retraction arms while Revell has just one. Revell provides flattened main wheels--a nice touch. Revell has molded the right long nose gear door in clear plastic so that the clear section of this door can be masked off while painting the rest. Hasegawa treats this area with a decal. |
Revell
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Canopy
Hasegawa
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Both kits have very clear two-piece canopy units with actuators so the modeler can choose either up or down placement. Both have a raised mold line on the main canopy that must be sanded and polished off. Hasegawa has thoughtfully produced its clear parts with clear walls and a cross beam that offer extra protection for the parts within. Don't be alarmed by a curved "notch" in the Revell windscreen--this is an area that fits into the structure of the fuselage and will be painted over. |
Revell
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Cockpit
Hasegawa
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The cockpits have good raised detail on the consoles and instrument panels. The seats are similar, although Revell's has molded-on seat belts and harnesses while Hasegawa's does not. Instrument panel decals are also provided by Revell; Hasegawa has decals for both the instrument panels and consoles.There is no pilot figure in the Revell kit. Hasegawa includes two pilot figures with a choice of helmets. |
Revell
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External Stores
Hasegawa
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With the Revell F-18E you get 2 x AIM-9X Sidewinders, 2 x AIM-120, 2 x Mk 83 bombs, 2 x GBU-31 JDAM, 1 x drop tank and 1 x AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR pod. The JDAMs have a strange wasp-waist contour that doesn't look right to my eye. The Hasegawa F-18F comes with 2 x AIM-9X, 2 x AIM-120, 4 x drop tanks, and 1 x ATFLIR pod. Neither company has molded the ATFLIR pylon correctly--there should be a blunt area on the leading edge with a tiny circular window. |
Revell
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Decals
Hasegawa
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The Revell decals are for two aircraft of squadron VFA-14 and appear to be very well done except for the out-of-register national insignia. Hasegawa's decal sheet offers markings for one aircraft of VFA-103 and two of VFA-102, and they appear to be very accurate and highly useable. However, as usual with Hasegawa decals, the red and white tones are a bit too dark. |
Revell
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