Historical Background
In the early 1970s, the US Navy started a Naval, Fighter-Attack, Experimental (VFAX) programme to procure a multi-role aircraft to replace the A-4 Skyhawk, the A-7 Corsair II and the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and also to complement the F-14 Tomcat. In 1973, the USN was mandated by Congress to pursue a cheaper alternative to the Tomcat. Grumman proposed the F-14X, a stripped-down Tomcat while McDonnell Douglas proposed a navalised F-15. However both were nearly as expensive as the F-14 causing Secretary of Defense James R. Schlesinger to order the Navy to evaluate the competitors in the USAF's LWF programme : the Northrop YF-17 and General Dynamics YF-16. $34 million of the funds for the VFAX programme was then transferred to the new programme, the Navy Air Combat Fighter (NACF) in May 1974 in order to exploit the the technology developed for the LWF. Although the YF-16 won the LWF programme, the Navy was skeptical whether a single-engined aircraft with narrow track landing gear could be easily and economically adapted for carrier service. It therefore rejected a proposed naval variant and on 2 May 1975, announced the YF-17 as the winner.
As the YF-17 did not share the same requirements as the VFAX, the Navy asked Northrop and McDonnell Douglas (which has co-operated for the NACF programme), to develop a new aircraft based on the YF-17. On 1 March 1977, the Secretary of the Navy W. Graham Claytor announced that the new aircraft would be designated F-18 with the name 'Hornet'. Initially known as McDonnell Douglas Model 267, the F-18 differed from the YF-17 by having strengthened airframe, undercarriage and tailhook, widened main landing gear and folding wings and catapult attachments added. To meet the Navy's range and reserves requirement, fuel capacity was increased to 4,460 pounds - it turned out to be not enough as the figure resulted from a calculation error of the fuel fraction. The error was realised too late and the F-18 remain short-legged throughout its life. Originally 780 aircraft were to be procured : the single seat F-18 fighter and A-18 attack aircraft and the two-seat TF-18 trainer. Following advances in avionics adn the introduction of multi-function displays, the fighter and attack functions were combinded into one airframe and in 1984 the designation was officially changed to F/A-18A while the TF-18 was redesignated F/A-18B.
The first F/A-18, an 'A' variant, was rolled out on 13 September 1978 and first flew on 18th November. The Hornet entered operational service on 7 January 1984 with USMC's VMFA-314 'Black Knights' and Navy service in March 1984 with VFA-25 'Fist Of The Fleet'. The Hornet first saw combat in April 1986 when VFA-131, VFA-132, VMFA-314 and VMFA-323 from USS Coral Sea flew against Libyan targets in Operation Prairie Fire and Operation El Dorado Canyon. The Hornets were also in the thick of the action during the Gulf War / Operation Desert Storm. Demonstrating the 'quick-change' mission capability, two Hornets, each carrying four Mk.84 2,000 lb bombs for an attack mission, piloted by LCDR Mark I. Fox and his wingman, Lt. Nick Mongilio from USS Saratoga were intercepted by Iraqi MiG-21s. Entering a brief dogfight but without losing their bomb loads, the two Fishbeds were shot down with an AIM-7 Sparrow and an AIM-9 Sidewinder. The two planes then continue with their mission. The Gulf War also showed the Hornet's ruggedness when one received battle damage in both engines but managed to fly back to base, 125 miles away. A Hornet however was shot down by a MiG-25 'Foxbat' on 17 January 1991. Its pilot, LCDR Scott Speicher of VFA-81 was killed.
In September 1987, after a production run of 380 F/A-18As, manufacture turned to the improved C and D models. Both these models were the result of a block upgrade incorporating upgraded radar (AN/APG-73 replacing AN/APG-65), avionics, ability to fire AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile and AGM-65 Maverick and AGM-84 Harpoon missiles. The crew seat was upgraded to Martin-Baker SJU-17 NACES and self-protection jammer suite was included. The APG-73 radar has synthetic aperture ground-mapping mode, allowing the pilot to find targets in adverse weather conditions. Since 1989, the C and D models have improved night capabilities with the usage of Hughes AN/AAR-50 thermal navigation pod, Loral AN/AAS-38 NITE Hawk FLIR targetting pod, NVGs, full-colour MFDs and colour moving map display. Beginning in 1992, the Dash 402 version of the General Electric F404 engine became standard in the Hornet fleet, giving an extra 10% maximum static thrust than the previous marks. The NITE Hawk pod was also upgraded with laser designator/ranger to allow self-marking of targets.
In 1993, in a split buying decision (the other half was the MiG-29), the Malaysian Government announced the purchase of eight F/A-18D to provide all-weather strike/interdiction and also anti-shipping capability to the Royal Malaysian Air Force. There was an option for additional 12 airframes but the plan was shelved because of the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997-98. The RMAF Hornets are basically of the same standard as late (i.e post-1992) USMC F/A-18Ds. The first four aircraft (M45-01 to -04) are of the 'twin stick' configuration and can be used as operational/conversion trainer. The rest (M45-05 to -08), have fully missionised rear cockpits. The aircraft were delivered in two batches: four in May 1997, flown 'home' by RMAF and USMC aircrews and the second batch in August of the same year, piloted by Boeing (who have absorbed Mc Donnell Douglas) pilots. On 5 March 2013, three of the Hornets (together with five BAe Hawk Mk.208) were used in supporting operations against the intruding Royal Security Forces of The Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo hideouts at Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu, Sabah using 'dumb' Mk 83 and laser-guided GBU-16 bombs.
Earlier in 2015, it was revealed that the RMAF Hornets have undergone a mid-life upgrade known as Integration 25X Capability. The program includes, among them: Raytheon AN/ASQ-228 Advanced Targeting FLIR, BAe Systems AN/APX-111 IFF Interrogator, Joint Helmet Mounted Cuing System (JHMCS) and new weapons in the shape of AIM-9X Sidewinder, AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM and GBU-31 JDAM. The upgrade basically made RMAF's Hornets more compatible with the larger F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which Boeing is offering as a contender in RMAF's new MRCA aircraft. The Hornets of TUDM are grouped under No.18 Squadron at Butterworth Air Base in Penang.
The Kit
Hasegawa came up with the 1/72 kit of the Delta version in 1991. This was actually based on the late-1980s-vintage TF-18 / F/A-18B kit but with additional /modified parts to turn it into the D version. The kit I used here is a 1999 reboxing with new decals. The parts are spread among six light grey and one clear sprues. While the outer portion of the model feature nicely engraved panel lines, the interior is basic with just a tub, seats, instrument panel and rather generic control sticks. External stores include the AN/AAS-38 FLIR pod, ASQ-173 (I think) laser spot tracker, a pair each of Sparrow and Sidewinder missiles and three external fuel tanks. Other ordnance have to sought from elsewhere. Decals provide markings for two aircraft: VMFA-224 'Fighting Bengals' and VMFA-533 'Hawks'. For this build however, I bought F4Dable Models' "Born In The USA! US Built Aircraft of the TUDM (Part 1)' decal sheet. The sheet provide generic markings and also individual aircraft numbers for all of RMAF's Hornets. The sheet also specified the modification works that need to be done to model an accurate Hornet of the RMAF.
Construction
As usual, construction started at the cockpit. While usually molded as a single piece, Hasegawa chose to mould the cockpit separately (so that the WSO/RIO cockpit can be left off when moulding parts for the single seat A and C models). As mentioned before, the interior is pretty basic and would benefit from replacement resin set. I however chose the line of least resistance and just replace the most visible parts - the bang seats. Bearing in mind that RMAF Hornets were late lot aircraft, they were replaced with SJU-17 seats from Aires. A more subtle decision also had to be made regarding the backseater's cockpit. As mentioned before, there were two versions of the Hornet bought by RMAF. To simplify everything, I decided to finish the rear cockpit as it is and therefore my decal option would be confined to aircraft -01 to -04 (the best course of action would be to buy a replacement cockpit, as the kit cockpit is an F-18B one). Instead of attaching the instrument panel for both cockpits to the cockpit, Hasegawa had them attached to the cockpit openings in the upper fuselage. before closing up the fuselage, holes were drilled into the upper fuselage half to accommodate a couple of antennas. The completed cockpits were then cemented onto the lower fuselage half.
The intakes and part of the lower fuselage beneath the wings were separate and need to be cemented to the main lower fuselage. The intake 'tunnel' were basically non-existing - it ended in an inserted wall not far from the intake lips. The wall inserts were painted black to maintain the illusion. The fuselage halves can now be mated although it should be test-fitted first to judge whether you can straight away apply the cement or some remedial work had to be done first...and guess who didn't listen to his own advice? This resulted in ugly seams along the front fuselage which were hard to remove without destroying the details near them. The various bumps and bulges were then added. I used a bolt-head from an old Tamiya Grant to create the GPS bulge (it may or may not look too small). The AN/ALR-67 aerials underneath the intakes were then removed according to the decal instructions. I was however unable to find any ALE-47 chaff/flare launchers nor have the inclination to scratchbuild them. The vertical tails were then set in place.Although the locating tabs were already at an angle, they did not fit snugly. The wings are one-piece affair so there aren't much problem here - you just need to check the angle between the wings and the fuselage. as there is a wee bit of wing anhedral.
Painting and Decalling
So far (early 2016), the RMAF Hornets underwent only minor changes in its colour scheme. From acceptance in 1997 to circa 2011 (IIRC) they were painted FS 36118 Gunship Grey and afterwards were painted Medium Sea Grey (or its Federal Standard equivalent). For the Gunship Grey, I use Gunze H305 but this time I applied it 'neat', without the usual scale effect lightening. As for the extreme nose of the Hornets, the decal instructions mentioned (and also personally viewed by me), they were originally the same colour as the rest of the fuselage, just being lighter and glossier. Sometime after 2005, during repaints, the nose was painted differently, with a lighter grey, close to FS 36440. As I intended to have my Hornet at about this time period (or later), I painted the nose with this lighter colour using Gunze H315. I actually painted this colour first at it was easier to mask off the nose rather than the other way round. The 'metallic' parts of the exhausts were painted Silver and Burnt Iron. The insides of the 'burner cans were painted an off-white colour as I have seen many modern jet fighters have the insides of their exhausts in this colour.
The decals were a breeze to apply and since they were printed by Cartograf the quality is assured. F4Dable also made a note in the instruction sheet saying that RMAF's Hornet used two types of roundels during its service. On delivery they were of the 'wrong' style (light blue forming the outermost ring). In 2003 it was made 'right' (darker blue now instead of light blue) but from 2005 onwards, it reverted to the original 'wrong' roundel (as the 'wrong' one was now the approved version). As the time I based the markings is of post-2005, using the 'wrong' (or was it 'right'?) i.e light blue outer-roundel. The various stencil decals were applied although some missing panel lines meant a bit of confusion. I however left off a few of the underfuselage / underwing decals as they cannot be readily seen to the casual observer.
Finishing
As usual, the landing gears were cemented first to allow the model to 'stand'. Once this was done the pylons were next in the line. I paused for a while to determine what load should my Hornet carry. Browsing the internet and looking at built models, especially those in the RMAF markings, most show them carrying Paveway laser-guided bombs and/or AGM-65 Mavericks.In the end I decided, after recalling rumours during the Ambalat Block standoff plus the fact that not many modellers display their Hornets as such, to hang a pair of AGM-84 Harpoons. The kit external fuel tanks were cemented to the inner wing and the centreline pylons. I left the AN/AAS-38 off as (I imagine) a daylight maritime strike mission does not need it. The fuselage stores stations were used to hang AIM-7 Sparrows as again I imagined that the strike Hornet is self-escorting. The wingtip missile rails were used to hang the ubiquitous Sidewinders. I used missiles from Hasegawa weapons sets. The painting instructions for the Harpoon was dated however and the missile was painted overall white, with one of the black marking bands replaced with a yellow strip. As leftover decals have decayed with age, the strip was painted using Tamiya XF-3.
Unfortunately the canopy was cracked due to a mishap at around this time and I decided to just glue it to the model.A final spray of semi-gloss clear finishes the build.
Conclusion
The Hasegawa 1/72 Night Attack Hornet is rather long in the tooth. Although overall the kit has acceptable details, especially in this scale, some of them are missing and not up-to-date and I believe the Academy offering is better. Fit is also not good here and there but nevertheless it was still a good alternative to the Academy kit. The main drawback for this kit (as with most of Hasegawa aircraft kits) is the lack of weapons options, especially for those who wish to hang ordnance on their model. Apart from the fit problems, the model actually builds quickly. As for this particular build, with hindsight, I quite regret the decision to dispense with the Nite HAWK pod. The pod is almost indispensable plus I could have a more heavily armed model by perhaps adding a pair of AGM-65 Mavericks.
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That's 'Don't stir the hornets' nest' in Malay
