1/72 F/A-18 Hornet, 1/72 Super Hornet. The Definitive 1/72 Scale Model Census.

Hasegawa F/A-18C/D
There are problems with the profile of the fuselage spine behind the cockpit canopy: there is a kink where there should be a smooth curve. The rear needs to be built up to meet the profile of the canopy base and the part immediately behind it. This problem is particularly pronounced on the twin-seat variant which has a drastically pronounced ridge. The nose is too blunt at the tip, and the profile of the fuselage foward of the canopy is slightly too curved. The wheel wells are far too shallow and include ficticious detail. The air intakes are crude, but more accurate than Italeri's. The LERX's are moulded integrally with the top fuselage half and so do not include the small boundary layer gap between the LERX's and fuselage side. The kit features a separate airbrake and recessed panel lines. Even though it has its shortcomings, it is on the whole more crisply moulded than the Italeri kit, particularly in regards to the the flying surfaces. The kit includes 2 AIM-7 Sparrows, 2 AIM-9L Sidewinders, 3 wing tanks, as well as AN/AAS-83 FLIR and AN/ASQ-173 pods. Go to our

to see pictures of this tooling.

Hasegawa F/A-18E/F
The initial impression this kit gives is that the definitive F/A-18 has now arrived and the Italeri kit has been eclipsed. The kit is far more crisp than the Italeri offering, and is a completely new tooling; nothing is carried over from the F/A-18A/B/C/D tooling. It does away with the problems of the previous generation's tooling: the wheel wells are deeper although the internal detail is still debatable. The foward fuselage is far more accurate although the aerial just foward of the windscreen is too pronounced. The canopy has the correct bubble cross-section, making it by far the most accurate of all offered. The air intakes are far more accurately rendered than the Italeri tooling. The only vice of this kit is the overly-pronounced panel-line and rivet detail. It is far heavier than previous toolings; an alarming trend, as the new B-25 also has far heavier panel lines than previous Hasegawa offerings. It appears Hasegawa has changed toolers... The kit features no less than 4 new-style drop tanks, as well as 2 AIM-120 AMRAAMS (standard fin, not clipped), 2 AIM-9X Sidewinders (the first kit to do so), and a AN/AAS-83 FLIR pod. For a close-up view of the F/A-18F, go to our .

Italeri F/A-18C/D
This tooling is carried over from F/A-18A/B kit with some minor modifications. The kit includes separate LERX's, the undercarriage and main wheels are superior to Hasegawa's tooling, the wheel wells are deeper with better rib detail, and it offers the option of jet nozzles either closed or fully dilated. They are the best nozzles of any kit. The wingtip launchers are moulded as separate parts. The joint at the vertical fin base is crude; it does not show the correct downward curve on the outer surface. The foward fuselage/nose profile is more accurate than Hasegawa, being slightly more sharp, but the small bulge for the cannon muzzle is not depicted. The convex curve on the spine of the rear fuselage is more accurate than Hasegawa, but still suffers from part fit continuity problems. Air intakes are crude and incorrect: the front lip is too sharp and the top profile bleed air contour is non-existent. The kit does not feature a separate airbrake and has raised panel lines. The kit includes 2 wing tanks, AIM-7 Sparrows, AIM-9L Sidewinders, AGM-84 Harpoons, AGM-88 HARMs, as well as AN/AAS-83 FLIR and AN/ASQ-173 pods.

Italeri F/A-18E
A very good rendition of the Super Hornet; the tooling has been completely revised from the A/B/C/D tooling. The foward fuselage area is very accurate and the transition between the canopy frame and rear fuselage spine is very smooth. The intakes, however, are clumbsily done, particularly the intake trunks. The kit features a separate airbrake and recessed panel lines; it also includes 1 drop tank, AIM-120 AMRAAMs, AGM-84 Harpoons, AGM-88 HARMs, & SLAMR missiles.

Fujimi F/A-18
We have not inspected a Fujimi F/A-18 closely enough to be able to include it in this census, but our impression was that it was less accurate in shape than the Hasegawa kit. It does have intake trunks, separate LERX's, and a number of other features not seen in the Hasegawa kits, but has only 2 drop tanks. This kit is usually hideously expensive.

Kits
F/A-18A	Hasegawa 00189, 810, 812, DT10 (02810), DT12 (02812), DT120 (02880), SS12, SP29 (51529), Italeri 161
F/A-18B	Hasegawa 811, DT11, Italeri 161
F/A-18B	Hasegawa 00040 , 00080
F/A-18C	Hasegawa 00166 , 00399, 00438 , 00674, 00708 , DT112, DT125, DT120 (02880), DT142, DT143, ET1 (02901), SP69 (51569), SP151, SP152, Revell 4303
F/A-18C Wild Weasel	Italeri 0016
F/A-18D	Hasegawa 02893, 00439 , DT133, ET2 (02902)
F/A-18D Wild Weasel	Italeri 0016
F/A-18E	Hasegawa E19, 00549, 00718
F/A-18F	Hasegawa 00548, 00710 , E18
RF-18A	Italeri 154

Cast Detail Parts
Refuelling probe	Hawkeye AVW-07
SJU-5A ejection seat for F/A-18A/B	Pavla S72015, Verlinden 0415
SJU-9-10 ejection seat	Aeroclub EJ017
SJU-17 NACES ejection seat for F/A-18C/D/E/F	Pavla S7216, True Details 72409
Update set	Verlinden 0591
Wheel hubs & rubber tyres	Equipage 72245
Wheels w/- flattened bottoms	Paragon 72053
Wing w/- drooped flaps & slats	Highflight 7201

Etched Detail Parts
Canopy detail set	Airwaves C72027
Cockpit	Airwaves C72026
Crew entry ladder	Model Technologies 0072, PP Aeroparts L710
F/A-18A	Eduard 72158
F/A-18A	Eduard SS159
F/A-18A canopy detail set	Model Technologies 0050
F/A-18C	Extratech 72051
F/A-18C	Eduard 72348
F/A-18D	Extratech 72052
F/A-18E	Eduard 72320, 72329, SS152

Instrument Placards
F/A-18	Airkit ATC48

Paint Masks
F/A-18 canopy & wheels	Eduard XS122
F/A-18 US national insignia	Eduard XS543
F/A-18A canopy & wheels	Eduard XS220
F/A-18B canopy & wheels	Eduard XS220
F/A-18C canopy & wheels	Eduard XS110
F/A-18C canopy & wheels	Eduard XS236
F/A-18C canopy & wheels	Eduard XS220
F/A-18E canopy & wheels	Eduard XS058
F/A-18F canopy & wheels	Eduard XS058
F/A-18F canopy & wheels	Eduard XS253


Decals
Data stencilling		Aeromaster ST72-01, Aussie A72012, Hi Decal 72-034, Leading Edge 72.24
Formation striplight panels		CAM 72A01, Detail & Scale DS-03-72

Australia
F/A-18A	no details available	Tasman 7206
F/A-18A	A21-8 3 Sqn	Hi Decal 72027
F/A-18A	A21-8 3 Sqn CO Cobrahead noseart	Aussie A72005
F/A-18A	A21-18 3 Sqn	Hasegawa DT120 (02880)
F/A-18A	A21-57 3 Sqn 75th Anniv	Aussie A72011, PD Decals 72-003
F/A-18A	A21-57 3 Sqn 75th Anniv CO, A21-29 75 Sqn CO fin update	Aussie A72029
F/A-18A	A21-29 75 Sqn, A21-1 76 Sqn	Aussie A72006
F/A-18A	A21-29 75 Sqn CO w/- early & late style Top Hat artwork	Aussie A72013
F/A-18A	A21-29 75 Sqn CO Top Hat artwork	PD Decals 72-003
F/A-18B	A21-106 77 Sqn 'Daphne'	Aussie A72013
F/A-18B	A21-101 OCU	Hasegawa 811

Canada
CF-18A	425 Sqn William Tell Meet 1986	Arrow Graphics C-54-72
CF-18A	439 Sqn Op Desert Storm	Arrow Graphics C-55-72
CF-18A	188720 410 Sqn 2003 Tiger Meet	Flightdecs 7203
CF-18A	188702 410 Cougar Sqn Cold Lake	Hasegawa 810
CF-18A	188762 410 Cougar Sqn Lake Alberta demo a/c	Leading Edge 18172
CF-18A	188784 425 Sqn 3 Wing Anniv Bagotville 1996	Leading Edge 72.003
CF-18A	188751 425 Sqn 70th Anniv scheme	Leading Edge 72.007
CF-18A	188718 410 Cougar Sqn 75th Anniv scheme	Leading Edge 72.016
CF-18A	188796 'Millenium Hornet' scheme Cold Lake	Leading Edge 72.022
CF-18A	RA-60/796 410 Cougar Sqn 60th Anniv scheme	Leading Edge 72.028
CF-18A	188716 433 ETAC 50th Anniv scheme	Leading Edge 72.029
CF-18A	188762 410 Sqn 1993 Cougar CF-18 Cougar painted on vertical stabilizers	Leading Edge 72.36
CF-18A	188764 439 Sqn 1992 Tiger Meet scheme	Leading Edge 72.037
CF-18A	188797 425 Sqn 3 Wing 2000 Special scheme	Leading Edge 72.040
CF-18A	188720 410 Cougar Sqn 20 Years CAF Hornet Service Anniv scheme	Leading Edge 72.044
CF-18A	188739 425 Sqn 60th Anniv	Leading Edge 72.045
CF-18A	188709 433 Sqn 60th Anniv & Centennial of Flight	Leading Edge 72.048
CF-18A	188704 410 Cougar Sqn	Superscale 72457
CF-18A	409 Sqn	Superscale 72494
CF-18A	188742 439 Sqn	Superscale 72592
CF-18A	188760 421 Sqn	Superscale 72593
CF-18A/B	early squadron badges & Desert Storm markings	Arrow Graphics C-56-72
CF-18A/B	late squadron badges	Arrow Graphics B-61-72
CF-18A/B	CF-188A/B standard service scheme: all serials all sqns (early and late) including Op Desert Storm markings & extensive data stencilling	Leading Edge 72.024
CF-18B	188910 410 Cougar Sqn	Hasegawa 811
CF-18B	RA-60/904 410 Cougar Sqn 60th Anniv scheme	Leading Edge 72.028
CF-18B	188907 AETE	Leading Edge 72.039

Kuwait
F/A-18C	410 25 Sqn	Hi Decal 72023
F/A-18C	all serials 9 & 25 Sqns	Orion 72016
F/A-18D	all serials 9 & 25 Sqns	Orion 72016

Malaysia
F/A-18D	all serials 18 Sqn includes delivery style roundels and correct official roundels	F-4Dable 72001, Horizon ModelTech 72-003

Spain
EF-18A	C15-46/12-04 121 Esc Ala 12; 211 Esc Ala 21: C15-77/21-08 ex USN sand aggressor scheme, C15-77/21-05	Aztec 72008
EF-18A	C15-46/12-04 121 Esc Ala 12	Hasegawa DT120 (02880)
EF-18A	151-02	Italeri 161
EF-18B	CE15-05/15-74 153 Esc Ala 15	Aztec 72008

Switzerland
F-18C	J-5002 pre-production speculative markings	Italeri 161
F-18C	J-5023 production markings	Hasegawa DT120 (02880), Italeri 161 re-issue
F/A-18D	J-5231 production markings	Hasegawa 02893, DT133

USA
US Marines
Data stencilling for 6 a/c		Superscale 72467
F/A-18	161967/DW/03 VMFA-251	Repliscale 1013
F/A-18A	VM/12 VMFA-451 Op Desert Storm	AeroMaster 72171
F/A-18A	161718/EC/00 VMFA-531 Grey Ghosts	Hasegawa 810
F/A-18A	163166/DR/07 VMFA-312, 163131/VM/00 VMFA-451	Repliscale 1017
F/A-18A	Op Desert Storm: 163716/WD/14 VMFA-212 Lancers, 163738/WT/01 VMFA-232 Red Devils	Repliscale 1039
F/A-18A	MCAS El Toro Op Desert Storm: 163152/VW/01 VMFA-314 Black Knights, 162414/WS/01 VMFA-323 Death Rattlers, 162448/EC/06 VMFA-531 Grey Ghosts	Repliscale 1040
F/A-18A	VMFA-323, VMFA-314	Superscale 72413
F/A-18A	VMFA-531: 161736/EC/02 Lt Col Savio Kaneohe, 161718/EC/16 'Thumper' CJ Pearson	Superscale 72457
F/A-18A	Libyan Raid: AK/301 VMFA-314, AK/407 VMFA-323	Superscale 72540
F/A-18A	161952/DC/100 VMFA-122	Superscale 72550
F/A/-18A	161970/MG/01 VMFA-321 Hells Angels	Superscale 72817
F/A-18A	163132/VM/01 VMFA-451 Op Desert Shield	Techmod 72076
F/A-18A/C	163147/VM12 VMFA-451 Op Desert Storm	Superscale 72632
F/A-18A/C	163174DR/10 VFMA-312	Superscale 72575
F/A-18A/C/D	164866/WK/501 VMFA(AW)-224, 164679/CE/00 VFMA(AW)-225, 163180/DW/01 VFMA-251, 162465/VE/12 VMFA-115	Hi Decal 72023
F/A-18C	164891/AB/211 VMFA-251 Thunderbolts	Aeromaster 72173
F/A-18C	163714/WT/01 VMFA-232 Red Devils	Eagle Strike 72018
F/A-18C	163736/WT/01 VMFA-232 Red Devils	Hasegawa ET1 (02901)
F/A-18C	164722/WS/01 VMFA-323 Death Rattlers	Superscale 72677
F/A-18D	164026/VK/01 VMF-121	Hasegawa ET2 (02902)
F/A-18D	VMFA(AW)-224	Hasegawa 00439
F/A-18D	165410 CE/01 VMFA(AW)-225 Vikings CO	Orion ORD72000
F/A-18D	Op Desert Storm: 164203/SH/60 VMFA-101, 164053/VK/11 VMFA-121, 164415/DT/14 VMFA-242	Repliscale 1038
F/A-18D	164061/VK/14 VMFA(AW)-121 Green Knights, 164233/DT/02 VMFA(AW)-242 Batmen, 164207/SH/161 VMFAT-101	Superscale 72651
F/A-18D	164692/CE/111 VMFA(AW)-225	Superscale 72702

US Navy
Data stencilling for 6 a/c		Superscale 72467
F/A-18	163456/AB/310 VFA-82	Repliscale 10131
F/A-18	162422/AK/200 VFA-132 Privateers CAG, 163477/400 VFA-81 CAG	Superscale 72606
F/A-18A	16377/NF/300 VFA-192 Golden Dragons CAG Atsugi	Aeromaster 72171
F/A-18A	161976/NF/203 VFA-132 Privateers	Aeromaster 72172
F/A-18A	161927/NK/300 VFA-113 Stingers	Hasegawa 810
F/A-18A	163914/NK/300 VFA-113 Stingers CAG, 162906/NF/200 VFA-151 Vigilantes CAG	Hasegawa SP29
F/A-18A	161743/ND/303 VFA-303, 161722/ND/505 VFA-305, 162433/AK/200 VFA-132 Privateers	Repliscale 1016
F/A-18A	161248/XF/14 VX-4 Evaluators	Scale Aircraft Modelling 72012
F/A-18A	161706/303 VFA-113 Stingers, 161939/NK/400 VFA-25	Superscale 72457
F/A-18A	161970/AK/106 VFA-131, 161976/AK/203 VFA-132	Superscale 72494
F/A-18A	Libyan Raid: AK/101 VFA-131, AK/200 VFA-132 CAG	Superscale 72540
F/A-18A	161962/NK/412 VFA-25, 162825/NM/401 VFA-195	Superscale 72550
F/A-18A	162891/NF/101 VFA-161, 162890/NF/202 VFA-151, 162880/NF/307 VFA-192	Superscale 72551
F/A-18A	163125/AC/307 VFA-15, 163117/AC/400 VFA-87, 163092/AD/332 VFA-106	Superscale 72564
F/A-18A	162849/AK/303 VFA-136, 162848AK/402 VFA-137, 161736 NSWC Fallon	Superscale 72565
F/A-18A	161722/ND/05 VFA-305 Lobos, 161702/AK/201 VFA-132, 161743/ND/303	Superscale 72578
F/A-18A	162841/AK/400 VFA-137 CAG, 163704XF/11 VX-4	Superscale 72592
F/A-18A	163914/NK/300 VFA-113 CAG, 163491/AA/405 VFA-81	Superscale 72593
F/A-18A	162845/AG/300 VFA-136 CAG, 162421/AA/100 VFA-131 CAG, 163107/AJ/400 VFA-87	Superscale 72602
F/A-18A	all serials Blue Angels demo team	Hasegawa DT12, (02812), 812, Superscale 72560
F/A-18A	163705/NK/400 VFA-25 CAG Op Desert Shield w/- black tail	Superscale 72620
F/A-18A	162883/NL/400 VFA-27 Chargers CAG	Superscale 72702
F/A-18A	162/677/AF/400 VFA-204	Superscale 72817
F/A-18A	163609/AA/401 VFA-81 LCdr Fox MiG kill Op Desert Storm	Techmod 72076
F/A-18A	162435/AF/00 VFC-12 Fighting Omars aggressor blue camou scheme	Two Bobs 72-008
F/A-18A	VFA-97 Thoroughbred Warhawks Op Enduring Freedom: 163098/NH/200 CAG, 163106/NH/210	Two Bobs 72-013
F/A-18A	VFA-97 Thoroughbred Warhawks Op Enduring Freedom: 162860/NH/206 w/- shark mouth, 163143/ NH/201 FS 35357/36375/36081 disruptive camou scheme, 163092/NH/207 low visiblity scheme	Two Bobs 72-014
F/A-18A/C	162909/AE/306 VFA-132 Privateers, 163508/AA/401 VFA-81 Sunliners Op Desert Storm, 164012 /NH/314 VFA-22 Fighting Redcocks	CAM 72007
F/A-18A/C	162415/01 VFA-127 NAS Fallon sand aggressor scheme, 163705/NF/300 VFA-192	Hi Decal 72027
F/A-18A/C	163475/AA/301 VFA-83, 163467/AB/300 VFA-82 CAG	Superscale 72575
F/A-18A/C	161930/313 VFA-203 Blue Dolphins, 163493/AA/306 VFA-83 Rampagers, 164200/AC/400 VFA-105 Gunslingers	Superscale 72633
F/A-18A/C	Op Desert Storm: 165502/AA/410 VFA-81, 154021/NG/307 VFA-146	Superscale 72632
F/A-18B	161356/00 USNTPS	Leading Edge 72.046
F/A-18B	161740/AF/14 VFC-12 Fighting Omars aggressor brown camou scheme	Two Bobs 72008
F/A-18B	162864/NJ/326 VFA-125 Navy/Marines	Superscale 72816
F/A-18C	163462/402 VFA-86 Sidewinders	Aeromaster 72171
F/A-18C	163446/AB/400 VFA-86 Sidewinders, 163777/NF/300 VFA-192 Golden Dragons w/- black & yellow mkgs	Aeromaster 72172
F/A-18C	164006/NF/200 VFA-27 Royal Maces CAG black & yellow mkgs, 165200/AB/300 VFA-82 Marauders CAG	Aeromaster 72173
F/A-18C	164212/AG/400 VFA-131 Wildcats full visibility scheme, 164968/NF/400 or 401 VFA-195 Dambusters full visibility scheme	CAM 72008
F/A-18C	164629/AJ/301 VFA-15 Valions, 164006/NF/200 VFA-27 Royal Maces w/- yellow mkgs	CAM72010
F/A-18C	164048/NH/400 CAG VFA-94 Mighty Shrikes Op Enduring Freedom, 164897/NE/302 VFA-151 Vigilantes, 163440/NK/201 VFA-115 Eagles	CAM 72047
F/A-18C	164713/NE/400 VFA-137 Fleet Falcons CAG	Eagle Strike 72018
F/A-18C	164899/NF/300 VFA-192 Golden Dragons full visibility scheme, 163417/NE/300 CAG w/- black & yellow mkgs	Eagle Strike 72019
F/A-18C	163708/NG/400 VFA-147 Argonauts CAG, 163471/AA/400 VFA-81 Sunliners, 164261/AC/401 VFA-105 Gunslingers	Eagle Strike 72072
F/A-18C	Op Desert Fox CAG's: 165182/AC/300 VFA-37 Bulls, 164200/AC/400 VFA-105 Gunslingers; 162/AF/406 VFA-204 River Rattlers low visibility scheme	Eagle Strike 72073
F/A-18C	163705/NK/400 VFA-25 Fists of the Fleet CAG	Hasegawa DT120 (02880)
F/A-18C	VFA-27 Royal Maces	Hasegawa 00166
F/A-18C	163456/AB/310 VFA-82 Marauders	Hasegawa ET1 (02901)
F/A-18C	300 VFA-192 Golden Dragons Atsugi	Hasegawa DT125, SP151
F/A-18C	300 VFA-192 Golden Dragons CAG Atsugi Wings '94	Hasegawa DT112
F/A-18C	164968/NF/400 VFA-195 Dambusters 25th Anniv Atsugi	Hasegawa 00438, DT143
F/A-18C	163758/NF/400 VFA-195 Dambusters 'Chippy Ho!' Atsugi 1995	Hasegawa SP152, Revell 4303
F/A-18C	164968/NF/400 VFA-195 Dambusters 'Chippy-Ho' Atsugi 2001	Hasegawa 00399
F/A-18C	163761/NF/403 VFA-195 Dambusters, 163712/NF/311 VFA-192 Golden Dragons	Hasegawa SP69 (51569)
F/A-18C	VFA-192 Golden Dragons 2000	Platz USD-1
F/A-18C	162860/AE/300 VFA-132 Privateers	Propagteam 72010
F/A-18C	VFA-81 Sunliners Op Desert Storm: 163508/AA/401 MiG killer, 163502/AA/410 MiG killer, 163484/AA/403 LCdr Mike Speicher	Repliscale 1032
F/A-18C	164209/AG/30 VFA-136 Knighthawks	Superscale 72677
F/A-18C	164252/AC/307 VFA-37 Bulls, 164067/NH/411 VFA-94 Mighty Shrikes	Superscale 72652
F/A-18C	164640/NK/300 VFA-113	Superscale 72816
F/A-18C	NSAWC Top Gun	Two Bobs 72-001
F/A-18C	VFA-87 War Party Op Enduring Freedom: 164687/AJ/400 CAG, 164671/AJ/404, 164669/AJ/411	Two Bobs 72-012
F/A-18C	VFA-94 SHWFOTS Op Enduring Freedom: 164048/NH/300 CAG, 164027/NH/401 or NH/407	Two Bobs 72-015
F/A-18C	VFA-22 Fighting Redcocks Op Enduring Freedom: 164060/NH/300 CAG, 164034/301 or NH/314	Two Bobs 72-016
F/A-18C	163444/AA/300 VFA-83	Xtradecal X03372
F/A-18D	163454/AD/300 VFA-106	Hasegawa ET2 (02902)
F/A-18E	VFA-14 Tophatters: 165861/NH/200 CAG w/- red markings & black tail, 165862 NH/201 w/- red markings, 165867/NH/206 standard low visibility scheme	Two Bobs 72-022
F/A-18F	full visibility schemes: 165798/NF/102 VFA-102 Diamondbacks two schemes, 165916/NE/100 VFA-2 Bouty Hunters	Hasegawa E18
F/A-18F	VFA-41 Black Aces. full visibility national insignia: 165876/NH/100 CAG, 165877/NH/101 CO; 165884/NH/110 standard low visibility scheme	Two Bobs 72-023

72nd scale detail entry
	Northrop/McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A/B/C/D Hornet, Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
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Kit Reviews
Hasegawa F/A-18C/D There are problems with the profile of the fuselage spine behind the cockpit canopy: there is a kink where there should be a smooth curve. The rear needs to be built up to meet the profile of the canopy base and the part immediately behind it. This problem is particularly pronounced on the twin-seat variant which has a drastically pronounced ridge. The nose is too blunt at the tip, and the profile of the fuselage foward of the canopy is slightly too curved. The wheel wells are far too shallow and include ficticious detail. The air intakes are crude, but more accurate than Italeri's. The LERX's are moulded integrally with the top fuselage half and so do not include the small boundary layer gap between the LERX's and fuselage side. The kit features a separate airbrake and recessed panel lines. Even though it has its shortcomings, it is on the whole more crisply moulded than the Italeri kit, particularly in regards to the the flying surfaces. The kit includes 2 AIM-7 Sparrows, 2 AIM-9L Sidewinders, 3 wing tanks, as well as AN/AAS-83 FLIR and AN/ASQ-173 pods. Go to our to see pictures of this tooling. Hasegawa F/A-18E/F The initial impression this kit gives is that the definitive F/A-18 has now arrived and the Italeri kit has been eclipsed. The kit is far more crisp than the Italeri offering, and is a completely new tooling; nothing is carried over from the F/A-18A/B/C/D tooling. It does away with the problems of the previous generation's tooling: the wheel wells are deeper although the internal detail is still debatable. The foward fuselage is far more accurate although the aerial just foward of the windscreen is too pronounced. The canopy has the correct bubble cross-section, making it by far the most accurate of all offered. The air intakes are far more accurately rendered than the Italeri tooling. The only vice of this kit is the overly-pronounced panel-line and rivet detail. It is far heavier than previous toolings; an alarming trend, as the new B-25 also has far heavier panel lines than previous Hasegawa offerings. It appears Hasegawa has changed toolers... The kit features no less than 4 new-style drop tanks, as well as 2 AIM-120 AMRAAMS (standard fin, not clipped), 2 AIM-9X Sidewinders (the first kit to do so), and a AN/AAS-83 FLIR pod. For a close-up view of the F/A-18F, go to our .		Italeri F/A-18C/D This tooling is carried over from F/A-18A/B kit with some minor modifications. The kit includes separate LERX's, the undercarriage and main wheels are superior to Hasegawa's tooling, the wheel wells are deeper with better rib detail, and it offers the option of jet nozzles either closed or fully dilated. They are the best nozzles of any kit. The wingtip launchers are moulded as separate parts. The joint at the vertical fin base is crude; it does not show the correct downward curve on the outer surface. The foward fuselage/nose profile is more accurate than Hasegawa, being slightly more sharp, but the small bulge for the cannon muzzle is not depicted. The convex curve on the spine of the rear fuselage is more accurate than Hasegawa, but still suffers from part fit continuity problems. Air intakes are crude and incorrect: the front lip is too sharp and the top profile bleed air contour is non-existent. The kit does not feature a separate airbrake and has raised panel lines. The kit includes 2 wing tanks, AIM-7 Sparrows, AIM-9L Sidewinders, AGM-84 Harpoons, AGM-88 HARMs, as well as AN/AAS-83 FLIR and AN/ASQ-173 pods. Italeri F/A-18E A very good rendition of the Super Hornet; the tooling has been completely revised from the A/B/C/D tooling. The foward fuselage area is very accurate and the transition between the canopy frame and rear fuselage spine is very smooth. The intakes, however, are clumbsily done, particularly the intake trunks. The kit features a separate airbrake and recessed panel lines; it also includes 1 drop tank, AIM-120 AMRAAMs, AGM-84 Harpoons, AGM-88 HARMs, & SLAMR missiles. Fujimi F/A-18 We have not inspected a Fujimi F/A-18 closely enough to be able to include it in this census, but our impression was that it was less accurate in shape than the Hasegawa kit. It does have intake trunks, separate LERX's, and a number of other features not seen in the Hasegawa kits, but has only 2 drop tanks. This kit is usually hideously expensive.