F/A-18E Super Hornet
First look at Revell 1/32 F/A-18E Super Hornet
T
his kit was delayed
from 2018 and inally
arrived in early February
2019 and sold out almost as
fast as they hit the shelves.
On opening the box I can see
why as the large box is packed
with 14 runners of nicely
engraved and detailed plastic.
In fact, the representation
of panel lines and riveting is
some of the inest that I have
seen in a Revell kit. This has
been achieved by making the
fuselage in multiple parts and
I believe this is the reason
why Revell has given this
kit a level 5-skill rating.
But there may also
be another reason.When Revell
released their two
seat ME-262B last
year it was found that
the bulkheads were
oversized and need to
be trimmed slightly to
obtain a good it. It is a
similar story with the
bulkheads on this kit,
but this time Revell
have told you that three
bulkheads need to be
trimmed along one
edge by 0.5mm. Two
of the bulkheads have fairly
straight lines so it will be an
easy job with a little sanding
but the last bulkhead is slightly
more diicult due to its shape.This is very surprising on a new
tool kit and I hope that this is
something that is addressed
in future boxings of this kit.
Once you get past that issue.
I am sure you will be impressed
with the overall level of detail
that Revel has supplied, in
particular, the undercarriage
and associated bays are among
the most detailed I have seen
out of the box in this scale.
This kit also supplies
so many options out of the
box including folded or
straight wings, a deployed
boarding ladder early or
late Environmental Control
System (ECS) vents for the
upper fuselage and separate
control surfaces that you could
build quite a few kits all with
noticeable diferences. You
also get enough underwing
stores to ensure that you could
also illustrate a number of
weapon load outs by picking
items from this selection.
AIM-9M and X Sidewinders,
AIM-120C, SUU-78A/79A/80A,
LAU-12A/B, GBU-12/31-
3B/38 and inally two
FPU-11A Fuel tanks.
Once you have the kit built
you can pick your colour scheme
from the two supplied both are
based on the standard US Navy
light and dark grey scheme,
though Revell use their owncolours most manufacturers
ranges feature these colours. Of
the two marking options, the
example for U.S.N Test Squadron
VX-9 is the most attractive with
it’s extensive black trim and
large Vampire bat on the tail.
The second option is a carrier
bird so can be subjected to some
heavy weathering. This aircraft
belongs to VFA-10(Gunslingers)
which in 2010 lew from the USS
Harry. S .Truman based on the
East Coast at Norfolk, Virginia.
The decal sheet is massive
and printed to the highest
quality and supplies enough
stencils to keep you busy for
many modelling sessions.CONCLUSION
Prior to this kit you only option
for a Super Hornet in 1/32 scale
was the Trumpeter kit which
is far more basic in detail and
also nearly twice the price
of the Revell kit. I am really
looking forward to seeing the
kit built and the way it has
been moulded it is obvious that
two seat version will follow
at some point and I hope that
will include the Electronic
warfare EA-18G Growler.
Our thanks to Revell for
supplying us with the preview
sample, which will feature as
a full build in a future issue.46 APRIL 2019 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL
FIRST LOOK
Super Hornet is about twenty-ive percent
ly greater ranges with heavier payloads, has
leet defence role and also works in conjunction
Modellers Dataile Scaled Down
Boeing F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Growler