F-18A Hornet "U.S.M.C."

Ron Garcia
After finishing up Hasegawa's kit number P24 F-18A Navy Hornet, I finished up the Marine version that's been sitting in my stash since it was first released forever ago.

It's the exact same kit except for the decals so if you have one, you don't need the other.

For the Navy version, I had trouble with the control surfaces. I figured it out this time. Cement parts C1, C2, K37, K39, and K41 onto the wing first. Let them dry, then add the flaps and ailerons. Much easier that way.

Also, for some reason I had more gaps that needed filling on the Navy version vs this one. Not so much this time, but I don't have a clear answer why.

Overall, a nice kit with a few irritations. No ordinance as usual, which for a marine version this is especially irritating. There isn't even any complimentary sidewinders for the wingtip rails! The recessed panel lines are very shallow so highlighting them with a wash is difficult. But if you've built Hasegawa aircraft kits before, you already know these things. Unless you just have to have both a Navy and a Marine Corps version, I'd just pick either P24 or P25 and call it good.