F/A-18F Super Hornet Full Build | Meng 1/48 Model

[@chriso5609]

Out of all the aircraft modelers on this website, id say you have the best teaching style

[@cj_modeller]

Wow, that is an incredible compliment, thank you Chris! I’ve got a long way to go, but I’m working on it.

[@andrewhull7296]

I am impressed! I started building model kits when I was 7. My first kit was a WW2 Hellcat dive bomber. Now I'm 49 and it makes me happy to see young folk like yourself keeping this hobby alive. Well young man😊

[@cj_modeller]

Thank you very much Andrew! Don’t listen to the naysayers who say the hobby is dying- it is very much thriving!

[@juanizcue5574]

A beautiful work of art, congrats!

[@smellyfella5077]

Very nice build and in particular the paint job; I've always thought that the U.S. Navy F-18's panted up in ghost gray camo with the black Jolly Rogers paint scheme looks so BAD ASS! And, you nailed it!

[@cj_modeller]

Many thanks my friend! This scheme was too cool for me to resist!

[@OnTarget100]

WOW awesome build and a great details of products used I really appreciate this information.

[@briannolasco4911]

Nice build. I have one in my stash. Looking forward to build mine as yours in the future. Nice sharing technique.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Enjoyed the Video, I really like the Meng Hornets, built the -E myself and really had a blast with it. Fear the Bones!

[@dqr4756]

The ink method is pretty inspiring, great video!

[@cj_modeller]

Thank you! And it is, it’s probably one of the few truly game changing techniques to arise in years imo

[@Poopster4U]

Nice build and thanks for the tip on the super glue!

[@IntergalacticViking]

Great video. Skilled modeling and entertaining commentary. Reminds me of Boxman. Keep em coming!

[@cj_modeller]

The highest praise lol, thank you! Working on more as we speak

[@brianquinlan8891]

Great video, I like the added comedic commentary too. You've gained a subscriber from me!

[@scaleffect]

Interesting build and infusion of comedy. Great work yet again. Shame about the footage loss (it happens to all of us who make videos at some point)

[@lorenzcassidy3960]

I agree: the Legacy Hornet looks way cooler than the Super Hornet. Good job on this "Mutha", btw.

[@bksee7756]

Ayo CJ, fuggsgoin on? Keep this up....enjoyed it

[@cj_modeller]

Yo! Thank you my man, I plan on it

[@heathstephenson3863]

Nice work mate 👍

[@cj_modeller]

Thanks man!

[@Voryah93.MW1]

Nice work 👌

[@renzvandenborre6538]

🗣🗣🗣Bring back the real voice

[@schumy1975]

its beautiful

[@goforitpainting]

Looks cool.

[@cj_modeller]

Thanks!

[@ЕвгенийСлинкин-с4з]

Отличная сборка и отличный ролик.

[@cj_modeller]

Thank you!

[@tonygary7611]

👍👍

[@guiduz3469]

A+mazing

[@cj_modeller]

Thank you!

[@jamesoutland3429]

I have the same one in my stash. Awesome job. Idk but there is something to be said with a super hornet all weathered up sitting there standing tall with those big square intakes. Def enjoyed the video gained a sub from me

[@kudukilla]

I’ve got Meng’s E and F versions in the stash. I checked the E version and the decals say “Fighter Weapons School US Nany”

[@cj_modeller]

Hah yeah, there was some sort of legal issue there right? Annoying, but I’m sure there are aftermarket solutions around

[@leroymcgee6803]

Excellent build! Could you spell the name of the author of the Tomcat book you mentioned. The book does not appear to be linked.

[@paulhargreaves1497]

It's "Super Detailing the F-14 Tomcat from Dai Nippon Kaiga by Kris Sieber" (i think!)

[@leroymcgee6803]

@@paulhargreaves1497 Thanks!

[@greenthousands]

😂 “Hairy stick mafia”

[@marklee3066]

Hey I wanted to try that liquid ink trick but you said wet the plane with X-20A thinner...wouldn't that just burn through the paint and remove it? Even if I put on a varnish wouldn't the X-20A thinner eat through that? Love the idea - just looking for some guidance.

[@cj_modeller]

Hey Mark, your intuition is good here, thanks for the comment. Basically, if you’re going to do this I’d use lacquers to give the strongest possible surface. But yes, even then, X-20A will eventually eat into the paint, but I’ve found MRP gives me enough time before that happens that I can complete the ink application without issue. I found that It also matters how much X-20A you use, and if you flood the surface it eats away faster than if you just use a very light coat. Gunze may be even more resilient, too, but that’s another story.

[@marklee3066]

@@cj_modeller I used Real Color Lacquers but the X-20A still ate through it even on a light coat on my test subject. I put a gloss varnish on it and I'm waiting for that to dry and then trying again. If it doesn't work - I may just go with salt weathering stencil and give that a shot at a later point. Thanks for replying.

[@marklee3066]

One other note - I was using 91% IPA so that could be a reason it ate through it quick.

[@cj_modeller]

@@marklee3066Ah, interesting, that surprises me somewhat thanks for mentioning it. I’d imagine the 91% IPA is stronger than X-20A but that’s just based on smell… Regardless, the chemistry on this stuff can be unpredictable. For instance, I can’t really do salt weathering on MRP because even with just water the salt eats into the paint. But Gunze doesn’t react at all. The only other thing I’ll note is that Kris Sieber, on his F-14 that kind of popularized this technique, used Gunze. Either way, I still really like salt weathering so If you have to go that route it’s certainly no loss.

[@speedkiller3026]

Why are the stickers on the other side mirrored?

[@cj_modeller]

Hey Speed, they’re flipped so that they can always be read left-to-right, if that’s what you mean?

[@WeeKangjun-uu5gk]

Hi

[@rickbase833]

Wood blocks from Amazon........😮

[@paulhargreaves1497]

Very nice......just need to get a Growler and redo the weathering video lol. Sub from me.

[@jamesoutland3429]

Meng makes pretty good models that I have seen so far. I built the meng M2A3 Bradley and it was by far a very detailed easy model to build and was spot on with accuracy. Just my thoughts.