Engineering with ABS
Boeing F/A-18C Swiss Air Force
Hornet J-5011 of fighter squadron 11, "Tigers" of the Swiss Air Force.
This model in scale 1:32 is based on the excellent Canadian CF-18 by Ryan Harris, whose building instructions I bought to create my Swiss version of a Hornet.
Like the Canadian CF-18s, the Swiss F/A-18s feature a search light on the left side of the fuselage in front of the cockpit. All the working features of Ryan's model can be found on my Hornet as well:
- Opening canopy
- Movable flaps, ailerons and elevators
- Deployable airbrake
- Lowering arrestor hook
- Stowable landing gear with working doors
After I built an initial version following the building instructions, I made quite some changes to Ryan's design to incorporate some more features and better represent the Swiss version of the F/A-18C. Changes I made include:
- All grey color scheme
- Complete redesign of the wings to incorporate folding wing tips
- Section in front of the cockpit features IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) antennae and a deployable refuelling probe
- Radar warning antennas behind the cockpit
- More detailed engine nozzles
- Extended starter rails and different armament
- Smaller details all around
My model represents the plane of the squadron leader of "Fliegerstaffel 11" or fighter squadron 11 with the immatriculation J-5011. The latter one is shortened to 011 on the forward fuselage.
Squadron 11 call themselves "Tigers" and so it is quite obvious that they regularly participate in the NATO Tiger Meet. The livery on the model shows the design of the 2011 edition of the Tiger Meet. The decals are from a supplier of waterslide decals for plastic models and are perfect to scale in 1:32.
The Hornet is shown in a typical configuration for air police service. The armament consists of a 20 mm M61A1 gatling gun, 2 AIM-9X Sidewinders on the wing tips and 2 AIM-120B AMRAAMs on the fuselage hardpoints. Furthermore a centerline fuel tank is carried which shows the standby frequency of 121.50 MHz.
The display base represents a section of taxi way, leading to runway 28 of the Meiringen air base, which is homebase to squadron 11.
Boeing F/A-18C Swiss Air Force
Hornet J-5011 of fighter squadron 11, "Tigers" of the Swiss Air Force.
This model in scale 1:32 is based on the excellent Canadian CF-18 by Ryan Harris, whose building instructions I bought to create my Swiss version of a Hornet.
Like the Canadian CF-18s, the Swiss F/A-18s feature a search light on the left side of the fuselage in front of the cockpit. All the working features of Ryan's model can be found on my Hornet as well:
- Opening canopy
- Movable flaps, ailerons and elevators
- Deployable airbrake
- Lowering arrestor hook
- Stowable landing gear with working doors
After I built an initial version following the building instructions, I made quite some changes to Ryan's design to incorporate some more features and better represent the Swiss version of the F/A-18C. Changes I made include:
- All grey color scheme
- Complete redesign of the wings to incorporate folding wing tips
- Section in front of the cockpit features IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) antennae and a deployable refuelling probe
- Radar warning antennas behind the cockpit
- More detailed engine nozzles
- Extended starter rails and different armament
- Smaller details all around
My model represents the plane of the squadron leader of "Fliegerstaffel 11" or fighter squadron 11 with the immatriculation J-5011. The latter one is shortened to 011 on the forward fuselage.
Squadron 11 call themselves "Tigers" and so it is quite obvious that they regularly participate in the NATO Tiger Meet. The livery on the model shows the design of the 2011 edition of the Tiger Meet. The decals are from a supplier of waterslide decals for plastic models and are perfect to scale in 1:32.
The Hornet is shown in a typical configuration for air police service. The armament consists of a 20 mm M61A1 gatling gun, 2 AIM-9X Sidewinders on the wing tips and 2 AIM-120B AMRAAMs on the fuselage hardpoints. Furthermore a centerline fuel tank is carried which shows the standby frequency of 121.50 MHz.
The display base represents a section of taxi way, leading to runway 28 of the Meiringen air base, which is homebase to squadron 11.