| |
|
|
|
back to F/A-18 main |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
| The first prototype in Sept. 2008 |
|
The failed Beta was a papermodelers nightmare |
| |
|
|
|
The development of my F/A-18 model was very unique in the history of Stahlhart papercraft. Now, as it comes out, it~{!/~}s the paper model with most versions I ever did, and might even be the one with the most versions, that has ever been done. It~{!/~}s also the one with the most detailed patterns for the wheel wells, which was simply owed to the fact, that I had a very good reference. Until now, the F/A-18 is also my model with the longest development history, a history of pain, trouble and yet, endurance. I built the first prototype in September 2008 after the Marauder, using two old plastic models as a reference, but I was too sloppy, eager to finish quick. I received the reward for that, when I built the first beta, which I now call the failed beta. This beta was a nightmare of a papercraft, parts didn~{!/~}t fit, the lower fuselage was a bumpy something, and I had made absolutely no plans, how to integrate the wheel wells. It was a dead end, and the only reason, that made me go on was to prove myself, that I can build a good model of the F/A-18.
|
 |
|
The second prototype was scaled up to allow better accuracy. It retained parts from the failed beta.
|
|
The only parts of the failed beta, that could still be used were the wings, Stabilizers and tails. For the second prototype, I decided to scale up by 150% to be better able to work on the engine area, which was extremely bad in the failed beta. I started the new prototype with the box of the main fuselage which was meant to contain the wheel well, and created formers to become the wheel well walls. From there I build a new rear fuselage, that used three angles, with a divider in between, which creates the transition from the squared fuselage to the round engine outlets. I based the forward fuselage on the one from the failed beta, but it ended up completely different. To achieve a better shape for them, I also added an angled stabilizer instead of a squared one for the wings, the first to appear in a stahlhart model.
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
| The Beta 1, as it appeared as a preview picture, coloured in photoshop |
|
The Beta 2, as it appeared as a preview picture, coloured in photoshop |
| |
|
|
|
The second prototype lay around quite long. I decided to finish the Draken first, which had been a by-product of my frustration with the failed beta. When it was the F/A-18~{!/~}s turn to become a new beta, things went quite easy. I recycled the Landing gear that I had drawn for the failed beta. The first beta worked better than I expected. The only major problem was the forward fuselage, which looked like it had a kind of humpback. This was fixed in the second beta, which also got hardpoints, tanks, pods and LGB~{!/~}s. The biggest problem at this stage were the LEX~{!/~}s, which didn~{!/~}t fit. They were improved in the third beta, and finally fitted in the fourth beta. The fourth beta was basically the first with finished structure. But I was very displeased with the panel lines.
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
| The new panel lines of the Beta 5 from above, compared to the Beta 3 |
|
The new panel lines of the Beta 5 from the side, compared to the Beta 3 |
| |
|
|
|
The first panel lines had been based on the original 3-view I used. When I found a better one, I decided to redo most of the panel line work. I drew the more detailed lines on the beta 4 and disassembled it, to scan it and include the lines for the beta 5. The beta 5 turned out as I had hoped and concluded work on the basic model.
After it, I turned to the colour prototypes and then betas, which I built in pairs from then on, because the line work for all planned special markings and camo versions didn~{!/~}t fit on one model. I had to do them over too many times. Each time I hoped that on the next beta, everything will fit, but it didn~{!/~}t and another beta was done. This was the phase that took longest, and in February, this phase was finally concluded.
|
 |
|
| Two typical colour betas. These two were build as a pair. |
| |
|
The drawing of the landing gear and wheel well detail as well as the details of the special markings versions were a big accomplishment in themselves. I worked two weeks for one hour every day on the landing gear detail and another two on the more important special markings. This was helped by a detailed walkaround, which showed all these parts in great detail. It was an ugly and boring work, but at the end it was worth the effort. Still, I don~{!/~}t know, if I will or can ever redo it as good with other models, because an equally good source can~{!/~}t be always found.
The final phase was the creation of the versions. I had thought there will be over 30 versions, but counting all blue angels, alternative two seaters and white versions, the number of versions at the time of release was 41. I was marvelled myself by just how amazing the job was I had done, and hoped, that all these wonderful versions will be build by someone each sometime. I built the model 21 times. Now it~{!/~}s up to others to build it.
|
 |
|
| These are all the surviving Hornets I have build. Missing are three scrapped betas and the two prototypes. In the back are additional incomplete testbuilds. |
| |
|
The F/A-18 model was cursed right until the release by problems and delays: Once the model was finally ready for release, it was still delayed for more than one week, because of a corrupted image file in the instructions and a sickness of its creator.
Werner Smuts was a big help during the development of the F/A-18, helping me to do additional test builds and finding mistakes. |
| |
| |
| return to top |
|
|
|
