In 1/32 scale the first kit came in about 1985 from Hasegawa, but this represented a (Y)F-18 Hornet with a number of features later removed on production planes; this kit will be discussed and the kit will be converted into a F-18A. 

(check out 1/72 kits here...)

Recently, Academy from Korea came with a superb kit of the F/A-18C in 1/32 scale. It is very good and is the best kit in this scale that I have seen so far, very well detailed, accurate and a very full set of " stores" . 
On the internet a lot of info can be found on this kit, so I won't go into that detail here. 

The kit has a number of options such as:
- two ejection seats (probably for a later issue of this kit as double seater F/A-18D)
- two styles of instrument panels
- two styles of exhausts
- two options for the main wheel tyres
- lots, and lots of stores
- two styles of lower forward fuselage grills and vents
- folded wing tips if desired

This gave me the idea to use these extra parts in the Hasegawa kit, making it into an F-18A. The best reference is ... the Academy kit with accurate patterns etc, supplemented with various books and again the net. .

The parts (more than 900...) and decals of the Academy kit are seen here...

This report will show you how it will be done....

The Hasegawa kit represents a test/pre-production plane, so for a current F-18A the following should be corrected/converted:
(A) the large airflow slots on the cockpit sides should be closed
(B) the missile fairings on the lower fuselage should be changed in shape
(C) the main wing leading edge saw tooths should be removed
(D) the horizontal stabilizer leading edge kinks should be filled to a straight edge
(E) convert small fairing on top of the fins
(F) add gun fairing on top of the nose

In addition this kit will benefit from the following improvements:
(G) rescribe panellines with recessed ones
(H) replace too large nose wheels
(I)  add cockpit details with replaced seat
(J) check instrument panel
(K) add intake tunnels to engine fans
(L) detail the grills, vents etc
(M) correct flap hinge location / panellines
(N) correct exhaust fairing on top of fuselage/wing strake
(O) deepened main undercarriage bays

Other small updates will be covered later on. The pitot test probe (part no. D19) is also not required.

The first steps...

The corrected missile fairing (B); they should be shorter in length at the intake. The Academy kit shows how it should be done. 

The main bays were deepened (O) by removing the ceiling and adding strips and glueing them back in place. Also the lower vent panels were opened  . 

 The grey parts are from the Academy kit 

The removed leading edge tooth (C) and corrected exhaust fairing (N). Also the flap section was cut off, to be glued to the fuselage parts. 

It was also decided to fold the Hasegawa kit's wing tips, using the Academy kit parts for the hinges nrs G39/40 etc.); 

(L) The lower vents and grills at the lower nose will be updated using the extra Academy kit part 

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