Eight Shades of Blue: F/A-18D Hornet

Showing posts with label F/A-18D Hornet. Show all posts

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Sneak peek! TOPGUN Maverick 2020 Hornet Replica!

Click image to enlarge!

ASRA KRON © EIGHT SHADES OF BLUE 2020

Monday, August 13, 2018

RCAF CF-188A and B 401 TFS "Ram" Replica Series

New in our Replica Series!
These F/A-18C and D are based on the real CF-188 Hornets the RCAF 401 Tactical Fighter Squadron "Ram" used in February 2018 when visiting USAF Holloman AFB in New Mexico for DACT exercises (see RL report and photos here!). Alternate versions of these two Hornets with WW2 inspired tails are also available from :: 8SB :: - see here!

See the sn 188766 CF-188A Hornet replica model here!

See the sn 188766 CF-188B Hornet replica model here!

Enjoy the new Replica Series RCAF Hornets!

ASRA KRON © EIGHT SHADES OF BLUE 2018

RCAF CF-188A and B 401 TFS "Ram" Alternate Series

They are here!
These F/A-18C and D are based on the real CF-188 Hornets the RCAF 401 Tactical Fighter Squadron "Ram" used in February 2018 (replicas available from :: 8SB :: see here!) but with a tail color scheme I created using a reference to the squadron's WW2 markings, when the YO N letters were marking a Hurricane flown from RAF Biggin Hill, United Kingdom.

See the sn 188766 CF-188A Hornet model here!

See the sn 188766 CF-188B Hornet model here!

Enjoy the new Alternate Series RCAF Hornets!

ASRA KRON © EIGHT SHADES OF BLUE 2018

Sunday, August 12, 2018

RCAF 401 TFS "Ram" CF-188 B Hornet - Alternate Series

Available on the MP - CLICK HERE TO SEE!

Click images to enlarge!

Also available in a TWO PACK - see MP item here!

ASRA KRON © EIGHT SHADES OF BLUE 2018

Sunday, May 20, 2018

Royal Navy F/A-18D 892 NAS 005

Available on the MP - CLICK HERE TO SEE!

This is my impression of what a F/A-18D Hornet would look like if the 892 Naval Air Squadron had adopted it to replace the Phantom F4K's were it not disbanded in 1978.
The livery has most of the old F4K elements down to the canopy ejection line and it also includes a homage to the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle that took place on the very day this livery was painted on the aircraft and flown for the first time as part of a 100 RAF group grid flight. You can find the inscription with the Royal Wedding crest on the aft door of the frontal landing gear. The date (19MAY2018) also shows on both "anvils" over the wing extensions.

Click images to enlarge!

With the Homebase at RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, England, and the HMS Ark Royal as the Mother Ship, 892 Naval Air Squadron operated from 1969 to 1978. The first record of service places the squadron at RNAS Yeovilton from 31 March 1969 to 18 October 1969, followed by short sea trials aboard the USS Saratoga from 16 October 1969 to 24 October 1969. The last RN catapult launch was from Ark’s waist cat' at 15.11hrs. The honours fell to Flt Lt M.MacLeod RAF & Lt D. McCallum in Phantom F4K "012". McCallum was the deputy Air Engineer Officer (DAEO). It was his first flight in a Phantom F4K. On 04 December 1978 the Ark Royal returned to Devonport to pay off and 11 days later 892 Sqn disbanded at RAF Leuchars. This F/A-18D honors the Sqn and its Mother Ship, painted in the same colors as the 892 Squadron Phantom F4K’s. The Squadron's badge is prominent on the fin in red, white and black; the black letter "Omega" was chosen for the marking as it is the last letter of the Greek alphabet, and at the time of its formation it was thought that 892 would be the last fixed-wing Naval Squadron. The white letter "R" is the code for HMS Ark Royal and the white "005" on the nose is the individual aircraft identification number. The Squadron's Phantoms carried codes between 001 and 017.

From Eight Shades of Blue aircraft profile (included with the Paint Kit).

ASRA KRON © EIGHT SHADES OF BLUE 2018

JASDF Mitsubishi F-3B 8TFS (F/A18D)

Available on the MP - CLICK HERE TO SEE!

Click images to enlarge!

What if the Japanese had chosen Hornets to upgrade their air self-defense force? Currently flying Mitsubishi license built F-16's, the 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron, based at Tsuiki, Japan, was the unit chosen to lend their colors to this WHAT IF series Hornet. Just as with the F-15 and F-16, had the F-18 been chosen the most likely manufacturer to produce them in Japan would be Mitsubishi, so this model represents a Mitsubishi F-3B (F/A-18D). The choice of the F-3 type comes after the real life F-16 Mitsubishi type, named Mitsubishi F-2A (single seat) and F-2B (two seat).