Which f-18c is this? I'm out of options.
04-03-2016, 08:47 AM
#1
Which f-18c is this? I'm out of options.
I need some help finding out which company made this f-18. I got it in a trade a few months ago and was told it was a skymaster f-18c. It's was originally in the blue angels scheme but was repainted to the Canadian scheme but being a f-18 super hornet back seater, it had to have a navy scheme so I decided to give it a make over. The canopy was scratched pretty good so I wanted to replace it but everyone I've contacted said it isn't their jet and won't sell a canopy (skymaster, jet legend and FB). The inside of the jet looked to be painted so I think they painted over the serial number which is why I can't confirm which jet it is. Does anyone else make an 1/8 scale f-18c? If not this project will probably sit for a while till I can figure out how to make one from scratch or something. Here are a few pictures of the jet before stripping the paint and in its current state. A little more sanding and it will be ready for paint. Thanks for any help you guys can give me.
04-03-2016, 10:28 AM
#5
04-03-2016, 02:23 PM
#8
The tails were wooden and fiber glassed. Skymaster/ extreme jet were the first I contacted and told me that it wasn't theirs. I am certain it isn't sky masters because one of the vertical stabs had been damaged and repaired so I replaced them with some skymaster vertical fins which needed a few mods to make them work. Looking at you pictures, it sure could be. Lots of the same detail.
04-03-2016, 09:10 PM
#17
Hinge point locations on wings and rudders, wing panel lines, spar receivers (2 blade spars), locking screw locations, canopy latching, main hatch latching are identical to the first gen skymaster F18C.....I have one so I should know. My guess is someone destroyed the stabs and/ or remade them. SM it is. Their later versions switched to round spars.
Hope that helps.
Hope that helps.
04-03-2016, 11:35 PM
#19
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Easy way to make a canopy is to grab some plaster of paris, spray the inside of the canopy with something that is non stick. make a mold using the plaster and then vacum form a new one. How deep are the scratches, there are a few threads around on how to take scratches out. If it is an early kit it probably has a convoluted history as SM and FB used to be almost exactly the same kits.
I would possibly just ask John if you could buy one of them. I havent found SM difficult to work with in the least.
I would possibly just ask John if you could buy one of them. I havent found SM difficult to work with in the least.
Last edited by mackeyjones; 04-03-2016 at 11:39 PM.
04-04-2016, 07:46 AM
#22
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There have been a couple different SM F18c designs over the years. So, I don't think you can rule out SM. However I have found the canopy of the these to be almost exactly the same. A friend and I compared planes one day and In fact the SM canopy will fit an older JL!
nice work on the refinish BTW.
nice work on the refinish BTW.
Last edited by dbsonic; 04-04-2016 at 07:52 AM.
04-04-2016, 10:46 AM
#23
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BTW you have blade spars. SM early design had blade spars and about that position of vert fin to wing position. You will have to use archived information(circa 2005) to determine what you have but I think it is an early SM/Xtreme F18c and the currently available canopy from SM is your best bet.
Last edited by dbsonic; 04-04-2016 at 10:49 AM.
04-04-2016, 03:45 PM
#24
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I believe It's a Skymaster kit I knew the first owner , second owner , third owner and now you have it who did you get it from ? If it's the one im thinking of it came from az and we delirvered it to Bakersfield . Terry
Last edited by arizcowboy; 04-04-2016 at 03:48 PM.
04-04-2016, 04:55 PM
#25
It has blade spars. The guy I got it from is from millbrae,ca. I met him at best in the west and traded him for my f-15. He also had a second newer skymaster f-18 and they were practically identical but the problem is no company thinks it's from them and refuse to sell me a canopy. I am probably going to have to make my own or try the sanding technique. Unfortunately flying full scale f-18s take a lot of time but hopefully it will have paint soon. Thanks for all your help and hopefully I'll know what company made this jet before it flies.