Building the Hasegawa 1/48th Scale F/A-18F Super Hornet Fighter Jet plus Flight Deck Display 

You have that model so realistic that you might need to wear hearing protection and make sure you don’t get too close to the intakes!!

Very Good Job! I spent 20 years in Naval Aviation and I remember when VFA-103 "Jolly Rodgers" used to he VF-84. Prior to transitioning to the F-18F Super Hornet, VFA-103 used to be the F-14B Tomcat. The aircraft you've built is called the "Show Bird", or CAG (Carrier Air Group) bird. Each squadron will forgo the tactical paint scheme on one aircraft. At Christmas VFA-103 will replace the "bones" with candy canes, and put a Santa's Hat on top of the skull as well. You did a very good job on the aircraft markings as well. Most aircraft don't have all of the markings that come with model kits. A lot of those markings are worn off during the maintenance cycle, and the application is over kill. I was very impressed with your use of the pencil to fill in panel lines, very nice. OUTSTANDING JOB! Here is a really good story on the history of VFA-103 and the legend of the Skull & Bones! The day was April First. The year was 1945. The place was Ready Room Three onboard USS Bunker HIll, on station one hundred miles off the coast of Okinawa. This day would mark the beginning of the invasion of Okinawa. Fighters Squadron SEVENTEEN would participate in the invasion, providing air support in the area. Fighter Squadron SEVENTEEN's reputation in the Pacific theater was well known, and Japanese pilots feared the sight of VF-17's Skull and Crossbones emblazoned F4U Corsairs. Ensign Jack Ernie and the other squadron pilots completed their preflight briefings and headed to the flight deck of USS Bunker HIll to man their aircraft. Jack and his fellow pilots had already shot down over 100 Japanese aircraft, and anxiously awaited the day's opportunity to add more Japanese kills to their record. Two hours later, however, over the skies of Okinawa, Ensign Jack Ernie began losing engine oil and in an attempt to disengage from the fight with his crippled Corsair, was attacked by two Japanese Zeroes. Without the full power of his engine available, Jack was at a disadvantage, but he fought valiantly, splashing one of the Zeroes before being overcome by the second. As his Corsair plummeted earthward he made two transmissions; "Skipper, I can't get out" followed by a short pause and then, "Remember me with the Jolly Rogers." For his actions that day, Ensign Ernie was posthumously awared the Navy Cross. His remains were not recovered until many years later, after VF-17 had been decommissioned and the Skull and Crossbones insignia adopted by Fighter Squadron EIGHTY-FOUR. After its commissioning in 1955, in an attempt to trace the history of its squadron insignia, the story of Ensign Jack Ernie was revealed to VF-84 by Jack's family and upon their suggestion and consent, Jack's skull and femurs were encased in glass and presented to the squadron, thereby fulfilling Jack's last request of being remember to the Jolly Rogers. To this day, Ensign Jack Ernie is retained on the squadron rooster and his skull and bones go with the Jolly Rogers wherever they go, serving as a symbol of courage and heroism for all Jolly Rogers to follow. www.f-14association.com/tales/the-legend-of-the-skull-bones.html

Having read so many books over the years about weathering techniques and then just being over whelmed with all the steps, this video summarized all those concepts into one motivational video using my favorite subject, the F-18! Thanks you for your effort and time. I am now a subscriber.

You have inspired me to start building models again thank you 😊

Love the attention to detail..

Back in the day I made the F4 in the same scale as this. It was perhaps the best model I've ever had. The kit came with metal photo-edged cockpit details and rubber tires

What a splendid build, thank you.

Another truly well-done project. Thanks for sharing all your techniques!

I've just got to the end of the video. I like the addition of the famous F-14 - MIG23 shootdown audio.

lovely build. looks fantastic. cant wait for the next one

Dude, by far my most appreciated model builder given not only your background but also your vast knowledge of these jets. Very much appreciate your narration.

Love the flight deck display.

thank you very much for your video of building the F18F and the base. it is straightforward and useful

This guy is amazing, he is talented, and works with passion. Keep up the good work and keep building brother

Great model, even greater diorama! Thank you

thankyou for taking your time to make these video's, they have been such a big help and I reference them often. Great work Max !!!

Awesome! You did great man!

Pretty darn cool.

very cool weathering techniques

So cool , loved the real coms.

Superbly done! Lovely!

Awesome video. Best tutorial by far. Thank you!

Love your videos! all the lingo from your work in aviation really sells it!

Thanks for the math on the tie-downs! Great vid.

Excellent!!

Lovely,and I learned some ways to do painting thanks to your video.

very inspiring! thank you for this great video--very well done!

You did an outstanding job on this model. I was in awe while you were building the carrier deck display. I'll surely watch more of your videos. Keep them coming.

Ooo. Nice aircraft deck. Good combination

Awesome Dio & Kit build.

Magnificent !!!

Awesome job.

That is just F'n awesome man

Awesome! Great work!

Absolutely stunning. I thoroughly enjoy your build videos.

Fantastic as always. Simply brill

Superb work! Thank you for sharing! :)

Fantastic! You´re a great source of inspiration for my builds. And the pencil shading is a great tecnique, thanks!

I love your work great presentation and skills to boot!

Strong work!!

Beautiful model and a great video thanks

In a word "SUPERB!" Your amazing flight deck is the perfect display for your Super Hornet.

Very nice, I like it! Thumbs up!

Great video! Well explained. Awesome dedication and details!

Very much enjoyed your video, well done! Your assembly and painting techniques will help out tremendously when I build my model. Great job on the flight deck display!

After watching this, I think I want one of these. Also,like the ocean background sounds.

This looks amazing. I'm gonna build this kit too. Thanks for the inspiration!

The audio is a nice touch. Handsome looking model!

Awesome job!

Very impressed sir!!

I really like your commentary, esp from 15.10-15.30. Good work!

Great work!

A masterpiece indeed!!! I especially enjoyed watching the carrier base construction! Subscribed!

great vid and commentary, cheers!

I'll definitely be using your pencil shading technique on my E-3 build. That's so simple and effective

great build!

INCREIBLE

Great video and I must say I have never seen a plane painted black first. First time for everything. Nicely done and I look forward to the next video. Thanks for sharing...

Simply sublime skills.

Dont know how I missed this one in the past but I love it! Mad skills even back in 2018! I will be using your calculations for a 1/144 carrier deck. Just ordered the tie downs from same company! Thanks for sharing! Incredible build!

Great Job

Man, watching this video, made me go back to modeling again and since then, I've an f-15, f/a-18e, a-10a, and p-51d redtail, I hope to see more of your videos and projects

Whilst I'm a Viper fan at heart, this has to be your best build to date. Well done!

dude, I love your videos. You make stunning models, you have the knowledge on the planes you make and I find out something new every time I watch your video and youre an inspiration to me since I want to be an air force pilot or an engineer working on jets. Keep up the great work.

I just discovered this brilliant modeller channel, and am really enjoying the wealth of information you share. Thank you!

Very, very nice. Amazing attention to detail. Thanks for sharing.

I paint mostly tabletop miniatures. I've never seem someone use marbling or your graphite techniques to represent wear/tear/weathering. So glad you showed me this.

HEE HEE That looks amazing. Exceptional video young man. Thank you.

Spectacular

Beautiful work...love it....base looks awesome as well

Excellent scale realism. GUTGW!. Thanks for sharing.

great video, usually I skip segments when I watch full build videos but I watched the whole thing!

great build, really enjoyed this one, eagerly waiting for the next.

Very nice... you're a real artist

Looks fantastic. Great job. When I got to set foot on the Kitty Hawk (or was it Constellation - can't remember) back in 2001 I was shocked by how rough the F/A-18's were. Fibreglass/bog patches, scuffing, oil stains, spray paint touch ups - I was gobsmacked. You've done a great job in re-creating that weathering.

Great job!! I especially like the carrier deck addition. Nice throw in with the gulf of sidra f14 shootdown audio ;) bravo!!

I appreciate that you can build these because I would never have the patience

Wow looks great

Looks very realistic - i loved your work

Great piece of art and very helpful trick! Will take it along on building my EA-6B Prowler

My favorite build so far, really nicely done. You should do a CF-18 with the false canopy paint job, looks really cool.

Beautifully done. Never have been a fan of the Hornet (Tomcat guy myself) but after seeing your video I might just have to build one. Happy modeling.

Very good job.. excellent narrative and references in all build's

Well done!

Wow you inspire me..! Thanks

Superbe !!..Bravo

Wow. Spectacular job Max! Really went the extra mile with the flight deck. I'm just getting back into model building and you have raised my expectations of what this hobby can be. You make a good video too, clear and easy to follow instructions and generally very informative. I am truly inspired - liked and subscribed!

Exceptional lifelike praiseworthy

Masterpiece!

The way you film your videos is so compelling, and a joy to watch. the finished model is the best I have seen, out of plasmo, Andys hobby headquaters, etc.

amazing job!!

Once again a very interesting and educational video. Always learn somthing new from your builds. Thanks very much. Cheers From New Zealand.

Lovely model and display. Very enjoyable and entertaining video and well put together as always - not to mention educational :-). Always thought a flight deck was smooth LOL till i actually thought about how stupid that would be.

Bravissimo!

Great build! Appreciate the narrative on how your detailing the model. Picked up some things that I think will help my modeling. Thanks

superbe vidéo, superbe travail, félicitation.

Awesome job you've done on that Hornet mate, and the carrier deck is fantastic as well. Very nice work.

Great job

incredible skills i wasnt looking for this video but 9yr old inside me said STOP wait this is awesome

Excellent work