E/A-18G Growler – Revell 1/144

What happens when a customer wants you to build a 1/144 aircraft, and you're not used to that scale? Well, it's time to use your magnifying glass and try!

So we have a really good model from Revell. So nice that I didn't have to use any putty at all!. I started with the cockpit, which I didn't add anything because it's so small that it doesn't need any detail.
The fuselage comes in two halfs: the nose section and the middle section. Nose section has a vertical union (really nice union) and the middle section has an horizontal join. It also includes the wings, which is a great point to this model so you don't have to level them.
After adding the tail plane and the distinct tail fins, it was time for painting.
I need to point that building is really simple, and can be done in an hour more or less.

First, some prepanelling with black and preshaded with white. Then, layer after layer of medium grey.
I've read somewhere that you need to darken the colour when working in small scales, so I added a bit of black to the medium grey.
After varnishing, and adding the decals, I used black oils to panel the aircraft. Since the customer didn't want heavy weathering, I left it fairly clean.

However, here comes the only flaw I found: the ventral landing gear. Although the front gear stands in place really good, the ventral is a challenge: I had to remove it two times until I figured out how to proper glue it in place, and leave it in the correct position. My advise: glue the landing gear BEFORE you paint the wells. It will stand better.

Unfortunately, one of the wingtip missile supports was broken beyond fixing. I phoned the customer, showed him some pictures of the problem, and try to explain how I was going to fix it. However, the customer said that It was not necessary, and preferred to not add the wingtip missiles.

In the end, I made a really good looking model. Needless to say, 1/144 it's not my scale, but I learned a lot from it.
Is it an easy model? I'd say yes it is, regardless of you skill you'll have a really nice time building it.

C.Corral

9 additional images. Click to enlarge.