Revell 1/144th CF-18 Hornet
   
Until the appearance of this new tool from Revell a few weeks ago the LS F-18s were still the best in this scale - the awful Dragon offering doesn't bear mentioning. Revell Germany is one of the few companies that seems intent on keeping 1/144th scale alive and this kit certainly won't hurt that effort as it is superb. The choice of markings should certainly help sales as well (worked on me anyway!) although to be pedantic the box should be labeled 'CF-18' or 'CF-188' and not 'F/A-18C' since the featured aircraft is Canadian. A US Navy F/A-18C can be built from the box of course and alternative markings are included for a colourful example from VFA-115 "Eagles".
The parts are to Revell's usual high standards with fine recessed panel lines (still oversize for the tiny scale of course but you've got to have them these days or we'll bitch) and crisp flash free mouldings. Parts breakdown indicates a two seater is in the cards as well which will be very welcome. Cockpit consists of an ejection seat, instrument panel (with decals for this and the side consoles), control stick and cockpit tub. Not too shabby for 1/144th. The canopy is a two part affair (a first for an F-18 in this scale?) which can be posed open but it is unfortunately quite thick.
The LEX fences are very nice albeit very slightly on the thick side - easily corrected with a bit of sanding. The three tiny strengthening tabs are finely moulded on the inside of the fins although the corresponding bits aren't present on the top of the fuselage. Hardly noticeable in this tiny scale I would think. Curiously Revell have moulded the gun gas vents on the nose cone but not the cannon muzzle itself, which is a bit odd as the muzzle is more prominent than the vents. Shouldn't be too difficult to drill out if desired. Another slight omission is the starboard navigation light just outboard of the LEX fence. The port one is depicted as a fine engraved line but there is nothing on the starboard side. A tiny drop of green paint will fix that.

Surely you know what to do by now....
There are a couple of slightly more noticeable problems, both of which will be easily cured. The first is the lack of any depiction of the searchlight on the nose. Most canadian Hornets have these and 720 most definitely does so it should be added as it is quite visible. My own method which I used on my LS CF-18 is to drill a shallow hole (don't go all the way through), paint it silver and then add a drop of 5 minute epoxy on top for the lens. Alternatively you could use an MV Products lens.
The other anomaly concerns the flaps. Revell have depicted these as extending beyond the trailing edge of the wings and unless this is a recent modification that I've not seen this is incorrect. The trailing edge of the wings should be a straight line from root to tip. Again, easily corrected by slicing off the offending bit and sanding back to a sharp edge but curious that Revell depicted the wings this way.
Stores in the kit include one drop tank and two each of the following: Sidewinders, Sparrows, Harpoons, and (I think) Walleyes. These are nicely done although the fins are of course too thick. There is also a targeting FLIR pod and an ASQ-173 laser pod included.
Markings for two aircraft are included, the aforementioned VFA-115 example and the aircraft painted to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Hornet in Canadian service. Revell decals are usually excellent and these seem to be no exception, being thin, well printed and in register. My only complaint is that the 'faded' effect on the upper wing markings of the Canadian machine are very "dotty", no doubt caused by the limitations of the printing process. It may be possible to carefully cut out the gray outlines and stylised maple leafs and apply them over an airbrushed background. On the other hand, that might smack of effort and I may just ignore it.
Another great little kit from Revell and at £2.99 here in jolly old England I consider it a bargain.