USN NAWCAD F/A-18E Super Hornet VX-23

So I made a massive change in my life. With the support of my loving wife, I accepted a new job at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Southern Maryland. "Pax River" is home to the Naval Air Warfare Center; Aircraft Division; my new employer. I am around a plethora of aircraft from the with F/A-18s buzzing around almost constantly. So now, I plan to build a series of Super Hornets and Growlers in the near future. I am starting with the Revell 1/48 kit as a "rehearsal" model. It is easily the cheapest out there, but I want to get familiar with the type before I start on the Meng and Hasegawa kits currently in my stash. 

As always, I start with the cockpit. Pretty plain, but overall not bad. The decals for the instrument panel worked well. 

Burner cans are also pretty simple. 

I spent some money of an aftermarket seat, however it was designed for the Hasegawa kit and does not at all fit in the Revell kit. 

 

I used Vallejo paint for the light and dark ghost greys 

 

I went for the patchy look  

 

Superscale decals... 

 

 

Got the landing gear on... 

 

Boarding ladder on... 

Canopy on... 

Final home on my desk at work...