F/A-18 Hornet Walk Around No. 18 By Greg Rosenkranz Squadron/Signal
F/A-18 Hornet Walk Around No. 18
By Greg Rosenkranz
Squadron/Signal Walk Around Series
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet became one of the most successful carrier-based multirole fighters ever built. Developed from the Northrop YF-17, the Hornet combined fighter and attack capabilities into a highly versatile naval aircraft capable of fleet defense, strike missions, close air support, and reconnaissance.
Greg Rosenkranz’s Walk Around No. 18 focuses heavily on:
Cockpit details
Landing gear and wheel wells
Weapons pylons and ordnance
Radar and avionics access panels
Engine nacelles and exhausts
Carrier-deck configurations
Surface panel details
Maintenance-access panels
Navy and Marine Corps markings
F/A-18A through C variant coverage
The book contains:
Approximately 80 pages
Color and black-and-white photography
Squadron/Signal large-format layout
Technical illustrations and color profiles
The volume is especially valuable for modelers building:
Hasegawa F/A-18C Hornet
Academy Hornets
Kinetic F/A-18 kits
Hobby Boss Hornets
Blue Angels aircraft
Carrier-deck dioramas
USMC strike aircraft
Modelers and reviewers consistently praise:
Excellent cockpit photography
Strong landing-gear references
Useful weathering inspiration
Helpful weapons-load references
Excellent carrier-aircraft detailing
Good panel-detail coverage
Large Scale Planes specifically praised the series for:
“detail photographs of various airframe elements.”
The F/A-18 itself remains historically important because:
Over 1,400 legacy Hornets were produced
It served with the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and multiple allied nations
It became a premier carrier-based multirole fighter
It evolved into the Super Hornet family
The aircraft also became famous for:
High-angle-of-attack maneuverability
Carrier compatibility
Multirole flexibility
Blue Angels demonstrations
Precision strike capability
Long operational service life
Modelers frequently mention the book’s usefulness for:
Carrier-weathering effects
Exhaust staining
Open-panel detailing
Weapons-load accuracy
Cockpit super-detailing
Navy low-viz paint schemes
Collectors also note:
Original Squadron editions are preferred
Workshop-used copies often show spine wear
Earlier printings generally have stronger photo contrast
Clean copies are increasingly collectible
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner to Advanced naval aviation modelers and aviation historians
Features
Squadron/Signal Walk Around Series No. 18
Written by Greg Rosenkranz
Approximately 80-page format
Extensive cockpit photography
Carrier-aircraft detail references
Weapons and landing-gear coverage
Color and black-and-white images
Excellent modeling reference
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Hornet focus
For many naval aviation modelers, F/A-18 Hornet Walk Around No. 18 remains one of the most practical Hornet references because it provides exactly the kinds of close-up cockpit, landing-gear, weapons, and maintenance-detail images needed for accurate super-detailing and weathering projects.
