1:32 330 gallon FPU-8/A fuel tank for the McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18A, F/A-18B, F/A-18C F/A-18D (1 pcs)

The 330 gallon FPU-8/A tank in 1:32 scale

This Reskit item is an auxiliary fuel tank in 1:32 scale, that is an accessory for a finished model rather than an aircraft kit. According to the name the carrier is the first-generation Hornet in both its single-seat and two-seat forms. For the modeler it is a way to build a realistic configuration for a long-range flight or for a transfer between bases.

Why the Hornet almost always carried tanks

A carrier fighter is always a compromise between range and the dimensions that will fit aboard ship. That is why Hornets routinely flew with external tanks, whether on the centerline pylon or under the wings, and a configuration without them was rather the exception. A tank of this type became such a usual part of the machine's silhouette that a model without it looks incomplete. It is also clearly visible, so it deserves the same care as any other large part.

How to work the tank

The best way to check large curved surfaces is to shine a sharp side light across them after the primer, which reveals any waviness. If you fit the tank on the centerline pylon, check that it hangs vertically from behind, not only from the side. The color transition between the upper and lower surfaces of the fuselage usually continues onto the tank, so follow the same dividing line. Keep the fuel staining around the filler neck discreet.

Who the tank is for

• Builders of US Navy carrier aircraft
• Modelers building an accurate long-range configuration
• Adding external stores to models that are already finished

The tank is supplied raw, without paints and without glue.