[David Hingtgen]

The short answer is that you're very close. Clarifications/corrections:

HARM's nowadays are actually an incredibly pale shade of grey, not pure white. If you're picky.

I do plan to someday put an AMRAAM on where I removed the FLIR pod, but haven't done it yet. If they had actually given us an accurate FLIR pod, it'd be easy to modify it into an ATFLIR. But it's just a blob of plastic in the wrong place and wrong mount and shape, so it's not even salvageable. However, having no targeting pod, it's somewhat unlikely to carry GBU-12's. Might want to stick with missiles only. Of course, could always say the targets are being lased by ground troops, etc. Realistically, 1 AMRAAM is more likely than 2.

GBU-12's can only go directly on the pylon on a SUPER Hornet, you can't put 2 on a CVER. (It'll probably happen some day, just not cleared now). If you want GBU-12's on the middle pylon, remove the CVER and put one on a pylon directly. The only things you can put on a S.Hornet CVER are CBU's, Mk82's and 83's. If you remove the CVER, you could also use GBU-16, or JDAM, etc.

[muesingman]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

The short answer is that you're very close. Clarifications/corrections:

HARM's nowadays are actually an incredibly pale shade of grey, not pure white. If you're picky.

I do plan to someday put an AMRAAM on where I removed the FLIR pod, but haven't done it yet. If they had actually given us an accurate FLIR pod, it'd be easy to modify it into an ATFLIR. But it's just a blob of plastic in the wrong place and wrong mount and shape, so it's not even salvageable. However, having no targeting pod, it's somewhat unlikely to carry GBU-12's. Might want to stick with missiles only. Of course, could always say the targets are being lased by ground troops, etc. Realistically, 1 AMRAAM is more likely than 2.

GBU-12's can only go directly on the pylon on a SUPER Hornet, you can't put 2 on a CVER. (It'll probably happen some day, just not cleared now). If you want GBU-12's on the middle pylon, remove the CVER and put one on a pylon directly. The only things you can put on a S.Hornet CVER are CBU's, Mk82's and 83's. If you remove the CVER, you could also use GBU-16, or JDAM, etc.

Hmm... only one GBU-12 on the middle pylon, that´s too few for me somehow... so my next questions are:

1. If I really remove the CVER, can I also put a fat GBU-24 there?

2. If so, what would be a realistic completion for that (regarding the outer pylon?)

Still not sure wether I should start my reconstructions... the main problem is the targeting pod. If there´s (realistically) only one AMRAAM on the right fuselage side, how should I cover the paint defect that will surely be unavoidable if I remove that "whateveritis"-pod?

By the way: I have found pics of live HARMs and yes, they´re indeed very, very, very light grey. I was only able to realize this because they were diplayed directly next to a real white live Kormoran ASM. I would say, if there´s no real white weapon around, You could also use the HARM straight from the Dragon weapons set without repainting.

[David Hingtgen]

If you want a GBU-24 on the middle pylon, the outer pylon has to be a missile. (any will do).

If you want something BIG, put a JSOW on the middle pylon, with missiles outboard. (basically, anything big in the middle means something small outboard---mainly talking about diameter)

As for AMRAAM---I pulled off the FLIResque pod and currently just live with the paint issues (I have the plane banked to hide the belly). Will probably put AMRAAMs on each corner some day as it is certainly possible, regardless of being probable.

If you want 2 AMRAAMs on the fuselage, I would go for "independent" weapons on the wings, that don't need a FLIR's targeting sensors etc. HARMs are always good, the Hornet has inherent capability with them AFAIK, unlike the F-16. JDAM can be used alone, though it's always better to have a FLIR or LANTIRN along to update targets. And of course, any dumb bomb.

[muesingman]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

If you want a GBU-24 on the middle pylon, the outer pylon has to be a missile. (any will do).

If you want something BIG, put a JSOW on the middle pylon, with missiles outboard. (basically, anything big in the middle means something small outboard---mainly talking about diameter)

As for AMRAAM---I pulled off the FLIResque pod and currently just live with the paint issues (I have the plane banked to hide the belly). Will probably put AMRAAMs on each corner some day as it is certainly possible, regardless of being probable.

If you want 2 AMRAAMs on the fuselage, I would go for "independent" weapons on the wings, that don't need a FLIR's targeting sensors etc. HARMs are always good, the Hornet has inherent capability with them AFAIK, unlike the F-16. JDAM can be used alone, though it's always better to have a FLIR or LANTIRN along to update targets. And of course, any dumb bomb.

So my plan now looks like as follows:

1 x AMRAAM on the right fuselage side, the "whatereveritis-pod" remains there since I fear paint defects;

2 x GBU-24 (one on each of the middle pylons);

2 x HARM (one on each of the outer pylons);

2 x AIM-9X (straight from the plane, just repainted).

The fuel tanks remain where they are.

Hope this is realistic enough. Thank Ya David!!

[muesingman]

@ David:

David, I need Your help again! I have put a GBU-24 on each middle pylon now. But before glueing the HARMs next, could You please tell me: is it possible (or better: realistic) to place a live HARM on the outer pylon next to a GBU-24? I am asking because the strakes of the two weapons seem to be overlaping when viewed from ahead. I fear the strakes of a live HARM would hit the strakes of the big bomb when being launched so that I fear such a configuration is not realistic. But I am not sure.

If my suspicion is correct: is it then correct too, that only a live AMRAAM could be placed on the outer pylon next to a GBU-24?

[David Hingtgen]

MH was down for a week, wish this could have been checked sooner, oh well.

::checks some more::

Gah, it seems the GBU-24 variant is the one bomb with an exception for the outboard pylons---they are too big due to their fins, they can't have anything next to them at all. The OTHER 2,000lb Paveway fits, but not the -24.

I wasn't thinking right, I had a mental picture of the GBU-10 and not the -24, and my first reference merely said GBU-24's can go on the middle pylon, didn't mention any restrictions. But the next one I found today did say nothing outboard of them due to clearance. Sorry. You'll either have to have nothing on the outboards, or go to a different bomb on the middle.

Part of the problem is that people always want a plane to have something on every possible hardpoint---which just doesn't happen that often. It's easy to just copy a real-life load that's half-empty, much harder to try to determine what can and can't happen to "fill up" a plane.

If you'd like, you could swap one or two of the wing tanks for a GBU-24. (if you keep the -24's)

[muesingman]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

MH was down for a week, wish this could have been checked sooner, oh well.

::checks some more::

Gah, it seems the GBU-24 variant is the one bomb with an exception for the outboard pylons---they are too big due to their fins, they can't have anything next to them at all. The OTHER 2,000lb Paveway fits, but not the -24.

I wasn't thinking right, I had a mental picture of the GBU-10 and not the -24, and my first reference merely said GBU-24's can go on the middle pylon, didn't mention any restrictions. But the next one I found today did say nothing outboard of them due to clearance. Sorry. You'll either have to have nothing on the outboards, or go to a different bomb on the middle.

Part of the problem is that people always want a plane to have something on every possible hardpoint---which just doesn't happen that often. It's easy to just copy a real-life load that's half-empty, much harder to try to determine what can and can't happen to "fill up" a plane.

If you'd like, you could swap one or two of the wing tanks for a GBU-24. (if you keep the -24's)

The front pic of a 1/100 Revell snap kit shows the following payload:

- inner pylons: GBU-24
-middle pylons: Harpoon
-outer pylons: HARM

Don´t know wether I can turn it that way. The risk of destroying the whole plane is quite large when removing the fuel tanks from the pylons. On the other hand, You do not need a special launch rail for the Harpoon (at least not when mounted on F/A-18C).

[David Hingtgen]

The best stuff I have so far has GBU-24 specifically noted as only other GBU-24's, or drop tanks next to it. So no Harpoon in that configuration. I have almost no info on Harpoon requirements, other than it can carry it and 2 pics of VFA-27's CAG carrying one by itself.

PS----never go by model kits, they're a terrible reference for weapons. If they knew weapons, Revell would have included ATFLIRs in their Super Hornet kits, not FLIRs.

[muesingman]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

The best stuff I have so far has GBU-24 specifically noted as only other GBU-24's, or drop tanks next to it. So no Harpoon in that configuration. I have almost no info on Harpoon requirements, other than it can carry it and 2 pics of VFA-27's CAG carrying one by itself.

PS----never go by model kits, they're a terrible reference for weapons. If they knew weapons, Revell would have included ATFLIRs in their Super Hornet kits, not FLIRs.

My two GBU-24 really start p****ng me off. They are too f*****ng big for anything else next to them.

Too sad, I do not have anything else and I do not want to buy another Dragon weapons set. I´ll try to get four GBU-16 from somewhere - they and my two HARMs should be all right to fill all the hardpoints, right?

Or, another idea:
-inner pylons: GBU-24
-middle pylons: empty
-outer pylons: HARM

correct/realistic?

[David Hingtgen]

??? I could SWEAR I posted my reply. I know I typed it up. But checking even more I have even more info, so what I typed might not be true. GBU-24 mid with HARM outboard might be cleared (or at the very least, tested---can't quite tell from the pic). Have asked the Super Hornet weapons expert guy (seriously, it's his job, he knows everything about them) for clarification.