I'm thinking of doing a Skystriker paint and decal job on an Elite Force 1/18 scale F-18. Does anyone have or has anyone ever seen one of these close up?

As see here:
http://smalljoes.com/cgi-bin/pgen.cgi?S ... Item=EFF18

I know it dwarfs the Skystriker and Conquest, but I'm just wondering are these easily disassembled for painting or do they come glued together making it impossible to take apart? Too pricey for a buy and see kind of a thing.

Thanks to anyone who can provide any answers.

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These are TRU Heroes or Power Team Elite F-18s, which, if I recall correctly, are smaller than the Elite Force F-18 (and cheaper )

http://www.joecustoms.com/customs/custo ... e=1&id=552


http://www.joecustoms.com/customs/custo ... e=1&id=561

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I have seen those Matthew, they would be great if I was doing a normal custom, but I'm wanting this to be a super-realistic version and not necessarily fit into the Joeverse. If I do it, it's gonna be a display piece independent of my regular customs. But if I can't take it apart and paint all the pieces individually, I'm not gonna do it.

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Gotcha. Misread the size thing. Taking it apart, well that is the question . Don't have experience with their other vehicles even for a point of reference.

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Keep in mind that the sky striker is based off the f-14, of which there is also a true 1:18 version made by JSI/Merit. The F-18 is a different plane - but maybe you knew all that already

Also - I've seen the BBI F-18 in person, but don't own it. The short answer is no - it's not going to come apart easily for painting. The wings and missiles will be separate pieces, but that's about it. Not even exposed screw holes to take it apart.


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Thank you parrish333. That is exactly what I needed to know. If it does not come apart via screws, that means it either locks together with clips or is glued and is a no go.

And I did know it was considerably different than an F-14. Those babies are beyond pricey in 1/18th.

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I'm sure there are screws, just that BBi uses plugs that hide the screw holes, for realism sake. I think they glue the plugs in there too. I have yet to successfully remove one of their plugs with out completely destroying it.

Atleast this is the way it was with their Blackhawks, Apaches, Little Birds, WWII planes, etc. I don't have any of their jets.

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It takes a lot to disassemble one of these birds. There are plugs that you nearly always have to drill out, as only in very few cases have I ever been able to remove them without damaging them in some way. Second you will have to deal with glue in some areas, as the screw in some places are not enough to keep it together. It is doable though.

If you want to know anything about bbi, JSI/Merit, 21st C, or any other 1/18 military toy visit (www.warbird-photos.com/gpxd). That is about all those guys do over there and are very friendly to questions like this.

Also the F-18 has some problem, first the gear is rubbery and if you do not support it when displaying on the ground the gear starts to give way. The other is that the wings are not playable in that if you move them too much they tend to sag in the flight position. Great bird, and both are fixable, but just wanted to give you the heads up.

momaw nadon

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