Hobby Master 1:72 Air Power Series Die-cast Model

McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18D Hornet (ATARS) – #164886, VMFA(AW)-224 "Fighting Bengals", USMC, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, 2009

1:72 Scale.  Length: 9.25".  Wingspan: 6.25"


Limited production of approximately 800 models

On May 1 1942 VMF-224 Bengals was commissioned and in 1951 received their first jet, F2H-2 Banshee. In 1952 VMF-224 became VMA-224 flying the F9F Panther. In 1965 VMA-224 went to Vietnam and in 1966 received the A-6A Intruder and a name change to VMA(AW)-224. In 1993 saw yet another name change to VMFA(AW)-224 and upgrade to the F/A-18D Hornet. Starting in January 2009 the “Bengals” spent time at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan until July that year. F/A-18D No. 164886 was equipped with ATARS (Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System) an electro-optical sensor package which replaces the nose gun.

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, twin-engine, all-weather fighter and attack aircraft flown by the US Navy, US Marine Corps and other allied nations. The F/A-18 was first flown on November 18, 1978 with the first production flight taking place on April 12, 1980. The first 380 F/A-18s were the A version and in September 1987 production switched to the F/A-18C. Variants A and C are single-seat while B and D variants are tandem-seats. The Hornet can operate from either aircraft carriers or land bases and have the capability of in-flight refueling. A total of 1,480 A-D variants were built.


Hobby Master is a manufacturer of high quality, pre-assembled, diecast display models. Every model is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, using specifications of the original aircraft or vehicle. They are made with diecast metal and some plastic components.

This model of an F/A-18 Hornet features: