The kit is from 1987. It comes on 4 sprues molded in blue and 1 sprue for the clear parts. The parts are nicely molded with engraved panel lines. The clear parts were exceptionally clear with the option for open or closed canopy. Kit comes with a pilot that is actually pretty good for 1/72. Most parts have a little flash but are easily cleaned up. Fit is pretty good, but as with most F-18 kits, the intakes will test your putty skills. Detail is average, a little in the wheel wells and the cockpit detail is provided via decals. There is an error with the instructions to watch out for: they show installing sidewinder missiles on the wing tip missile rails. The Blue Angels never flew with sidewinders or any ordinance on the F-18. Probably the biggest problem with the kit is the decals. Some of them are fairly big and easily tear when slid on the model. Second, the decals are the wrong color. They are way too orange. I airbrushed the wing tips, vertical and horizontal stabilzers with Gunze H329 which is the color called for in the instructions. When the decals are put on you really notice the difference in color. I had a bottle of Model Master Blue Angel Yellow laying around and when I put the decals up next to this color it wasn't close to the same. There are many options for after market decals for the Blue Angel F-18 that might be a more accurate color. Overall the kit goes together well.

The build on this was pretty good, but the instructions are all jumbled up together and the larger decals split and tore as they were coming off the backing. Fit was exelent, but again decals stunk.

I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BUILD AND THE PRECISE ASSEMBLY OF THIS MODEL. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS MODEL TO ANYONE, THE DECALS WERE VERY EASY TO WORK WITH. I WAS ABLE TO MATCH THE YELLOW COLOR BY USING MODEL MASTER BLUE ANGEL YELLOW ON EDGE OF WINGS AND RUDDERS. I ENJOYED VERY MUCH THE BUILD.