Airfix 1/48 Fairey Gannet AS.1 / AS.4

[Mence]

Well seeing as January is statistically the most depressing month of the year, I feel I should do my bit to give you all a good laugh.

So here is my next clumsy attempt to build something.

[Mence]

Chaps.

Made a small start which, following the instructions begins with the bomb bay and nose gear bay. Very clear and accurate location points ensure things go together Tamiya style.

[Mence]

Then flip it over and add the wing spar. The mating area for this has four ejector points so a little filing is necessary to ensure a good fit. Instructions call for you to fit part A6 to accomadate some of the necessary weights (12g) to avoid tail sitting. I opted not to fit that part, instead using the extra space to fit 20g of self adhesive wheel balancing weights.

[Mence]

Cockpit floor added, once again, positive location points ensure it almost clicks into place.

[tcoat]

OHHHH goody a new tool Gannet. I have this one on my Planes I Can Fold The Wings On buy list so am very interested in this build.

[reserve]

Looks promising, seems Airfix has improved themselves lately also

[jeaton01]

Looking forward to watching this one, looks like a great kit.

[Mence]

Thanks chaps, so far, so good.

No I haven't fast forwarded through the build but being impatient I wanted to see how well the fuselage halves fitted with what I have done so far. Very pleased to say that the halves come together almost perfectly. Of course, this may well change when the rest of the bulkheads are added but at this point, looking pretty decent.

[stikpusher]

Man, this is NOT the Airfix that we built as kids... Wow!

[tcoat]

Dec 31, 2023 14:35:43 GMT -5 reserve said:

Looks promising, seems Airfix has improved themselves lately also

These new Airfix molds totally rock and are up there with the best. The only problem is you have to be very careful t find out if it is new or just a re issue of a kit from 1965.

[stikpusher]

Dec 31, 2023 15:55:06 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Dec 31, 2023 14:35:43 GMT -5 reserve said:

Looks promising, seems Airfix has improved themselves lately also

These new Airfix molds totally rock and are up there with the best. The only problem is you have to be very careful t find out if it is new or just a re issue of a kit from 1965.

Oh I know… but since my aircraft are 1/48 mostly, they didn’t start making those until the late 1970’s for the most part… and those kits weren’t half bad. At least they had proper cockpits and wheel wells, etc…

[Mence]

Chaps.

A little bit more. Cockpit parts are mostly in place, seats and detailing will follow.
Note more nose weights, still not up to the recommended figure of 67g

[deafpanzer]

Too cool! I always thought it was one of most odd looking plane. Saw the real thing at Pima Air Museum in Arizona!

[thug626]

It is such an ungainly looking bird. So much so, that it is full of character.

[Medicman71]

Very cool! I've been wanting to see the a build of this kit.

[kyledehart5]

Hmmm. I have been remiss on seeing this one so far but o shall watch along now, if I may.

[M1Carbine]

Mence - Bookmarked, I have to have this kit. one of the ugliest but beautiful at the same time aircraft. I absolutely love this bird. Been salivating waiting for this to get in stock. Awesome progress so far and I am attentively tuned in.

-Bob

[themongoose]

Jan 4, 2024 13:20:38 GMT -5 Mence said:

Chaps.

A little bit more. Cockpit parts are mostly in place, seats and detailing will follow.
Note more nose weights, still not up to the recommended figure of 67g

That’s an insane amount of weight! How stiff does the LG look?

[keavdog]

great! I've had this kit on the wish list. So funky looking I want to build it. A plane only it's mother could love lol

[armornutii]

   I try hard not to fall in love with underdogs....this " thing" is so damn odd with its tri- fold wings and tiny looking fan in front...I'm fighting a loosing battle. Then there is this review...troublemaker

[jeaton01]

Makes a Stoof look Svelte!

[Mence]

Chaps.

Disclaimer...I'm a pants modeler and I'm good with that.

Ok, you get crew figures with the kit but if you opt not to use them, you are left with bare seats, not ideal.
Struggled to find any kit specific seat belts so used some late WW2 ones to add visual interest. I know they are not 100%, many had blue colour belts while early ones may have had buff but I think they look ok ish and certainly better than nothing.

Added plenty of tiny kit decals to the inside, seats were painted a brown shade as they appear to have been made of a bakelite type material?

Detail painting and a dry brushing in a grey tone and I'm done.

Apologies for the image, pretty dark this time of year.

[406 Silverado]

Heya Mence! I don't think I've EVER seen this aircraft until now. This definitely fits into the odd plane out category as far as it's strange appearance and the fact that it's not one that's seen all the time. Great subject and love what you're doing with the cockpit/ interior so far.

Bookmarked.

[Mence]

Chaps.

Starting to look like a wingy, closed her up with very few issues, the wing spars provide such a snug fit that the fuselage halves don't need to be glued to the interior. Tiny smear of filler here and there, hardly needed.

[kyledehart5]

That’s looking mighty spiffy, indeed!!

[Medicman71]

It seems like Airfix is getting much better with their kits.

[Mence]

Chaps.

Thrown some paint around, Tamiya XF-21 and Mr Color 333 seems to do the trick.

[handiabled]

I just caught up with this build and I can't remember seeing this built before. Watching with interest

[reserve]

Yup not the Airfix I remember, not at all. Coming along quite well sir

[Mence]

Wings today, no issues, all good.