Pat C Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 (edited) Finally the weather is just right to take a few pics outside! This is my effort at the new Airfix 1/72 Gnat kit. I found the kit somewhat fiddly to fit, so much so that this is in fact build No2, build No1 getting trashed as it emerged that it was quite easy to build this kit badly! red3 Main tip is to fit the intakes to the fuselage halves before you fit the cockpit sidewalls, which otherwise will stop them fitting flush. The fit of the wing also needs a fair bit of sanding and fettling to get it to sit down tight against the fuselage without gaps. I also left off the main gear until the rest of the kit was put together - this needs some nervous bending to get them in, but it was a better result than on No1 where I mashed them up proper with misplaced thumbs while sanding the seams. red1 Paint is Humbrol Acrylic Arrows Red which sprayed very nicely, and has been observed here, is proper red rather than orange like the Xtracrylix version. Decals are a mixture of kit and the S&M Decals Gnat sheet. The S&M has a number of decals which are not identified on the instruction sheet and after much peering through a magnifying glass I reckoned one tiny one was a Silver Jubilee marking found on the tails of the Red Arrows in 1977. I chatted with Mr S&M (aka Mel) at the Croydon aviation fair in January who confirmed this. As I hadn't seen any kits with this marking I thought I would do one, and found a nice pic of XS107 on the net to use as inspiration. red5 To add a bit of interest I also opened up one of the nose panels as can be seen in a few pics on the net, but as I have no idea what is in there, I just blanked it off and hope no-one objects!! red6 Hope you like! red4 Pat Edited February 3, 2018 by Pat C 24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PC2012 Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Lovely job. I really like that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerofan Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 (edited) Very nice work, Pat. I do hope Airfix would make one in 1/48. Even at that scale it's small. Edited April 2, 2014 by aerofan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcode Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 nice job, very nice gnat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Smooth, clean finish as bestows a display machine. Very neat job! Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Lime Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Pat, A very nice Gnat, very sharp looking finish. Very nice work, Pat. I do hope Airfix would make on in 1/48. Even at that scale it's small. Aerofan, I presume you missed the announcements for new kits this year? If you did, you'll like the link below! Gnat Also available in a Red Arows boxing for the same price. Mark. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeg Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Beauty! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Nicely done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicE1 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Wow! that's nice! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 That looks really cool! I was always sorry when the "Sparrows" went over to the Hawk, IMHO the Gnat is a much prettier aeroplane and seemed, at least, to be more spritely. Martin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jer Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Now that's a gorgeous Gnat! Great finish 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomoshenko Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Great job there sir. I concur with your advice offered in regard to the intakes and the main gears. I installed the undercarriage as per the instructions and it was real faff avoiding breakage - which happened on several occasions despite my best efforts It does turn out a lovely build though. Intend to do a Red Arrows version (in flight though!) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robvulcan Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Very smart indeed. Always been a fave on mine the Gnat. For me its like the Jaguar E-type or MGB roadster or the Air. Who would not want to own one. Such beautiful plane. Yours Is a very tidy build. I had to buy a second one too not build either yet. But I managed to do something very stupid and leave the 1st one right near the radiator. Yep Its now warped nicely..... I hope I can get mine to look like this. Cheers Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiton Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Looks very good. Very clear canopy and open panel are impressive 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Hi Pat This is probably the nicest example that I have seen. I had similar construction woes to your first example, but put it down to my ineptitude, as build articles in magazines and online were so glowing! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickpadwick1801 Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Hi Pat, Nice job on the Gnat. I recently built one myself in pink for my niece (which looks interesting). Rick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat C Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 (edited) Hi Par This is probably the nicest example that I have seen. I had similar construction woes to your first example, but put it down to my ineptitude, as build articles in magazines and online were so glowing! Thanks for the comments guys. Yes AD it was a bit of a struggle! I even had problems aligning the fuselage halves and ended up gluing the nose section, waiting for it to set then sliding in the cockpit and glueing the rest of the fuselage. And I forgot to say that on build No1, i filled a large gap under the nose with milliput which set rock hard before I realised it was where the pitot slotted in!! that was the point at which I gave up. Pat Edited April 2, 2014 by Pat C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Hi Pat (Sorry I called you "Par" first time, but smart phones and sausage fingers are not always comfortable bedfellows!) I'm not surprised that you consigned the first one to the bin, but the end result of #2 is simply magnificent! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerofan Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Thanks Mark. Yes I did miss that. The 1/48 Gnat will go great with the 1/48 Hawks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonR Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Lovely crisp build Pat as always! Got this in the stash, not plucked up the courage to tackle the tiny little thing yet! cheers Simon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 (edited) Pat, That is a fine specimen of a small scale Gnat,better than any I have seen lately.. SUPERB. Edited April 4, 2014 by HOUSTON 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardiff guy Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 lovely little arrow well done Glenn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Very nice job Pat! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin @ RAM Models Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 The Gnat always looks such a pocket rocket. Lovely clean build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat C Posted February 3, 2018 Author Share Posted February 3, 2018 A discussion on the colour of the Red's Gnats prompted me to de-bucket the pics from this RFI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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