Airfix 1/72 Folland Gnat Red Arrows Speeeeeed build

[Phil Lewis]

This coming Thursday's (23rd June) club night competition will have the theme of Jubilee Royale for which entrants can be anything in British service since the Coronation.

I have nothing built although I suppose I could use the Vampire but as it has already won a club comp night it feels wrong to enter it into another club competition.

I then struck upon the (insane) idea of attempting to complete a kit over two evenings and to a good enough standard.

So here it is in progress 3 hours of work so far.

Box

Sprues (we've seen 'em all before)

Assembly so far, cockpit just has basic paint so far but I'll try to liven it up a bit later.

Little bit of Mr Dissolved Putty to be sanded down but otherwise fit remarkably good, as long as those mould lines are cleaned up

That's it so far will post any further updates as they happen.

Thanks for looking

Phil

*edited for multiple fat finger and spelling errors

Edited June 22, 2016 by Phil Lewis

[Phil Lewis]

Pilot painted

Seat pads painted Olive Green and various sticky outy bits added, blade aerials, pitot etc.

Pitot thinned and tapered instead of the scale drainpipe as initially offered.

filled bits smoothed down and panel lines rescribed

Pilot in his office, some washes from Flory to add a little life to the area.

A bit closer

And now he can't escape (second canopy as the original developed a scalpel scratch much to my chagrin)

Gap at the back of the canopy to be filled with Mr Dissolved Putty

And that is definitely IT for tonight.

Tomorrow will be masking, painting and decalling.

Thanks for looking

Phil

[AdrianMF]

Very nice! It's a good kit for a wheels-up speed build. Looking forward to part 2!

Regards,

Adrian

[The Spadgent]

You sir are unstoppable! By any chance if you stop modelling will you explode? Brilliant part one. Totally insane but brilliant none the less.

John.

[Phil Lewis]

Masked up the canopy, used the Tamiya flexible masking tape for the edges for the first time and I'm quite impressed.

White Tack in the intakes

Tamiya Fine Surface Primer applied from the rattle can

Tamiya XF-3 Yellow base coat for the red

Canary Gnat

Yeller!

RED! SHINY RED! I have to say I am so pleased with how this turned out. Thinned Tamiya X-7 gloss red followed by a clear coat of Mr Super Clear Gloss.

I normally make a complete horlicks of gloss finishes but I think the planets must have lined up for me tonight

Let the clear cure for a bit and then slap the decals on

Thanks for looking

Phil

[Skids]

Wow that is quick, looking good

[Phil Lewis]

Decals went on without a hitch...

aaaand then disaster! Underside gloss coat was applied a little too heavily and caused the paint to slightly run out of the panel lines exposing the yellow undercoat.

Not a major issue, a light wash would see to that....

Disaster no.2 In the process of moving it before the gloss coat over the decals was fully dry it slipped and although I caught it...

Valiantly I soldiered on after retrieving the toys I had thrown out of the pram and have, possibly, rescued it...

although I doubt it will be good enough to enter into the club competition.

Hey Ho I shall finish the little fiddly bits tomorrow and decide if I want to show it or not.... so close....

Time for bed

Thanks for looking

Phil

*edited for missing photo

Edited June 23, 2016 by Phil Lewis

[The Spadgent]

That Mr Super clear gloss looks the business. Great save on an epic challenge. I didn't know about the yellow undercoat for red. Would you do the same for fluorescent orange?, I'm doing the vamp next. hope you decide to show It. looks good from here.

All the best.

John.

Edited June 23, 2016 by The Spadgent

[Phil Lewis]

Ok I got it into the competition in time, won't know how well it did until finals night in December

Nose light lens added and jet pipe painted rubber black and then lightly dry brushed with Vallejo Steel.

Base made from old magazine binder wire bent to shape and an old necklace box.

I shall still make a better base in the future but this is how it appeared tonight.

As ever, thanks for looking and thanks for all the kind comments.

John in response to your question about if I'd explode if I stopped modelling I am now afraid to stop just in case

About the yellow undercoat I think it also applies to orange and dayglo, It certainly worked well for the red.

Thanks all

Phil

[The Spadgent]

Thanks phil. I'll yellow up first. great looking gnat, hope it does well. Don't forget that Opel.

John.

Edited June 24, 2016 by The Spadgent

[AdrianMF]

Very nice! Shame about your adventures with the gloss coat, but it still looks fabulous!

Regards,

Adrian