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Airfix 1/72 Folland Gnat Red Arrows Speeeeeed build


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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

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic01_zp

Sprues (we've seen 'em all before)

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic02_zp

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

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic03_zp

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

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic05_zp

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

Thanks for looking

Phil :thumbsup2:

*edited for multiple fat finger and spelling errors :D

Edited by Phil Lewis
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Pilot painted

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic06_zp

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic07_zp

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.

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic08_zp

filled bits smoothed down and panel lines rescribed

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic09_zp

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

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic10_zp

A bit closer

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic11_zp

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

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic12_zp

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

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic13_zp

And that is definitely IT for tonight.

Tomorrow will be masking, painting and decalling.

Thanks for looking :D

Phil :hobbyhorse:

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

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic14_zp

White Tack in the intakes

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic15_zp

Tamiya Fine Surface Primer applied from the rattle can

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic16_zp

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Tamiya XF-3 Yellow base coat for the red

Canary Gnat :)

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic18_zp

Yeller!

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic19_zp

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 :D

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic20_zp

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic21_zp

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

Thanks for looking

Phil :pilot:

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Decals went on without a hitch...

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic22_zp

aaaand then disaster! :badmood: 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....

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic23_zp

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

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic24_zp

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

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic25_zp

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

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic26_zp

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

Time for bed

Thanks for looking

Phil

*edited for missing photo

Edited by Phil Lewis
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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. :D hope you decide to show It. looks good from here.

All the best.

John.

Edited by The Spadgent
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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.

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic27_zp

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic28_zp

Airfix72GnatRedArrWIP-21-06-16basic29_zp

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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 :D

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

Thanks all

Phil :boom:

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