depressed lemur Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 Good evening gents and gentesses, having landed back from New York about four hours ago I am now back in the work room thinking of Telford. Whenever we get down to the last couple of weeks I feel the need to push myself to finish something last minute. This time I found a Gnat in my stash crying out to be built. Looks a lovely kit with two very nice schemes, but which to choose? After a bit of deliberation I chose to do both, so dug the other one from the stash. Now I can do both for Telford. Also I can keep changing my mind for the final schemes, what joy. So. On with the building. Thanks for looking. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmas Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 A couple of kits in as many weeks? Blimey! I’d like to follow this if I may 😄 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinChipmunkfan Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 Can't wait for this go for it!!- I'm lucky to get one done in 2 months not in 2 weeks 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 You don't believe in pushing it do you? Martian 👽 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmas Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 On 10/19/2018 at 4:49 PM, depressed lemur said: I found a Gnat in my stash Anyone not involved in model-making would wonder what on earth you were talking about. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depressed lemur Posted October 20, 2018 Author Share Posted October 20, 2018 Hi Guys, Thanks for looking in. Yesterday jet lag really caught up with me after I had managed to stick bits of the cockpit together. Your faith in me completing this task is humbling, but I will pledge to have these on the Training Aircraft SIG table for the Saturday morning, so feel free to pop by, Airfix have kindly added ONE crew member for a TWO seat aircraft. Thank you Airfix. However, this means that I can crew one fully and have the other empty just to add a bit of variety. In order to expedite the build(s) I have skipped forward a bit to get some of the fuselage bits together before the first bit of paint is launched in the general direction of the plastic. Also I have knocked up the main gear wells. Next up, some colours. Thanks for looking. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depressed lemur Posted October 21, 2018 Author Share Posted October 21, 2018 Some paint and further construction has taken place. First off I decided that the best approach to the dual build would be to do both together and skip back and forth through the instructions. So far I have knocked up the intakes and wheel wells on the fuselage halves. A simple trial fit suggests that I will need to thin out the intake join point as the lower join of the body does not meet fully. The seats have also had the airbrush treatment, which were a bit of a bugger to mask, but the end result is ok. I have also sprayed the flight suits which means that the next stage will be detai painting with the hairy stick next. Hoping to have that finished by Wednesday so further construction can take place. Thanks for looking. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depressed lemur Posted October 23, 2018 Author Share Posted October 23, 2018 A little more work has taken place tonight. Mainly detail painting, but also putting the instrument panel decal on. Looking at the state of the raised lines I think I should have done these earlier. Managed to get them lined up so flooded them with micro sol, I may repeat it in the morning, to try to get them settled down. In the meantime I painted both pilots ready for later in the build. I have also decided to ruin the lines of the Gnat by opening the nose on one of the aircraft. There is a bit of artistic licence going on but it looks busy enough. I am guessing that the bay was held open with a simple brace rather than something exotic like a gas strut. Can anyone confirm this? Thanks for looking 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmas Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 Great job on the seat masking, and those instrument panels are looking particularly good too, especially considering how raised the original lines are. Keep going...! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill.B Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 Nice to see a bit of diversity coming through with the pilots being clearly of different race. 😁 Seriously though, I’m watching with interest as I’m considering building a Gnat soon. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 35 minutes ago, Bill.B said: Nice to see a bit of diversity coming through with the pilots being clearly of different race. 😁 Nowt to do with my planet guv! Martian 👽 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 Hello DM ! Respect!! 2 kits in such a short delay ! I would'nt even dare to do it ! I prepare 2 Kits for Telford too … But SMW2019 Great job man nicely painted so far !! Sincerely. CC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depressed lemur Posted October 24, 2018 Author Share Posted October 24, 2018 Thanks for the kind words peeps. I am rather pleased with how the pilots turned out as my figure painting skills are rather horrific. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depressed lemur Posted October 24, 2018 Author Share Posted October 24, 2018 (edited) Further work has taken place tonight and I am still on course for Telford. Following copious amounts of micro sol the ip decals have settled as much as I could hope, so the cockpits could be finished. The next step being to add to the fuselage. The fit was exceptional with no issues, but make sure that the rear bulkhead snicks behind the splitter plate part. With one set together I thought it best to see if you could fit the pilots in after the two halves were together. The front seat was no problem but I guess that Mr. Airfix doesn't want a back seat driver. I therefore had to resort to major leg surgery, which fortunately did not result in amputation. Followed by application of miliput. As you can see, a much wider undercarriage track was required for the back office. These guys will be touched up later. That came out wrong. Moving swiftly on, here is where I finished up tonight. Tomorrow, wings. Thanks for looking Edited October 24, 2018 by depressed lemur Pic added 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill.B Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 Great progress, this is fun to observe. BTW, the pilot must feel much better having a wide track which enables him to operate his joy stick in a far more relaxed manner. 😜 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depressed lemur Posted October 27, 2018 Author Share Posted October 27, 2018 Thursday didn't see much building taking place which was a bit of a blow given the time scale I set myself. Last light however saw further progress. This is going to be my open all options version. Possibly silver, possibly red, still not decided yet. This one is having two crew members and a closed canopy. I am also thinking of going back to my youth and doing wheels up, using an Airfix stand. Last time I did that I think I was 8. Speaking of which, the 48th Gnat has working ailerons and rudder, a hark back to the good old days. At least this time the hinges don't look over scale. Final job last night was to mask up the canopies for spraying. At least by using both options I have a spare if I completely stuff it up. Later today, paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmas Posted October 27, 2018 Share Posted October 27, 2018 This is looking really good. I look forward to seeing these at Telford. This will be my first year there. I can only make the Sunday though because there's a family event on the Saturday but I'm looking forward to it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depressed lemur Posted October 27, 2018 Author Share Posted October 27, 2018 27 minutes ago, Timmas said: This is looking really good. I look forward to seeing these at Telford. This will be my first year there. I can only make the Sunday though because there's a family event on the Saturday but I'm looking forward to it. Thanks Timmas for your confidence. They will be there both days (if I get a move on) on the Training Aircraft SIG in hall 1 I believe. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depressed lemur Posted October 29, 2018 Author Share Posted October 29, 2018 For some reason either Britmodeller or Flickr were mad at me. Either way I could add one picture but no more. Guess I needed some time on the naughty step, but snuck upstairs to the desk. Yesterday I finished off masking both kits and blacking the canopies. Before sticking them on the kits. I think I put the crew inside, but my memory is a bit fuzzy sometimes, either that or the carpet monster had a feast 😲. Tonight I have been preparing the colours for two schemes. This beastie is going to take a lot of time due to the more complex nature of the job. I will need to put another coat of white before masking and moving on to the grey. This guy, on the other hand is almost finished paint wise, but will need much more work fittings wise. Thanks for looking 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depressed lemur Posted November 1, 2018 Author Share Posted November 1, 2018 Time keeps moving on and on. Telford looms and the Gnat still progess onwards. The red one has been varnished so is almost ready for decalling. But I will leave that to the weekend. The multi coloured one, however, needs a fair amount of masking. Underside wings painted grey then even more masking. It is worse than wrapping presents for Christmas and yes, as I struggled I did think that keeping the wing tanks off would have made the job easier. Top tip for anyone doing one of these, keeping the wing tanks off will save several failed attempts at masking, much swearing and possibly sticking an errant scalpel blade into a thumb. Eventually I did manage to stick the yellow stuff where I wanted it and whacked on the red. Tomorrow I will add a varnish to the red before removing the masking. I am thinking that this will avoid the chance of errant red colouring moving onto the white bits. We shall see. Thanks for looking. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depressed lemur Posted November 2, 2018 Author Share Posted November 2, 2018 Little bit of a disaster seems to have occurred with the paint finish. The underside looks fine But the top looks nothing like I wanted. No idea what caused this but an unwanted delay given the timeline. I think I will give this a light rubbing down and try to reapply. I will not be beaten. Thanks for looking. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depressed lemur Posted November 3, 2018 Author Share Posted November 3, 2018 A little bit of work went into the red coat last night and I was finally happy with the result. Earlier I applied a varnish to the red as it has a habit of bleeding during application so I thought that I would seal it first before covering the whole of the kit in varnish prior to decalling. I have finally got to, what I find one of the best aspects of modelling. Some may think I am odd, but I love masking, and removing masking. When you apply it, it is a very relaxing time, listening to music, enjoying the moment. When you remove it, it is like seeing all your hard work being revealed if yo know what I mean. A bit like a butterfly emerging from a crysalis. So, tonight I removed the mask to reveal this. What in God's own name allowed red to bleed into those areas? I mean, not even near the edge? Come on. Tomorrow will involve repairing the damage before varnish and decals. Don't worry though, it will be on the table at Telford. Thanks for looking. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bar side Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 Watching with interest. I have some history with red & white RAF jets & a gnat wouldn’t be out of place. Looks a reasonable kit so far - I can see why you might add the slipper tanks later. Nice work so far 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredag Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 Whenever i have sprayed red paint, it manages to get everywhere.Its just a bloody type of colour! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bar side Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 I have found that if you prime, then tape over, apply another coat of prime on top. That will bleed under & seal the tape edge, but it’s the same colour. Then put your different colour first coat on. Got some pretty clean lines that way. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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