F228 a nostalgia build

[Ratch]

I bought this kit at Telford because I had vague memories of building one with my dad when I was a kid. I want to build it as I would have done, but hopefully with a better finish, so a nostalgia build.
The Fairey Gannet is an aircraft of the Cold War era developed for the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy. The Gannet was originally developed to meet the FAA's dual-role anti-submarine warfare and strike requirement. The prototype first flew on 19 September 1949 and made the first deck landing by a turboprop aircraft, on HMS Illustrious on 19 June 1950, by pilot Lieutenant Commander G. Callingham. It was a mid-wing monoplane with a tricycle undercarriage, and a double turboprop engine, the Armstrong-Siddeley Double Mamba 100, driving two contra-rotating propellers.  After a further change in operational requirements, with the addition of a radar and extra crew member, the type entered production in 1953 and initial deliveries were made of the variant designated AS.1 at RNAS Ford in April 1954 entering service in January 1955. A trainer variant (T.2) WN365 first flew in August 1954. The RN's first operational Gannet squadron (826 NAS) was embarked on HMS Eagle. The initial order was for 100 AS.1 aircraft. 
The Mamba created 2,950 h.p. It could fly at 310 m.p.h. Service ceiling 25,000 ft. Range 943 miles with a crew of three. Armaments were 16 x 60 lbs. rocket projectiles and two homing torpedoes, depth charges or mines and a crew of three. It was later adapted for operations as an electronic countermeasures and carrier onboard delivery aircraft. A total of 348 Gannets were built, of which 44 were the heavily modified AEW.3. Production was shared between Fairey's factories at Hayes, Middlesex and Heaton Chapel, Stockport / Manchester (Ringway) Airport. By the mid-1960s, the AS.1s and AS.4s had been replaced by the Westland Whirlwind HAS.7 helicopters.
This is the 1970 boxing of the Frog kit originally issued in 1956 © Rovex-Triang.

[Ratch]

The kit is moulded in grey styrene with clear parts for the canopy and stand. Surface detail is raised panel lines. There is no cockpit; figureheads are moulded as part of the fuselage. There are no wheel wells (although crude undercarriage mouldings are provided), a slot must be cut into the lower wing to facilitate the fitting of the undercarriage. There is quite a bit of flash to remove. The two-section canopy is approximately 1mm thick; this may not be a bad thing as it could disguise the lack of interior detail.

The scale is 1/72 and the parts count is 33 including the stand.
Skill Level is basic, I built one of these in my childhood. I intend to build this without adornments, except for a decent set of decals, basically how it would have been built in 1956, but hopefully to a better standard.


Paints advised are named as Duck Egg Green and Dark Sea Grey. I think I may use some additional colours.
Reference material is not provided.
Decal quality is practically useless. Two schemes are provided; 815 Sqn. FAA HMS Ocean, 1956 and 1 Marinefliegergeschwader, Kriegsmarine, 1958, but both are horribly cracked after 63 years. I don’t think they can be salvaged and will look for substitutes. I have Ventura sheet V7252 for Royal Navy 4” & serials. Type A roundels could come from Modeldecal sheet 39, but I have nothing else suitable and so have ordered Xtradecal sheet X72108 from Hannants.

I washed the parts in soapy water and set them aside to air-dry. I then set about researching the aircraft. Examining the instructions, I noted that it is advised to add weight inside the nose of the fuselage. This is to ensure that the model does not sit on its tail with the undercarriage fitted. It is my intention to model the aircraft in flight, on the stand provided. In view of the unusable decals I inspected each part cleaning off excess flash. I opened the slot into the fuselage to accommodate the stand. The canopy sections were cleaned up and dipped in Klear to perk them up and protect them. I also assembled the stand.


Vallejo Model Color 70951 1 White = undercoat for propeller tips, spinner stripes

Humbrol Acrylic 24 Matt Trainer Yellow = propeller tips

[AltcarBoB]

I do love the Gannet. I was lucky enough to go on a tour of HMS Eagle when she was visiting Liverpool in the early 70s I can still remember being awestruck by the size of the Gannets in the Hangar and their concertina wing folding.

 

Oh how I would love to be able to go back to that day via a time machine equipped with my camera.

[perdu]

My favourite FAA aircraft AND Frog kit, how could I not follow this journey

 

👍

[stevehnz]

I'll watch along with this Ratch. How could I not with a couple in stock.

Steve.

[Ratch]

Welcome aboard chaps 

I've painted the black blades of the propeller. 

I will assemble them when the transfers and their painting instructions arrive. 

 

The fuselage was joined with the arrester hook sandwiched between the halves. At each stage I have sanded and scraped to try to remove seam and flash lines. 

 

Each of the tail wings had ejector pin marks that required filling using Vallejo Model 70400 Plastic Putty and I also filled the locating points for the nose doors and undercarriage. 

 

Then the wings were fixed to the fuselage. 

 

A smear of filler was pushed into the wing roots and the crew were painted.

[Ratch]

While dry fitting the canopies, the rear one was rather tight and snapped in half as I tried to remove it. It had to be sanded down to fit and I have tried to fix it with PVA. The nose is tacked on with PVA so I can remove it and add the propellers. 

 

I then masked the canopy with Tamiya tape. I shot some Vallejo Acrylic 74660 Gloss Black Polyurethane Surface Primer just over the canopy. I then primed the whole airframe using Vallejo Acrylic 74601 Grey Polyurethane Surface Primer. 

I shall set this aside for the paint to cure overnight.

[Ratch]

Having let the paint to cure overnight I then pre-shaded the under surfaces with Vallejo Model Air 71055 Grey Green  and the upper areas with Vallejo Model Air 71057 Black. The under surfaces were then over-sprayed with Duck Egg Green. I don’t like ‘in your face’ shading and tried to make it subtle.

[JOCKNEY]

Lovely to see another Frog kit being built, you might enjoy looking at the recent Frog Squad Group Build here on BM, theres a nice Gannet build.

 

Good luck with this one.

 

Cheers Pat 

[Ruskin Air Services]

Built this kit in the 80's in its NOVO incarnation

[Ratch]

Already checked it out and commented Pat 

[Ratch]

The lower areas were then masked off. 

 

Looking through my paint selection for the upper surfaces I noted Vallejo Model Air 71048 Dark Sea Grey matching the description of the box artwork. Checking my references, I found FS.36173 (36099) recommended. I do not have a match for 36173 but Vallejo Model Air 71054 Dark Grey Blue matches FS36099. I decided to test spray the two paints; on the left 71054 and 71048 on the right. 

 

I chose 71054 and airbrushed the upper areas.

 

I then brushed the black stripes around the spinners.

[Ratch]

Removing the masking, and referring to the decal sheet, I realised that the bulges forward of the exhaust, at the wing trailing edge, should be grey, so I masked around this area and sprayed again. 

[Ratch]

The airframe was then sprayed with Klear in preparation for the transfers. I selected the markings of Fairey Gannet AS.4, XA425/296/R of 815 NAS, HMS Ark Royal, circa 1957-8, (ref: AB Sqn History) from Xtradecal sheet X72108. The transfers were applied using Microset and Microsol setting solutions. When the transfers were dry, I mixed a little Klear with Vallejo 26.518 Matt Acrylic Varnish and airbrushed this over the model to give a silky finish. I removed the masking from the transparencies at this point. The kit does not include an aerial mast, so I used a piece of stretched sprue.

Almost done now.

[Ratch]

I have used Aeroclub Rigging Thread for the aerial wires.

More pictures in RFI.

To conclude, I have found this build a refreshing step back to modelling in my youth. Not that I did everything as I would have then. For example, I didn’t use the paint to fill the gaps as I used to, and I never possessed and airbrush in those days either. I suppose my basic skills are a bit better too, but we all take them for granted as we grow older. I have enjoyed this build. It has taken me a week to do what would have been done in four hours or so back then, and the thing is, I still think it looks like a Gannet. Thanks to those who have looked in; I hope you have enjoyed the journey.
Painting Profile:
Vallejo Model Color 70951 1 White = undercoat for propeller tips, spinner stripes
Humbrol Acrylic 24 Matt Trainer Yellow = propeller tips
Humbrol Acrylic 33 Matt Black = propeller blades
Humbrol Acrylic 96 Matt RAF Blue = uniforms
Vallejo Model Color 70842 3 Glossy White FS17525 = helmets
Humbrol Acrylic 26 Matt Khaki = headrests
Humbrol Acrylic 52 Metallic Baltic Blue = screen
Vallejo Model Color 70867 164 Dark Bluegrey = cockpit
Vallejo Model Air 71009 Duck Egg Green FS34552 = under surfaces
Vallejo Model Air 71054 Dark Grey Blue RLM74 FS36099 = upper surfaces
Vallejo Model Color 70867 164 Dark Bluegrey = touch ups
Humbrol Acrylic 90 Matt Beige Green = touch ups

[825]

Great job, Ratch. I'm always impressed how good these old Frog kits look once a little bit of attention is given to them. Despite the moulded in crew, no undercarriage wells and thick canopies, they are well moulded and the shapes all look right. 

[Marklo]

That really does look well. A lot of those old kits are surprisingly accurate and (interior notwithstanding) well engineered.

[Ratch]

Thanks very much guys