ianwau Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 This is a bit of an oldie but a goody. I've done a search on Britmod on this one - and whilst a couple of matches, didn't spot anyone doing a fully build. This is a rather nice multimedia kit from Dynavector from the last century. Picked this one up on fleabay - it's one of my favourite aircraft (not sure why - it just has some sort of purposeful stance and saw it in a museum at an early age). I'm assuming there'll be a bit of interest in it - reviews suggest this is the best 1/48 Gannet out there??? Below is the box top - showing it's age with a bit of foxing, crushing etc.... Instructions are pretty simple. A bit of assumed knowledge including the ability to read. Not phased... Oh - did anyone mention it's a vacform? But gosh - what beautiful detailing! Just have to crack it out of the skin... Here's the wings... And some rather fine white metal to go along with it... Oh, and TWO identical vacform canopies As a bit of a bonus - the fleabay purchase came with the rather nice Airwaves wingfold (the penalty being all the prep required to fit it!). Not 100% sure I'll use it to be honest - maybe just one wing??? The plan is for this to be an Aussie RAN scheme. Always a bit of a chore (not THAT unpleasant) in getting the main vacform bits prepped/sanded etc - will post some progress pics 26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Enjoy this build 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bootneck Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Hello Ian, I also have this kit but I've been waiting for someone to come along and do a WiP before I start it. I shall be following along avidly! cheers, Mike 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEXANTOMCAT Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 You just know that a new tool will be released next year! good luck with the build... ATB TT 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJP Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 I have also got one of these in my stash so watching your build with interest CJP 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 Good luck with it Ian. Who doesn’t love a Gannet? A nice choice to do the RAN scheme. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinK Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 5 hours ago, SteveMc said: Who doesn’t love a Gannet? Marty Feldman: 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnl42 Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 Looking forward to this! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 I too have the kit, holds a special place in my early FAA career, it was the first type I worked on when I joined 849 NAS. I'll follow your build with interest. Colin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwau Posted November 13, 2021 Author Share Posted November 13, 2021 OK - and away we go. This post is a bit of "Vacform 101" - so apologies in advance to those who've been there, done that. My initial interest is getting the main bits (ie wings/fuse/tail) cast adrift from their vacform bonds. started with a black texta line around all the pieces - mostly to be clear where I have to scalpel vs not scalpel. then scalpel round the edges. Not right ON the edge just a little away. The more 'away' you are the more sanding you'll have to do. then snap the moulded part away from the plastic sheet - very satisfying process this.... At which point you have lots of Gannet pieces all looking a bit rough round the edges. As shown in the photo below - I've applied a whole lot of 'tabs' of masking tape. This is painters tape sourced from the local hardware - not super cheap stuff that falls off when it gets a bit wet. The idea is that I can use these as grips between my fingers when I'm sanding. You don't HAVE to do this - but from experience, you're going to end up with fingertips sanded through to the bone without something similar... So let's get onto sanding. My standard setup is a full sheet of wet-and-dry sandpaper - in this case 180 grade which is pretty course, but when there's s job to be done.... You could use 240 grade if you're patient or 400 grade if you're alot patient. But the result really isn't much different. the sandpaper sheet is just lying on a large ceramic tile (leftover from a bathroom resto). But the sandpaper+tile is effectively clamped to a workbench as its annoying when the sandpaper slides all over the place. I sand wet. Very wet. And then you sand, sand, sand using the masking tape tabs as handy holds for your fingers and shifting position often so you're not wearing down one side vs the other. Not too much pressure - just lots of water. Then the MOST satisfying part (the vacform aficianados will surely agree!) is when you see slivers of plastic magically appear on the sandpaper (see pic below). This means you've sanded through that bit of overcut mentioned up above - and a really good idea to stop sanding (or just carefully preference those bits that haven't slivered yet...) Now this might all sound really tedious - but the fuse half below would have taken 10 mins (max) to get to the stage shown So 2 fuse halves, 4 wing halves, 4 tailplane halves were all done in an hour and a half (the photo timestamp confirms it!). Whilst the fingers were looking a bit prune-like - the fingertips were intact. So here we are with all the sanding done. And the next bit of prep begins - cutting out the wheel wells, cockpits - and installing bulkheads and tabs in prep for joining fuse, wing etc. And also started assembling the cockpit. Lot's of nice detailed whitemetal. Interestingly this kit doesn't require any noseweight (apparently) - as there's so much whitemetal forward of the CofG. I think I'll put some in anyway... A question for the brains trust. I've decided I'll be finishing this as a T2 Trainer - alternate parts for which are conveniently included in the kit. A small issue though is that the kit doesn't include alternate parts for the rear (ie Trainers) cockpit who presumably had an instrument panel vs the standard 'writing desk'? Can anyone direct me to photos of the rear (Trainers) cockpit for the T2 Gannet? Google not being real helpful - other than outside pics of BAPC309.... Here's a pic of the planned scheme (courtesy of Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia... Next steps. Cut out wheel wells, cockpits, install bulkheads etc 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NAVY870 Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 2 hours ago, ianwau said: O A question for the brains trust. I've decided I'll be finishing this as a T2 Trainer - alternate parts for which are conveniently included in the kit. A small issue though is that the kit doesn't include alternate parts for the rear (ie Trainers) cockpit who presumably had an instrument panel vs the standard 'writing desk'? Can anyone direct me to photos of the rear (Trainers) cockpit for the T2 Gannet? Google not being real helpful - other than outside pics of BAPC309.... Here's a pic of the planned scheme (courtesy of Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia... Next steps. Cut out wheel wells, cockpits, install bulkheads etc I have a maintenance manual for the T.5 and some pics from XG.888 at Nowra, I'll have a hunt and see what I can find 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackem01 Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 Shall follow with interest as I like a vac build and have a odd fondness for the Gannet. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 (edited) You will enjoy this build, this was my first ever vacform, built using the exact technique you have used above, it works a treat with nice and thin trailing edges etc. It had to be done as the Gannet is my favourite type, and it builds superbly and looks as good as an injection kit when complete. I will try and find some T.2 stuff later, Dynavector Fairey Gannet AS.1 by James Thomas, on Flickr Excellent work so far and following with interest. Edited November 13, 2021 by 71chally 20 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 On 11/11/2021 at 11:29 AM, bootneck said: Hello Ian, I also have this kit but I've been waiting for someone to come along and do a WiP before I start it. I shall be following along avidly! cheers, Mike Same stand for me !! Hello Ian !! May I take a seat at the bar, just looking over your shoulder ?? Great start and great cleaning !! Sincerely. CC 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 (edited) Here's the Pilot's Notes pictures of the T.2 centre cockpit Fairey Gannet T.2 centre cockpit by James Thomas, on Flickr Fairey Gannet T.2 centre cockpit port by James Thomas, on Flickr Fairey Gannet T.2 centre cockpit stb'd by James Thomas, on Flickr Edited November 13, 2021 by 71chally 5 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 Love the Gannet too, I don't have this kit in the stash, but a Revell 72nd kit with Alleycat wingfold. I will be very interested on how this progresses. Chris 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marklo Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 Me three, I really would love to get hold of one of these myself. Great build so far. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 1 hour ago, bigbadbadge said: Love the Gannet too, I don't have this kit in the stash, but a Revell 72nd kit with Alleycat wingfold. I will be very interested on how this progresses. Chris We seem to suffer from the same sea illness.... CC 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwau Posted November 13, 2021 Author Share Posted November 13, 2021 2 hours ago, 71chally said: Here's the Pilot's Notes pictures of the T.2 centre cockpit Excellent! Thank you for that - a great base to work from. 10 hours ago, 71chally said: it builds superbly and looks as good as an injection kit when complete. And your own build looks superb - I hope I can achieve something of that quality. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 12 minutes ago, corsaircorp said: We seem to suffer from the same sea illness.... CC Definitely CC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 When I wondered to myself what you'd do next I'd never have guessed a Gannet!! How exciting! Also, some inspiration for you: 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnl42 Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 Wow, that's a beast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwau Posted November 14, 2021 Author Share Posted November 14, 2021 2 hours ago, k5054nz said: When I wondered to myself what you'd do next I'd never have guessed a Gannet!! How exciting! Thanks Zac - in parallel I'm actually doing another obscure cropduster - the PZL LaLa-1. Thought the Gannet would be of more interest here. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 I find your cropdusters are very interesting too. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whistlekiller Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 I always rated Dynavector. I built their Hornet F.3, a Wyvern and a Skyshark, all in 1:48 and all of which went together really easily considering they were vacforms. I’m looking forward to following this build. 👍 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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