Airfix 1/48 Folland Gnat - Red Arrow

[theplasticsurgeon]

Planning a quick build of this kit.

This a kit first released in 2014, available as RAF trainer, and Red Arrow.

Parts 

Offering 1977 option,

and 1979.

I'll probably finish with one on either side. 

Decals

 

Cockpit.  Background seat has moulded harness,  Foreground seat is plain - for the single pilot figure.

 

A model of an aircraft with several levels of interest for me.

First, being brought up in Gloucestershire, the Red Arrows and their Gnats were constantly overhead whilst I was at school.

And one of the pilots came to my ATC squadron, to tell us about flying with the team.  

And we have a front cockpit and single seat at Jet Age.   
 

[theplasticsurgeon]

Second day, pilot and seats installed into the cockpit,

The pilot is far too small for the ejection seat.

Then into the fuselage.

A strange construction of the intake ducts.

1, Fix in place the main undercarriage well.

2, Fix in place the fuselage flanks, cementing a rear edge only.

3, Assemble parts of the intake duct, and splitter plate.

4, Slide the splitter and duct between the forward edge of that flank and the nose.

5, Cement it together, with no gaps, and looking like the wing will fit atop.

Than nose compartment, ideal for ballast - I don't thinkit's really necessary though.

Getting to this result.  Great fit, and no filler used.

 

Today I bought Humbrol 238, Red Arrows gloss red

[HOUSTON]

WOWZER..

 

thats a quick start and look forward to more.

Pilot looks brilliant. 

 

 

[theplasticsurgeon]

Canopy fitted.

Arrow emblem decalled onto the helmet.

 

[theplasticsurgeon]

Airbrushed, Humbrol 238 Arrows Red.  I'm very pleased with that.

And demasked.

 

[heloman1]

Looking good, that's pretty swift building! The gloss red has gone on very well.

 

Colin

[Graham T]

I LOVE the Airfix 1/48 Gnat & this is looking good.  It really is a TINY aeroplane!

[theplasticsurgeon]

Decals.  I found photos of XS107 during the 1977 and 1979 display seasons.

XR977 joined the Reds for 1978 season - when ROYAL AIR FORCE was applied on the nose,

so this aircraft would not have carried the 1977 nose flash.

 

XS107 both sides,  this as she looked in 1977.

and as she looked in 1979.

My perusal found photos of a display at the 1978 British GP at Brands Hatch, which I was lucky enought to attend.

To say that the flying was phenomenal is a massive understatement.  A shallow valley, between the South Bank (my vantage point)  and the paddock area,

with the display taking place BELOW the horizon level.

Some people had climbed into advertising signs, which I was convinced an aircraft skimmed at one point.  Very close -  and a telling off from the commentator.

Another part of the display was a Harrier,  hovering at about 300 feet, directly overhead.  The noise was unbelievable.

I gather that it blew away some of the hospitality tents.

Sadly, displays like that are long gone, but happy memories.   

[exdraken]

Very nice!

THE ROYAL AIR FORCE.... just suggesting...

 

[theplasticsurgeon]

Undercarriage.

 

And completed model.

 

[Ray S]

Nice one Tim!

 

All the best, Ray