Colin W Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Hi All. Here is my first completed model for the year 2022. Over 20 years after finishing Dynavector's 1/48 Vacformed Gannet AS1 we finally have a kit of the AEW3 and I have managed to build it. Like many others, I expected Dynavector to release one of these as many of the bits in the ASW Gannet could have been reused but alas it was not to be. I built the Dynavector ASW Gannet in about 2002 and waited for the AEW but nothing has been heard from Dynavector for a few years. Special Hobby announced an AEW3 about 10 years ago but still nothing in plastic so when I heard about a resin kit made by Alan Wilson here on BM I decided to fill the gap and ordered one. I've had it about 18 months so here it is finished. The Radar operators doors are open as I scratch built a complete interior. See the WIP thread (link and the Bottom) for whats inside! Arestor hook replaced by an old white metal hook from Aeroclub lengthened with a sewing needle. The kit cockpit canopy was clear resin which presented a few issues as expected. Quite a bit of material needed to be taken off the inside of the windscreen and coaming to allow a good fit without having to repolish the clear parts. Having the rear section of the canopy open was driven by the 3 supplied in the kit all being very thick and having air bubbles. I figured the air bubbles would be less noticable with the canopy open. However the thickness of the resin left it perched unrealistically on top of the fuselage. I decided to plunge mould a new one and got it right on the 4th attempt. This is paper thin and very fragile. The kit decals are useful only as a template. The roundels came from Xtradec, the serials were home printed and the bee was drawn from scratch then home printed. Sitting on Ark Royal's waist catapult August 1978? The aerial fit is dated for August 1978, lines are EZ line. The 1/48 Gannet collection is now looking like this. Thansk for looking More pictures at the WIP in the link below. 40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmerboy Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Proper modelling, well worth the time and effort, good job! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Dyck Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 That looks amazing! Top photography too! Looks very realistic! Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mahavelona Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 This is amazing... To see a proper kit in this scale would be wonderful @wellsprop 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 With your brilliant photography, it's hard to believe that this is a model. Well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Stunning! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickthebrief Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 She's turned out beautifully Colin, and will be the envy of many a 1:48 Fleet Air Arm modeller - myself included. Cheers, Nick. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Fantastic work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 fantastic model! I assume that was rather challenging to build! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin W Posted January 21, 2022 Author Share Posted January 21, 2022 On 1/18/2022 at 9:13 AM, exdraken said: I assume that was rather challenging to build! Actually it was a really well thought out and quite comprehensive kit. Certainly not the most challenging resin kit out there. Thanks for the great comments @RMCS, @wellsprop @cngaero. I love looking at dioramas when I go to shows but space is too limited for many 1/48th aircraft dioramas so I like to just do them for the pictures! Glad you liked them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomLover Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 Very neat and clean build, really nice job! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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