1/48 Airfix Gnat

[Avgas]

Bought this double kit off the bay a week or so ago. Both kits come in a bag each. The decal sheet and instructions are for both kits. Should be a nice easy build, no weathering on these! I'm starting with the Gnat.



Four sprues for the Gnat.

[RossiM1]

Love the Hawk and Gnat look forward to watching this build good luck

[Avgas]

Thanks Rossi. Little progress so far but here's where it's at.

Pit. Instrument panels aren't the greatest but they'll do.



Seats, I'm priming these up separately as they have an option of a blank seat cushion for if you put the pilot in or a cushion with the belts etc molded in.



Intakes are separate parts and need gluing onto the fuselage sides. The intake interior is also separate and needs painting up first. Not seen it done this way before but it seems to be a good idea.



Trying Humbrol Maskol for the first time. I'm hoping I've put a thick enough layer on as it seems quite transparent.



The main canopy had a scratch in it which I managed to buff out. I bought an Eduard mask set for it but it's way off kilter as you can see. First time I've ever had a problem with Eduard masks.

[NorthernModeller]

Looking forward to seeing how these come out

[Avgas]

Don't hold your breath Ivan, I'm not the world's fastest builder! Bit more done. Looking at pics of the seats (one of the rare instances of a Brit designed a/c not having MB seats) the straps were a shiny dark buff colour. I was at a bit of a loss how to do this but thought I would try Vall bronze and see how it weathered out.



The air intake details, bit odd but it all goes together well enough.





Pit done, the inst panels are heavily moulded and don't lend themselves to dry brushing very well and the rest of the pit has scant detail but heyho, can't have it all. Probably won't be able to see any of it anyway once it's buttoned up. The bronze on the belts washed down nicely, they aren't as shiny as they look under the flash. Paint is Tam and Vall Model Colour black. Wash is Winsor and Newton lamp black. Dry brushed with Vall Model Air steel.





Dry fit reveals no issues, it has gone together very well so far.

[Cymru]

Coming along nicely

[AdamLuscombe]

Nice work so far, good luck with the rest of the build.

[Avgas]

Thanks chaps. Bit more done. It's fitted together very well so far, just a few seams and a bit of filler needed here and there.

[AdamLuscombe]

Looks very nice

[RossiM1]

Progressing nicely Dave, these new tool Airfix kits are really good to build I have several in the stash love the 1/72's built a few of them over the last few years
Look forward to seeing this one progress
Good luck
ATB

[Avgas]

Thanks Adam and Gary. A bit more done. I did the red with X-7, mixed very thoroughly with Ultimate thinners but it was an absolute pig to spray. I gave it three goes but it wouldn't lay flat. Sprues had been washed etc. They were primed anyway with Ultimate grey. Wish I'd used white now as I think the red would have had a little more depth. Nothing wrong with the thinners but I'm going right off Tamiya paint. The kit by the way is a really great build. The pit is nothing to write home about but you can buy this kit with confidence, it's certainly not a dog. I managed to monster one of the blade aerials but scratched another one up. Thinking back I think I've lost something off of every kit I've ever built. Must do better



Not a great finish.



Aqua glossed



And decalled. I'll let the micro set do it's stuff over night and get another coat of Aqua on it tomorrow. It should be near done then.

[Avgas]

Calling this done.

[RossiM1]

Good result Dave

[Black73Cat]

Good to see this!

I picked up the Gnat for £4 in TK Max last week...could well be my next build.

[Avgas]

If it's the 1/48 Graeme you got a bargain there!

[Black73Cat]

Looking good!

I'm building the same kit at the minute but had problems getting the fuselage together...I had to take a load off the intakes. They just wouldn't allow the shell to come together.
Other than that it's all been fine.

Looking forward to seeing yours progress.