Global Scale Modeller

The other half of the Gnat/Hawk build.



Seven sprues and a set of Eduard masks. Let the butchery begin!



Seats are fairly basic, I think they are the first seats I've ever had to use filler on!



Pit again is basic but not too bad. There's only a canopy shut option on this kit so I think it will be OK.



Dry fit reveals a bit of a misalignment on the nose seam which will need some serious sanding. It all fits together a bit vaguely so far although there are no major issues.

The sprue gates are enormous, biggest I've ever seen but at least the thickness doesn't extend into the part like some Hobbyboss kits I've done.



Massive warp in the right hand wing.



I decided that this one will have lowered flaps so it means cutting away the plastic on the wings. Pre cut wings.



My saw. Cut, spurt, blood, jugular. No stop it, the voices are speaking.



Post cut wings before clean up.



Top and bottom right hand wings glued up showing warp. I'll liberally glue it and clamp it up overnight and see what happens.

Ouch that warp in the wing looks evil good luck in fixing it maybe Airfix would replace it if it doesn't straighten out.

The wing came out not too bad. Fuselage is buttoned up, unfortunately the nose leg has to be fitted before hand. Cockpit is rather bare so I'm going to do a first and put the crew in it to busy it up. Never done figures before but they look fairly detailed. I'll do the front one as one of the Reds and the rear one as a 'Blue', one of their technicians who fly with them when they land away who wear blue flying suits.

Yes I had a warp in the same wing when I built it. Looking good so far.

Thanks P. Ilkeston? I know a brass teacher who lives in Ilkeston.

Bit more done. Painted the men. Bit harder than it looks this figure painting lark.



It needed a small amount of filler...



Decided to undercoat it in XF-2. Why is white such a pig to spray?



The only colour that comes near is Humbrol 238 which is called Arrow Red. First time with Humbrol and after faffing around with it I found it sprayed best neat (.2 nozzle) at around 30 psi.



Just final assembly and decals to do.

Calling this done. Have to say that the Humbrol acrylic I used on this is the weirdest paint I've used. Don't know whether it is this particular colour but rather than spreading evenly it pooled, much like you get rain running off a greasy window. The kit was wiped down with IPA before spraying so I know it wasn't greasy fingerprints etc. The worst thing about the kit though is the decals. They are probably the most fragile I've ever come across. Every single one of the bigger ones broke, some split while they were dunked in the water. Needless to say decalling wasn't a pleasure. Still it's done, it looks like a patchwork quilt close up but this one is heading for the grandson's ceiling. I wouldn't buy this one again, not one of Airfix's finest although the Gnat was a beaut.

Hi dave even with the problems you had on the decals it still looks good on the pictures.

I build the italeri hawk last year but that one also has it's cons.

Grtz Arjan

Thanks mate, it took some saving!