Folland Gnat T1 - Airfix (Old Tool)

Folland Gnat T1 - Airfix (Old Tool)

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Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,784 posts

264 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Although Airfix have produced a lovely new technology tooling of the Gnat, I have had a few examples of their old 1960s tooling in my unbuilt stash for many years.

I decided that some of these old kits are still worth building - if for no other reason being that they have so few parts that they take very little time to knock together. The quick build time is, however, sometimes negated by the need to fill the various gaps that are the result of old and worn moulding machines.

As with the FROG Vampire I finished recently, I will be building this one "wheels up" and it will more than likely end up in a little Red Arrows tribute build consisting of a Hawk and a Yellow Jacks Gnat.

This is the boxing of the Gnat I am using - one of the last issues of the original 1960s mould.



As can be seen, filler was needed along the wing roots and one side of the tail fin also need some filler along the trailing edge. I am ready now to start priming and getting the model ready for its red paint.




perdu

4,884 posts

198 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
This will be fun

I loved that kit when it came out


(reminds me, a new Airfix one sitting in a quite accessible cupboard near here...)

Z06George

2,519 posts

188 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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I think I've still got 2 of these up in my loft waiting to be built, although I got mine in the late 90s so not exactly the same. Might have to dig them out after seeing this!

ecsrobin

17,023 posts

164 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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My first ever model kit. Look forward to seeing this.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,784 posts

264 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
After a first spray with grey primer - gaps, gaps and more gaps.

Time for a filler fest, I fear.

My advice - if you fancy building a 1/72 Gnat, go for the new kit.

dandarez

13,246 posts

282 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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The Red Arrows Gnat is on offer in Sainsburys with £3+ off - made me think back to days of Airfix kits (late 1950s). I still have some 70s unbuilt kits inc a B-17 (which I've always liked).

I went into local model shop today and got talking - TSR 2 was mentioned so I thought that would be cool to make. Airfix 1/48 scale is apparently easy to get hold of but not cheap!

So I just looked online... on britmodeller.com to see what an Airfix BAC TSR-2 could finish up looking like.

Bloody hell! eek
I think my model making will be nowhere remotely near this guy (from Ukraine apparently). Crikey, if this is for real (and I see no reason why, or he's hoodwinked a lot of people).
Unbelievable skill! took him a year to build.

Link (for loads of pics and comments)
http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topi...







Even photoshopped the model in place of the real thing. Which is which?


Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,784 posts

264 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
Impressive stuff. The Airfix 1/48 TSR2 is pretty good.

The 1/72 Airfix TSR2 is not the best kit in the world fit wise. It was one of the last new kits produced by the "old" Airfix before they were taken over by Hornby.

However, with a bit of care it can still be made look good. This is a rendition from one of the Farnborough Club members -




And yes, the extended nose wheel is correct (although not featured in the kit as it is boxed).


dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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Eric Mc said:
Impressive stuff. The Airfix 1/48 TSR2 is pretty good.
Hmmm, it was too weathered for you last time it was posted on here confused

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=1&a...

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,784 posts

264 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
And it still is.

But it's still impressive though.

Yertis

18,016 posts

265 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
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dandarez said:
Even photoshopped the model in place of the real thing. Which is which?

The real one is obviously the one where the panel lines haven't been filled with ink so it looks like a Corgi model. Why do so many modellers wreck their otherwise brilliant work with such crudity? Same with pre-shading.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,784 posts

264 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
I won't be preshading my Gnat.

dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Yertis said:
dandarez said:
Even photoshopped the model in place of the real thing. Which is which?

The real one is obviously the one where the panel lines haven't been filled with ink so it looks like a Corgi model. Why do so many modellers wreck their otherwise brilliant work with such crudity? Same with pre-shading.
With a small scale model, subtle over emphasis is sometimes necessary to avoid the "bar of soap" look (which is even worse than over-weathering IMO), and that TSR2 model looks spot-on to me. Yes, many people do go OTT with panel line washes I think because it's a very easy technique to get a quick and obvious result with.

Look at some test flight pictures as opposed to the museum examples and you will see all the weathering included on the model and more: General grime, many visible panel lines, removable panel fasteners clearly visible, different shaded panels, even what looks like localised fluid staining. Plus bear in mind some of the photos are slightly over exposed so some of the finer dark ares will be burned out:







(photo credits to image owners)

I certainly wouldn't call the model "crude".


Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,784 posts

264 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Sorry but can we not discuss TSR2 and relevant weathering techniques on this thread. The old thread has been semi-resurrected so that would be the ideal location for further discussion on TSR2s and how dirty they got.

I'd like to keep this one for Gnatty things.

72twink

963 posts

241 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
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But maybe they've been used to show how dirty and what colours of dirt a plane, any plane, can acquire. It being TSR-2 just helps in that it's white. If you're not pre-shading what techniques are you using?

Yertis

18,016 posts

265 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
teacher Sorry but can we not discuss TSR2 and relevant weathering techniques on this thread. The old thread has been semi-resurrected so that would be the ideal location for further discussion on TSR2s and how dirty they got.

I'd like to keep this one for Gnatty things.
sorry

paperbag

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,784 posts

264 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
The solution would be for me to post some updates on the Gnat project. I have it primed (again - after filling some more gaps). Next up is the canopy which has only the vaguest of framing details to act as a guide.

Yertis

18,016 posts

265 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
dr_gn said:
With a small scale model, subtle over emphasis is sometimes necessary to avoid the "bar of soap" look (which is even worse than over-weathering IMO), and that TSR2 model looks spot-on to me. Yes, many people do go OTT with panel line washes I think because it's a very easy technique to get a quick and obvious result with.

Look at some test flight pictures as opposed to the museum examples and you will see all the weathering included on the model and more: General grime, many visible panel lines, removable panel fasteners clearly visible, different shaded panels, even what looks like localised fluid staining. Plus bear in mind some of the photos are slightly over exposed so some of the finer dark ares will be burned out:







(photo credits to image owners)

I certainly wouldn't call the model "crude".
I certainly wouldn't either, I just think the way that technique is used is often crude, and I think we agree it's often used because it can be done, rather than because it should be done.

DoctorX

7,240 posts

166 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
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What's the 'professional' tool in your photos Eric?

16VJay

235 posts

218 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
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Looks like a container of Revell's Contacta liquid cement, the bottle has a needle applicator.

dandarez

13,246 posts

282 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
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It most definitely is. You will notice also that the TSR-2 model maker has some on his desk in front of the cat (although I noted that he says he also uses super glue.