MikeC Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 (edited) Just as a diversion from big stuff (a Revell Hunter and a WNW RE.8 in 1:32 on the bench) here's something that's not only small in the sense of not being an LSP, but is quite a small aeroplane anyway. It's the Airfix 1:48 Gnat, finished as an aircraft of the Central Flying School in 1969. I added S&M decals (as well as the kit decals for stencils etc) and a Master alloy pitot. I also replaced the seats with Pavla resin examples, and fitted the correct early "bang-out" handles. At the risk of a little immodesty, I was somewhat pleased to get a gold in the 1:48 post-war class at the Milton Keynes ModelKraft show. Thanks for looking. Edited April 25, 2018 by MikeC LSP_Kevin, Stevepd, LSP_K2 and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 very nice mate, and congratulations how did you do the faded orange paint? MikeC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC Posted April 25, 2018 Author Share Posted April 25, 2018 (edited) very nice mate, and congratulations how did you do the faded orange paint? Thanks Mark. The dayglo is Vallejo Model Air Fluorescent Red (71.082) over an undercoat of Tamiya matt White, varying the depth/intensity of the white. Finished off with Tamiya gloss (for decals) then satin varnishes. Edited April 25, 2018 by MikeC Mark M and Jeff 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzas Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 Very nice! MikeC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 Very nice, and congratulations. Wish we had one in 1/32. MikeC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etendard Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 MikeC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC Posted April 25, 2018 Author Share Posted April 25, 2018 Very nice, and congratulations. Wish we had one in 1/32. Thank you. Me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevepd Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 Congratulations, with a great paint finish. I have just finished my 1/48 T4 Harrier and it's tiny and felt like it 2 minuets to build. Your eyes must be on sticks Steve. MikeC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chek Posted April 26, 2018 Share Posted April 26, 2018 My favourite Gnat trainer scheme, and a worthy winner. The day-glo fading looks very convincing. I'm not sure if my memory is playing tricks, but I'm sure I bought the first Airfix polybag release and the header card artwork showed a Gnat in your CFS scheme toting a 4 x 4 stack of rockets under the wings. I've looked online and the artwork is there, minus the rockets, but Airfix weren't above editing their artwork. I recall being especially disappointed that the built models' shelf at the local Woolworths just used Post Office red instead of the proper orange day-glo. MikeC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC Posted April 27, 2018 Author Share Posted April 27, 2018 Thanks for the kind comments everyone. My favourite Gnat trainer scheme, and a worthy winner. The day-glo fading looks very convincing. I'm not sure if my memory is playing tricks, but I'm sure I bought the first Airfix polybag release and the header card artwork showed a Gnat in your CFS scheme toting a 4 x 4 stack of rockets under the wings. I've looked online and the artwork is there, minus the rockets, but Airfix weren't above editing their artwork. I recall being especially disappointed that the built models' shelf at the local Woolworths just used Post Office red instead of the proper orange day-glo. That Airfix kit is the only other Gnat I've ever built, way back in the mid-late 1960s. Your memory is not playing tricks, that kit did have rockets. By the time I'd finished with it, it also had my thumb- or finger-print on the fin, where I'd used way too much tube glue! I think I probably used a generic red as well, I don't think I'd heard of dayglo then - I was only 8 or thereabouts. Come to think of it, the original Airfix Jet Provost T3 also featured some form of rocket armament - I wonder if someone at Airfix considered this a selling point? Come to think of it (2) - is one allowed a bit of thread drift in one's own thread? To sort of drag it back on topic, wouldn't a Gnat and a couple of JPs (T3/4 and T5/Strikemaster) in 1/32 be great? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 Thanks Mike, ive ordered 2 Gnats and decal sheets because of you!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC Posted April 27, 2018 Author Share Posted April 27, 2018 (edited) Thanks Mike, ive ordered 2 Gnats and decal sheets because of you!!! A pleasure. It's a great little kit, only real problem I had was the fit of the wing tanks. Edited April 27, 2018 by MikeC Mark M 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 The faded Day glo paint got you the gold I would bet, good show and awesome paint . Your award is well deserved, nailed the look perfectly........ love the Gnat , sweet little bird.... MikeC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoobyDoo Posted April 29, 2018 Share Posted April 29, 2018 Very nice, I've wanted to build that scheme for awhile now. I've seen it built both as a silver and gray scheme. Was it painted from natural to gray at one time? I've seen both in actual pictures what appears to be both silver and gray. MikeC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC Posted May 1, 2018 Author Share Posted May 1, 2018 Thanks Jeff & ScoobyDoo Very nice, I've wanted to build that scheme for awhile now.I've seen it built both as a silver and gray scheme. Was it painted from natural to gray at one time?I've seen both in actual pictures what appears to be both silver and gray. The RAF moved from silver to light aircraft grey generally during the 1960s - iirc it was when more durable polyurethane-based paints were introduced, and unfortunately these did not feature silver in their range. (I really should know more about this - note to self, do a bit of reading about it!) The Gnats certainly entered service in silver/dayglo, and after the changeover probably changed to light grey as individual aircraft came up for major servicing, but that's educated speculation on my part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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