Airfix 1/48 Gannet

[Andy T]

I was having a conversation with a distant relative late last year and it turns out he used to work on the flight decks of HMS Ark Royal and Hermes, helping to chuck planes off the end. He mentioned that the Gannet was one of his favourite aircraft, so after a great experience with the Airfix Me410 I decided to give this kit a go. I knew absolutely nothing about the aircraft coming into this (as with most of the kits I've built) but I'm picking things up as I go along.

First of all it comes in a sizeable box! Here it is next to the Swordfish I've just finished:



There's quite a few sprues within, so rather than bore you with loads of pictures I'll add them as thumbnails, just in case you like that kind of thing:



There are 3 full colour pages for the paint schemes and another sheet for the smaller decals. To me the plastic is very nicely moulded indeed. Here are a couple of close ups, showing the surface detail:





That's about it for the introduction but I've already had a few days work on this before the biplane GB started, and I've been doing bits in between, so will follow with a progress report shortly.

 

[Andy T]

First off with this kit is to put this kind of intermediate deck together. It includes the wing spars, a bracing bulkhead, and one of the two ballast trays. The underside is the bomb bay, with the front landing gear bay also attached:





It is recommended to add 12g of weight into this tray, which I managed, but the word on the street says that getting the required 55g into the front tray is nigh on impossible so I've left it out, although you can just about see where it should have fitted.

Then the actual cockpit floor sits on top of this. The fit is great but being such a large piece I used tape to hold it together tightly until the glue went off:



The front gear bay was then assembled. Airfix have designed "liners" that fit inside, enabling them to add moulded detail on all sides:



The cockpit and various bulkheads were assembled, painted, decaled, and fitted into place. The fit so far is absolutely spot on







With the interior done I closed up the fuselage



I then filled the empty void where the front ballast tray was meant to go. By using scuba diving lead shot I managed the 55g easily, adding a bit more for good measure



That's enough for now I think. Another post tomorrow should get us up to date with where I am.

 

[Jim R]

A real iconic aircraft. I built the Trumpeter 1/72 version a while ago. It turned out to be bigger than I imagined so this 1/48 version will be quite a size. Hence the big box

 

[yak face]

Looks a beautiful kit andy , Airfix are really knocking out some great kits recently . The detail in the cockpit , wheel wells and ordnance bay is excellent and superbly painted by you . I love the gannet too , it was an ungainly looking beast but superbly effective at its job . Cheers tony

 

[scottie3158]

Andy,
You are making great work as always of a very nice looking kit.

 

[Jim R]

Great progress. That cockpit is a thing of beauty. Glad you got the required weight sorted.

 

[Waspie]

Another iconic naval aircraft. As usual a great start Andy. You are a demon the way you role them out.

 

[Andy T]

Thanks guys. The aircraft itself might be a bit of an ugly duckling but the kit is a beauty so far.

 

[Peter Gillson]

Great start to the kit.

Peter

 

[papa 695]

Great work so far Andy.

 

[Mickc1440]

Looks like a great kit speedy

 

[Ian M]

This is looking very nice indeed. You say you're not an aircraft builder but I beg to differ. Those you have show so far at excellent.
I hope to get to build my one soon...but, things to get sorted first.

 

[Tim Marlow]

That looks great, well up to your usual standards. I must admit though, I find it a really ugly aircraft

 

[Andy T]

Thanks all.

The only disappointment so far has been the crew. I can only imagine that Airfix didn't expect anyone to use them so have simply thrown something generic into the mould. Identical triplets, and all of them required surgery just to get them to fit in their seats. The rear observer lost his legs to the cause.

Not a major issue but definitely well below the standard of the rest of the kit.

Not quite finished yet

 

[stillp]

That looks great, well up to your usual standards. I must admit though, I find it a really ugly aircraft

So ugly it's attractive! I used to pass one in a private garden in Cirencester when I lived in Swindon. I believe it was later moved to White Waltham.

Edit: just found this: https://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/gannet/survivor.php?id=145 so it's been saved.
Pete

 

[Dave Ward]

Lovely! Do Airfix supply anything to go in the bomb bay? I have a pair of Revell 1/72 Gannets ( NOT the geriatric Frog moulds ) - lovely moulds, but nothing to fill that big hole!
Dave

 

[Waspie]

Lovely! Do Airfix supply anything to go in the bomb bay? I have a pair of Revell 1/72 Gannets ( NOT the geriatric Frog moulds ) - lovely moulds, but nothing to fill that big hole!
Dave

Usually full of mail sacks!!!

 

[Andy T]

Lovely! Do Airfix supply anything to go in the bomb bay? I have a pair of Revell 1/72 Gannets ( NOT the geriatric Frog moulds ) - lovely moulds, but nothing to fill that big hole!
Dave

Yes Dave, there's a couple of different load out options. I'll grab a picture once I'm back home.

That puts me in a bit of a quandary actually. I want to pose it with crew in, flaps down (an option), ready for take off, so the bomb bay doors should be closed.

I'll take a bit of artistic license and pretend there was a last minute glitch!

 

[Dave Ward]

Yes Dave, there's a couple of different load out options. I'll grab a picture once I'm back home.

That puts me in a bit of a quandary actually. I want to pose it with crew in, flaps down (an option), ready for take off, so the bomb bay doors should be closed.

I'll take a bit of artistic license and pretend there was a last minute glitch!

Another problem is the radome - only ever deployed in flight! I have a T.5, as well as the AS version - with a PE wing fold set for one of them. I found some a/s torpedos ( ex Seaking ), but there must have been other stuff ( sonobuoys, extra fuel tanks? ) . I did an inbox review of the AS versionhttps://www.scale-models.co.uk/threads/revell-1-72-fairey-gannet-as-mk-1-4-inbox-review.38864/ a few years ago
Dave

 

[Waspie]

Another problem is the radome - only ever deployed in flight! I have a T.5, as well as the AS version - with a PE wing fold set for one of them. I found some a/s torpedos ( ex Seaking ), but there must have been other stuff ( sonobuoys, extra fuel tanks? ) . I did an inbox review of the AS versionhttps://www.scale-models.co.uk/threads/revell-1-72-fairey-gannet-as-mk-1-4-inbox-review.38864/ a few years ago
Dave

I imagine as well as Mk 42 & Mk44 torpedos it would have carried a mix of smaller items SUS, flares, smoke and flame floats maybe even the Mk11 DC. No idea if it was cleared for the nuc DC? (WE177). It would have certainly fitted into the void!
There was always - always one fitted out as COD, (carrier outboard delivery!) Mail, stores etc.