Fairey Gannet AS.1/AS.4 by AJohnson - Airfix - 1:48 - PLASTIC

[AJohnson]

Well I'm on something of a roll building mostly 'out of the box' 1/48 Airfix kits at the moment and enjoying it, so thought a step up from the last couple of models to a big ugly beast was in order - the Fairey Gannet!  (although the last two were pretty ugly - Defiant & Lysander, just not as big! 😆) although in many ways I do like the look of this type and I am lucky enough to have one at our local air museum at Elvington, although it is a later AEW version; the last couple of pics.

 

So some pictures of what you get in the box, plenty of plastic, but there are many options (folding wings, open/closed bomb bay etc. and weapons load outs) so not all of that will be needed.  Three marking options, the most likely one most people will model being the HMS Ark Royal version, and yes, I might just follow the heard, or maybe the Operation Musketeer one, we shall see!  Loads of stencil decals anyway... 😖

 

Pull up a chair if you are into aircraft that hit every branch as it fell to Earth out of the Ugly Tree! 😆

Edited April 9 by AJohnson

[king derelict]

This will be a great build. I’m looking forward to seeing it come together. I saw one at the Berlin Luftwaffe museum last year. It really does have a presence. 
alan

[ccoyle]

Hi, Andrew.

 

Just today I saw a finished example of this very kit on the "I love scale models" FB group. If that build was any indication, this kit should yield a fine end product.

[Dave_E]

I’m in. 👍😀🥤🍿

[AJohnson]

Time for a little update on progress so far and a decision on the version I will do.

 

The first page of instruction is all to do with the cockpit and other stations for the crew.  Nothing difficult and most of the parts come from one sprue, so no hunting around the box for parts!  One thing you need to allow for is plenty of weight to make the model sit on it's tricycle undercarriage.  Airfix provide two little tubs for you to add weights into, one each beneath the first two seats.  I might try and add a bit more, just to be sure.

 

Most internal parts are black, so I assembled much of it before spraying.  Once this is all dry I will add the few remaining parts, decals and some scratch seatbelts.  I'm not going mad as I'm modelling this with the wings folded (for shelf space) and also the black interior will hide much of the detail anyway.  A bit of shading, maybe a wash and pick out a few items on the control panels should do.

 

Also I have decided to model XA335, an AS.1 from 847 Naval Squadron based in Cyprus in 1957.  This sports some faded "Operation Musketeer" stripes whilst on duty hunting for supply boats on anti-EOKA missions at that time,  these being removed on the aircraft's return to the UK.  (See the last picture of the actual aircraft in Cyprus).  It also means a reduced weapons fit, well actually none, just empty rocket rails and I will probably close-up the bomb bay, especially if I need somewhere to hide additional weight!  😁

 

Thanks for looking in and the likes.

Edited yesterday at 07:47 AM by AJohnson

[Landlubber Mike]

I was really tempted to buy this kit as I love the looks of the subject and the kit looks great, especially with all the options.  If it builds like their Walrus kit, should be a really fun build for you.