Fairey Gannet AS.1/AS.4 by AJohnson - FINISHED - 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 10 hours ago 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 April 16 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.

[AJohnson]

On 4/17/2025 at 4:08 PM, Landlubber Mike said:

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.

Hi Mike it is going together very well so far, the Walrus you have a log of is also on my list of Airfix 1/48s, along with their Anson & Blenheim!  Did you finish you Walrus?

[AJohnson]

Update time.  The interior is done, just need to glue the fuselage together and hide it all!  😆

 

I didn't spend too long on this with it being black, so used the kit decals for the instruments, picked a few instruments out in various white, yellow or red highlights and a gentle bit of weathering.  I did find a set of P.E. seatbelts in the spares box, so pressed them into use, with a re-paint from canvas to blue.

 

Thanks for looking in and the likes.

[Landlubber Mike]

On 4/22/2025 at 3:04 PM, AJohnson said:

Hi Mike it is going together very well so far, the Walrus you have a log of is also on my list of Airfix 1/48s, along with their Anson & Blenheim!  Did you finish you Walrus?

I haven't yet.  I kinda paused to think about how to do the rigging, then got caught up in some Group Builds on LSM.  It's on my list to get get back to and finish, especially after finishing the catapult set.

 

I have to say I was really impressed with the Airfix kit.  They did a great job making sure things fit nicely and securely.  The plastic used was of good quality as well.

[AJohnson]

Been a while since the last update, life's been busy but I have had time to do some more on the Gannet and follow other's logs, just not update my own!

 

So the there has been plenty going on and all of a sudden I'm getting close to applying paint.  One modification I did try was to add the retractable crew ladder, this is an odd omission for such a detailed kit; climbing up the side of this monster with the many hand/foot holds and this little ladder must of been a challenge on a moving deck!  Anyway my modification was pretty basic and I am sure some after market option will become available soon for this kit.  A few pictures showing the process - of making a tape template, cutting the ladder shape out of some plastic card and adding a few little details.  Lacking some of the details of the real thing, but as it is low down on the underside of the nose, think it will be okay.

 

The fuselage has been glued together and the wing sections assembled, nothing too much to report there, so the pictures can do the talking.

 

All had a few coats of primer for me to find the flaws and sort before painting begins.

 

Thanks for looking in.

[realworkingsailor]

1 hour ago, AJohnson said:

One modification I did try was to add the retractable crew ladder, this is an odd omission for such a detailed kit; climbing up the side of this monster with the many hand/foot holds and this little ladder must of been a challenge on a moving deck!  Anyway my modification was pretty basic and I am sure some after market option will become available soon for this kit. 

 

 

Yeah…. Eduard apparently: https://www.eduard.com/eduard/photo-etched-parts/photo-etched-set/aircraft/1-48/gannet-as-1-1-48.html

 

Looks great so far!

 

Andy

[king derelict]

Coming on really nicely. The ladder is a very nice touch.

alan

[Danstream]

Good progress and nice work on the ladder. Surface detailing of this kit looks very nice. Comparing it with your pictures of the real thing, dimpled riveting might be a tad too prominent, but with some paint it should lend itself to a good reproduction.

Cheers,

Dan

[AJohnson]

37 minutes ago, Danstream said:

Comparing it with your pictures of the real thing, dimpled riveting might be a tad too prominent, but with some paint it should lend itself to a good reproduction.

Cheers,

Dan

Thanks Dan, yes for 1/48 some of the surface detail might be a bit heavy and I shall have to be careful with washes later on, as all this detail might make the model look a bit too grubby. Kit manufacturers are damned either way, they leave off such detail (as would be more accurate at this scale) and people would moan about the lack of detail.  I think overall Airfix have done a great job with this kit, looking forward to seeing how it looks with paint on. 😁

[AJohnson]

More progress over the weekend.  Some panel line pre-shading and the "Sky" underside coat.  That all needs to harden off before the next load of masking begins, but it will probably be the weekend again before I get to it, so no rush!

 

Thanks for looking in and the "likes" and comments, much appreciated. 😁

[king derelict]

Very nice Andrew. The panel line shading pays off all the hard work of doing it.

alan

[AJohnson]

A little while since my last update, but I have not been idle managed to get this ugly beast masked (which took ages around some of the more complicated tail areas) and the Extra Dark Sea Grey applied.  Overall happy with the result, need now to do the metal finish wing-fold areas and the faded "Operation Musketeer" stripes.

 

One thing I did come across was a trade advert for the Fairey Gannet in the September 7th 1951 edition of "The Aeroplane" magazine I have copy of, a fascinating read from a bygone era!

 

Thanks for looking in.

[realworkingsailor]

Geez…. Even in the print ad they didn’t bother to try to make the Gannet look any less fugly… 🤪

 

(Don’t get me wrong the Gannet is not without its interesting quirkiness, but….😏)

Andy

[Canute]

I don't think any of the early ASW aircraft were particularly "alluring".  AD-5W and S-2F anyone? 

[Danstream]

Good progress and neat painting, Andrew. Are you using Humbrol enamels? Yes, the magazine (from 1951!) and the era that it depicts are really fascinating. I am also fascinated by the elegant look of people portrayed on its cover.

Cheers,

Dan

[Landlubber Mike]

Looks great Andrew!  Really nice progress.  I love the two colors used together on this aircraft.

[AJohnson]

Thanks @Danstream & @Landlubber Mike for your kind comments and for the likes everyone.

 

After another session with masking tape, I have applied the faded ID stripes, looks black and a cream yellow in the photos , but in daylight they are more charcoal and a pale yellow.  The photo on post #5 you could say the stripes were white/black like "D-Day" ones; and Airfix's instructions say they "might" have been white, but comparing them to the white square on the leading edge of the wing (inner section with the number "86" on it) I have convinced myself they are faded yellow.  Anyway committed now! 😁

 

Getting close to gloss varnish and decal time! - thanks for looking in.

[AJohnson]

Added the majority of the decals, and there were loads of stencil ones! 😬 but got there slowly.

 

Also added weathering washes using Flory Models washes.  Small and delicate parts are becoming an issue now, leaving as many as possible off until I have got the folded wings on.  Still to finish the canopies, props, tail hook and final fix of the undercarriage.  Getting close! 😁

 

Thanks for looking in and the likes.

[DocRob]

Looking very good, The wash enhanced the finish a lot. The plane is so positively ugly, I had to buy one myself .

Cheers Rob

[Dave_E]

Fleet aircraft for sure. Seen some flying time. 👍😀

[king derelict]

Super job with the washes Andrew. That’s a well used aircraft. Looks very nice.

alan

[Landlubber Mike]

Looks fantastic Andrew!  I’m going to try to have more willpower than @DocRob but it might be tough!

Edited 7 hours ago by Landlubber Mike
Typo

[AJohnson]

On 7/8/2025 at 5:48 PM, Landlubber Mike said:

Looks fantastic Andrew!  I’m going to try to have more willpower than @DocRob bit it might be tough!

Don't resist, follow Rob's and my example, the uglier the better! 😆

 

Well here we are folks, the end!  All done.  I did tone down some of the washes as I did the final assembly, there is "worn" and there is "uncared" for!  Just a few minor areas removed, then over sprayed in flat to even up the finish.

 

Overall happy with the result, I know there are loads of after market options for this Ugly Betty, but happy enough with the few scratch ones I did; think the crew access steps are okay, but P.E. sets will really make this one "pop".

 

Less happy with the folded wings, they are a pig to make look symmetrical, I pushed, bent and pulled into as much symmetry as plastic would allow, but still slightly off.  But life is too short and my project list too long to mess around any more! 🤭

 

One tip for the future modellers of this kit, the two tubs provided for weight are barely enough, this thing sits on it's tricycle undercarriage "lightly", don't skimp, the instruction don't mention both tubs, just vague references to the amount of weight.  Sneak extra weight in where you can!

 

Final pictures below, btw, did anyone mention, damn, this is ugly!  😆  but it is a great build, I'd recommend if you are not offended by the looks.... 😁

 

 

Edited 10 hours ago by AJohnson

[ccoyle]

Ugly or not, still a submariner's nightmare, right?

[Old Collingwood]

Thats come out looking  Superb.

 

OC.