F331 - Fairey Gannet ** Completed **

[splash]

After all those years the Frog Gannet still look good, I think they got the shape spot on it might not be accurate, I have not checked but it does still look good.

Keep up the good work.

Regards Splash

[Zee28]

Looking really good John. Are you going to live with the blank cockpits with the pilots heads or cut them out? I like the simplicity, I had the same thing with my Attacker here: http://uamf.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=10207; and my DH.88 here: http://uamf.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=9259&start=0; and I simply chose to live with the moulded blobs and go for it. Your re-scribe and attention to the main airframe will probably pay more dividends than hours of work on the cockpit interior that may not be very visible once complete.

Please don't misunderstand me if you're going to go for it then great, I'm not trying to discourage you, it's just my simplistic approach to the hobby coming through mate!

A truly excellent re-scribe John, and parts fit look very positive too.

I'm watching and waiting.......

[Clashcityrocker]

My OCD likes the even spacing and lack of twists in your elastic bands

Nigel

[lancfan]

Your model looks great John, the Gannet is still looks the part after all these years, for a long time Frog were generally more accurate than Airfix and "old" Frog still has a place on any shelf with or without extra details.


David.

[Zee28]

Your model looks great John, the Gannet is still looks the part after all these years, for a long time Frog were generally more accurate than Airfix and "old" Frog still has a place on any shelf with or without extra details.

Yeah, got to agree with all that mate! I love 'em. And they did some more unusual subjects like the Attacker, Do335, Wyvern and, well, a bloody great airship too!

Admittedly there's a lot more choice nowadays, particularly with all the eastern manufacturers coming on board, but 'back in the day' some of these more unusual aircraft were only available from Frog, there was nowhere else to go! So we owe them a debt of gratitude for that.

I'm also grateful for Novo's output because this means there's more Frog kits about. Without Novo they'd probably be very much rarer now and therefore more costly.

This is looking good John, and I may hunt one down myself. I've had look in the box of the modern Revell Gannet, but with (I think) around 100 parts it's bit scary and my enthusiasm would probably wane half way through, but this little Frog gem is more my style.

[MarkyM607]

Looking good. I got rid of the pilots when I made mine and used an Airwaves cockpit PE set which worked well despite my lack of experience with it. The problem was the canopy. Unless you replace it(?), most of the nice PE will be hard to see.

[JohnRatzenberger]

Thanks, guys.

Actually, Nigel, I twisted one of them on the underside, but I'm not going to let you see

The pilots and solid cockpit stay - that solves the canopy issue.

[Martin R]

Looking good, John!

regards,

Martin

[Zee28]

Actually, Nigel, I twisted one of them on the underside, but I'm not going to let you see

John, I take you do realise that now you've said this, Nigel will not be able to sleep tonight

The pilots and solid cockpit stay - that solves the canopy issue.

Yipee! I'm liking this a lot!

Zee

[Molly-new]

These old Frog kits do seem to fit together quite well.

[JohnRatzenberger]

Its mostly together. I test fit the nose piece and had to do a bit of carving & sanding to get it to fit squarely. I started painting - the cockpit is black as are the prop blades. I can see I should not have been in such a rush to go something early on as the blades and spinner pieces would have been so much easier to paint.

No pix. Gone tomorrow, but will be back on it Sunday.

[JohnRatzenberger]

Here we are, all assembled, primed, and the cockpit paintwork started.



Helmets are white, faces have since been painted flesh - what might the uniform be, or should I just assume a yellow life-jacket ?

I'll start doing Sky tomorrow.

I do see my finlets aren't quite straight, but I so glued them in ....

[Zee28]

Here it looks like white helmets, green drab flight suit:

[JohnRatzenberger]

and black-ish cockpit also, very good Thanks !!

[splash]

Naval aircrew of that period would have either worn the early style silver two part helmets with a black visor or the newer one part white helmet again with a black visor, as for clothing it would have been the early two part grey emersion suit or the later style one piece green emersion suit or green flying overalls, if my memory serves me well they changed the emersion suits and helmets in the very early 70's just when I transferred over to aircrew. You are right with the life jacket it would have been the bright yellow May West (but these turned dirty yellow very quick in use)

If you go for green suites with yellow life jackets and white or silver helmets you cant go wrong

Regards Splash

P.S don't forget the black oxygen face masks