Airfix 1/72 "Yellowjacks" Gnat

[Guest]

Evening all. Picked up a few kits from the Cambridge Modelzone before it finally went under last week, one of which was this.

It's not a bad little kit ( a whole lot better than the old one, anyway !!) though I have to say, it's bloody fiddley !! The engraving is a little heavy, and the fit isn't brilliant, but it's got a nice amount of detail.

Anyway, made a start and got the cockpit together. The seats are basically right, but added a bit of detail and some tape belts. Also tried the twisted cotton method for the bang handles, but I'm not too happy with them. I haven't twisted them hard enough, and the pva glue just seemed to lift the fibres out. Maybe some more practice needed !! The canopy's going to be closed, so I think it'll be ok for this project.

So pit and main gear done, got to add a bit of weight to the nose and the halves will be ready to go together.

The thing is really tiny, so hopefully this won't take as long as some of my previous projects!!!

Cheers, Neil

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[flyjoe180]

Looks to be a nice little kit Neil, and a nice colourful subject too.

[Guest]

Nice Kit Neil.

[yak face]

Nice start neil, its a kit ive been looking at myself so i'll be very keen to see how it goes together, cheers tony

[papa 695]

Nice start Neil

[colin m]

Nice detail in these new Airfix. Great work on the 'pit.

[Guest]

Afternoon all, back with a bit of an update. As you can see, the cockpit is in and most of the airframe is together. It was ok for the most part, but I have to say the fit of the wings to the main body wasn't all that and needed a fair bit of work to fit nicely, and the fit of the piece between the undercarriage bays needed a bit of work. A note to anyone else having a go at this, I think it would be possible to insert the main undercarriage bays after fixing the 2 fuselage halves together, if that makes it easier for you. I also had another go at the ejector seat handles, using .003 lead wire and some thin Tamiya tape strips. They're still a bit over scale, but I'm much happier with them. I've also had a go at making the blast screen for the rear cockpit from a bit of acetate. It's not the best bit of modelling, but It'll do the job !! Another note, the canopy is a little thick, but VERY clear, you can see everything!! Anyway, hope you enjoy the pics.

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Cheers, Neil

[flyjoe180]

That landing gear bay looks fiddly Neil. Nice job on the pull chords.

[Guest]

Hi all, eventually back with another update ! All major construction done, primered and now in colour. The only addition I've made are the 2 smoke pipe by the tailpipe. I suspect the colour is a little too yellow whereas I think the real thing is a little creamier, but it was the nearest Halfords had, and I don't think it's too bad !!!

Now just onto the fiddly stuff to finish.

Cheers, Neil

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[yak face]

I was wondering how this was coming on, looks brilliant neil ! The colour looks fine to me, looking forward to the finished pics , cheers tony

[flyjoe180]

Looks accurate to me too Neil, nice job so far mate.

[Guest]

Finally, it's on it's wheels ! The gear doors, or at least the mountings on the legs for them, needed a bit of modification, but they're on, and in roughly the right position.

Now all was going well, until I was messing with the fitment of the nose lens, and guess what? Yep, it pinged off into never-never land, never to be seen again. So, I'm hunting for a replacement, best bet so far is going to be a bit of clear sprue, unless anyone has any better ideas.................answers on a postcard

Cheers, Neil

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[yak face]

Looking good neil. The issue with the nose lens is similar to a problem I had a good while back with the nose light on the Airfix DH 88 comet. This was a poorly moulded blob which i had to replace , the options being a bit of clear sprue or clear acetate formed to the right shape. I tried both and found the acetate to be easiest and better looking. Basically I just got a piece of clear acetate from some food packaging and using a paintbrush handle of the right size (I had to try a few different ones before i found the right size) I heated the acetate over a candle and while soft plunged the paintbrush handle into it , forming a clear volcano shape (for want of a better expression!)This was then cut out with nail scissors sanded to shape then glued on. The advantage of this is that clear acetate is everywhere on food or other packaging so you can try and try as much as it needs. Heres a link to the photos of my attempt that will hopefully help to illustrate the point , its post no #45 http://www.scale-models.co.uk/threads/airfix-dh-88-comet-1-72.11445/page-3 hope this helps , cheers tony

[Guest]

Thanks for that Tony. I've actually just stuck a bit of clear sprue on with some Araldite, going to let that dry overnight and see how I get on tomorrow with it. If it doesn't work out, it should be easy enough to saw it off and I'll give the acetate a go. I'll let you know how I get on !

Thanks again.

Cheers, Neil

[Guest]

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Hi all. Ok, disaster averted, I think. I'm not 100% sure about the profile of the finished item, but it'll do for me !

Just the small details and decals to go.....

Cheers, Neil