Jay Chladek Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 (edited) I love it when I get the opportunity to do something a little goofy with a model. Anyway, I wanted to build the brand new Airfix 1/72 Gnat, but didn't entirely feel like doing it in the same striking HSS and orange colorscheme that every other one I've seen had been done in. So I opted to do something a bit sillier. This was originally started for a GB over at Britmodeler, but I didn't finish it in time. I just got it to this point today. I may tweak it a bit more, but for now I am declaring it done. There are some markings that I scrounged from scrap decal sheets (such as the Danger, Rescue and the Navy marking on the wings). But the rest of the markings, such as the "The Navy" titles for the fuselage, the rocket pod markings and the stars and bars are all ALPS printed. So without further adeau (Part deaux), I present the Oscar EW-5894 attack jet (sans rearview mirror, radio antenna and window sticker). I may still try my hand at making a tiny suction cup Garfield for the canopy. ;) Except for the decals, the kit otherwise is an out of the box build (which is why I haven't put a cover over the back seat. I did add some tape seatbelts for the interior. I must say, Airfix did a cracking good little kit and the quality of it is excellent for a model that only costs $9.00 or so. Some of the parts (such as the retraction strut on the nose gear) were really delicate though. Except for some minor caressing of the fit in spots, this kit fit together almost like a dream. Paint-wise, the work was pretty easy. I used light ghost gray for the main color. masking and painting the intakes in red was tricky work, which I am not exactly keen on trying to duplicate anytime soon. She may not be 100% perfect, but she'll look good in my display case. Edited July 19, 2012 by Jay Chladek Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 Jay Goofy or not that is one EXEMPLARY build.. SUPER looking and the finish is FLAWLESS and SO NEAT.. TIDY WORK... { LOVE IT !} :wub: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted July 19, 2012 Author Share Posted July 19, 2012 Thanks Holmes. I wouldn't exactly call it "flawless" (the camera hides a few tiny sins), but I did manage to disguise some of the more offending bits. Still, this little cracker of a model kit fit together REALLY nice, which helps the resulting model to look pretty dang good. I still love how well the rocket pods turned out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
J.C. Bahr Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 I love it!... been wondering when somebody was going to do one of those! Great job Jay! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlackCat Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 That is truly awesome! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 That´s just so cool! Great idea ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
233monte Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Hilarious! Nice build! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tempestwulf Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 *tries to think of what movie it was off* HOT SHOTS! Charlie Sheen right? I thought they were Gnats too. I loved that movie. This was a perfect idea for the kid, wicked job. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
2qwik4u Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 Awesome! I've been wanting to do one of these with my kit too. Any chance you'd be willing to print off another set of decals?? -Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 "Alpha Velveeta Knuckle Underwear, you are cleared for take-off. When you hit that nuclear weapons plant... drop a bomb for me!" "Uh, Sphincter Mucus Niner Ringworm, roger!" Love that movie. Awesome idea and great result. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rom Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 nice! i bought that kit just in order to build Topper's plane ;D love it^^ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spruemeister Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 Good stuff Jay! Rick L. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kale Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 what scale is the airfix kit...I have the older matchbox 1/72 kit that im doing the exact same thing. I would love to see this in 1/48th Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VA-115EFR Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Now I'll HAVE to watch that movie again!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 (edited) what scale is the airfix kit...I have the older matchbox 1/72 kit that im doing the exact same thing. I would love to see this in 1/48th The new Airfix kit is 1/72. Part of me is hoping that Airfix considers doing a 1/48 Gnat since this new kit is a pretty good seller for them. BTW, I've also put up a review video for the Airfix Gnat up on Youtube (with some Hot Shots reference photos at the end): Edited August 2, 2012 by Jay Chladek Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Engineer66 Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 (edited) Excellent work. Great film, great model. I like it when we don't take thing too seriously ! It really does need the 'Garfield' though ;) Edited August 5, 2012 by Engineer66 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkC Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Excellent work ! great subject, unique and a bit of humour! awesome welldone Jay ! only thing i dont like are those airfix trench like panel lines - reminds me of one of the corgi metal toys. but thats not a reflection on the quality of the modelling. cheers Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
.linus Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 ......................awesome...........................thank you for this............... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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