Lancfan's Yellowjack Gnat. Finished.

[lancfan]

I think there will just be time to build this before the GB ends.



David.

[DavidWomby]

Good for you, David.

David

[ShaunW]

Good choice, David, the Yellowjacks scheme is certainly bright and breezy!

[Stuart]

Nice choice David!

[lancfan]

Thanks everyone.

David.

[lancfan]

This kit went together quite quickly but it did still need some "adjustment" to the parts to a degree no new tool kit should need.



David.

[ShaunW]

Looking good, David. Maybe it's me, as I accept that I can be inept at times, but so far I have encountered issues with every new tool Airfix kit that I have built, with plenty of "adjustments" being necessary to try and ensure a good fit and more filler than I would anticipate using on modern products! That said, IMHO, the new tool kits look really good when made up so are worth persevering with - it takes quite a lot to put me off a product line altogether!

[TeeELL]

The Gnat was a frightening and exhilarating aircraft to fly, on the first flight the instructor would get it safely airborne and cleaned-up before handing over control - the stop watch would be started to see how long it took we poor students to gain any degree of control.
The ejection seat was amazing, having all the same ‘limitations’ at contemporary Martin Baker units but for a fraction of the size and weight. The best part of all was the single handle that was turned to make the seat live. When safe the knob of the handle sat, uncomfortably, in the small of your neck.

[lancfan]

so far I have encountered issues with every new tool Airfix kit that I have built

You are not alone in this, these NT aircraft kits simply do not fall together (as they should do as NT kits) and any parts that bridge a gap, parts such as floors and bulkheads have an annoying level of interference fit which will need attention before the model can be built.

David.

[lancfan]

The Gnat was a frightening and exhilarating aircraft to fly, on the first flight the instructor would get it safely airborne and cleaned-up before handing over control - the stop watch would be started to see how long it took we poor students to gain any degree of control.
The ejection seat was amazing, having all the same ‘limitations’ at contemporary Martin Baker units but for a fraction of the size and weight. The best part of all was the single handle that was turned to make the seat live. When safe the knob of the handle sat, uncomfortably, in the small of your neck.

As an ex. spectator of the Red Arrows in the Gnat era I always enjoyed their shows, the agility of this aeroplane was always a joy to watch, this changed when the Hawk took over being larger it ate up much more sky than it's predecessor and the display became tame, the Red Arrows show finale quickly became the cue to head for the cars as when they had finished the public did the same and we enthusiasts would get tied up in the queues to leave the airfield.

David

[TeeELL]

David, the roll rate was a phenomenal 540deg/min! Although that was only achieved on the clean wing aircraft with the limiter fuse removed. The Reds flew with the fuse removed until ‘HQ’ found out and directed that the fuse was to be fitted. Thus the Reds flew with the fuse fitted subsequently - of course HQ had never specified ‘a serviceable fuse’!

[MarkyM607]

David, the roll rate was a phenomenal 540deg/min! Although that was only achieved on the clean wing aircraft with the limiter fuse removed. The Reds flew with the fuse removed until ‘HQ’ found out and directed that the fuse was to be fitted. Thus the Reds flew with the fuse fitted subsequently - of course HQ had never specified ‘a serviceable fuse’!

Love that thinking!!

[Bill_B]

Thus the Reds flew with the fuse fitted subsequently - of course HQ had never specified ‘a serviceable fuse’!

Brilliant!

[TeeELL]

My experience on the Gnat was that of a student pilot, so I was working pretty hard to stay on top of it throughout the summer of ‘73. Although I subsequently flew the Hawk as a student between Vulcan / Canberra and on to the Phantom, I was an instructor on the Hawk for 20 years. I would say that the Gnat was a Lotus 7 whereas the Hawk is more MX5.
What surprised me was the sophisticated navigation and instrumentation of the Gnat compared to that of the Hawk.

[ShaunW]

I always find it interesting to here the tales of those who were "there", Tony!