1/48 Fairey Gannet AS.1/AS.4 (A11007) - In-Box Review

Ratch · December 1, 2023

The Gannet is an aircraft of one of the most distinctive types to have seen Fleet Air Arm service. It was developed in response to a 1945 Royal Navy requirement for an advanced carrier-based, turboprop-powered anti-submarine hunter-killer, rugged enough to withstand the rigors of operation at sea. It was equipped with the latest electronic detection equipment and if an enemy submarine was detected, it could be marked, tracked, and if necessary, attacked, using bombs, depth charges, rockets, and air-launched acoustic torpedoes.

The Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba saw two gas turbine engines mounted side by side in the nose of the gannet, sharing a common gearbox, but both operating independently, each engine driving its own coaxially mounted, contra-rotating propeller. In addition to this, the engines could run on kerosene and even diesel fuel, which was safer to handle and less refined than traditional aviation fuels.

Another unique feature of the Gannet's design was its bi-folding wing system, something which was designed to allow this large aircraft to operate safely and to be stored aboard one of the Royal Navy's relatively small aircraft carriers. When a pilot engaged the wing unfold, this ingenious system not only prepared the wings for flight, but also automatically connected all flight control systems, hydraulic connections, and fuel pipes to the main system, without any ground crew intervention.

348 Gannets were produced and in addition to serving with the Fleet Air Arm, the aircraft also saw service with the navies of Australia, Germany, and Indonesia.

In-box Review:

This is a new tool 1/48 scale kit.

Dimensions are 290 x 344mm.

Parts count is 334 pieces.

Skill Level is 4 and 4 Flying Hours are printed on the box.

Moulded on ten runners Detail quality is superb.

Frame A carries the fuselage and basic cockpit parts.

Frame B gives the extended wing option.

Frame C has parts for the folding wings.

Frame D also has parts for the folding wings.

Frame E gives wing-fold parts, wheels, and undercarriage doors.

Frame F has parts of the undercarriage.

Frame G carries propellers, spinner, and crew. The inclusion of the crew is a welcome addition.

Frame H includes the arrester hook.

Frame J provides the weapons set.

Frame L if the clear runner. Two windscreens are provided; one with a moulded windscreen wiper, the other without, for those who may wish to add a photo-etched piece.

The omission of frame K implies further variants to me (I is not normally used to identify a frame).

The country of manufacture is India.

Instructions are printed in a 20-page, A4 booklet with 168 steps. Two additional loose-leaf pages illustrate paint schemes and decal placements.

Decal quality is excellent, produced by Cartograf.

The marking options are:

(A) Fairey Gannet AS.4, 849 Naval Air Squadron HQ training flight, Royal Naval Air Sation Culdrose, circa 1959.

(B) Fairey Gannet AS.4, 815 Naval Air Squadron, HMS Ark Royal, 1958.

Paints advised:

11 Metallic Silver

24 Matt Trainer Yellow

25 Matt Blue

33 Matt Black

34 Matt White

44 Matt Pastel Blue

46 Matt Orange

53 Metallic Gunmetal

56 Metallic Aluminium

60 Matt Scarlet

61 Matt Flesh

62 Matt Leather

72 Matt Khaki Drill

74 Matt Linen

85 Satin Coal Black

89 Matt Middle Blue

90 Matt Beige Green

103 Matt Cream

123 Satin Extra Dark Sea Grey

155 Matt Olive Drab

168 Satin Hemp

These are not included in the kit.

RRP £54.99

Ratch · June 2

Fairey Gannet COD.4 (A11009)

This is a revised 1/48 scale, 2023 tooling.

Dimensions are 290 X 344mm.

Parts count is 245 pieces.

Skill Level is 4 and 4 Flying Hours are printed on the box.

Moulded on ten frames (nine grey and one clear). We know from the first issue that detail quality is excellent, finely moulded and nicely defined. Frame K replaces frame J of the original issue, maintaining the standard set before.

The country of manufacture is India.

Instructions are printed in a 20-page, A4 booklet with 149 steps.

Two additional loose-leaf pages illustrate paint schemes and decal placements.

Decals are by Cartograf, maintaining high standards of registration, sharpness, and density of colour.

The marking options are:

Fairey Gannet COD.4, 849 Naval Air Squadron, HMS Hermes, 1969.

Fairey Gannet COD.4, 849 Naval Air Squadron, B Flight, HMS Ark Royal, 1970.

Fairey Gannet AS.4/COD.4, Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers (F.O.A.C.), RAF Changhi, 1965.