I am building this kit right now. Whilst it is reminiscent of 'limited run' in being a little flashy and no pin-and-socket assembly, other parts have notches and indentations as to where other parts go and - overall - the fit is actually quite good. I am, however, having some issues mating the starboard wing (neither of which has a folding option) to the fuselage, hopefully with some trimming and fettling this won't be a problem. It could be me rather than the kit. The instructions are at times vague and can jump about illogically, but take your time and all will come together well enough. Be aware though that there are no numbers on the runners, you will need to find each part via the runner map. The cockpit has some detail on the dashboard and sidewalls but to be honest, nobody is going to be able to see any of it once it's all put together, same as the rear radar operator's section - there's detail for that, but entrance doors open or closed, it's not really going to be seen. I left out the rear detailing as I'm doing it with the doors closed, but it wouldn't really be seen with those doors open anyway. I wish Airfix had done the AEW3 rather than the AS version they did, but could it be that Airfix became aware that Sword were tackling the AEW3 so decided to leave them to it - how many 1/48 Gannet AEW3s would the market stand? Either way, this is likely to be the only 1/48 injection moulded Gannet AEW3 we see, unless Airfix take us all by surprise again. If it sounds I am being negative about the kit, far from it. Sure it's less easy than a Tamiya or even modern-day Airfix; it might take a little more time but there is nothing that a reasonably experienced modeller can't cope with. Incidentally, 849 might have been the only squadron to have operated the AEW3 as we have here, but that was sub-divided in to 'flights' with the AEW3 operating off the RN's big carriers of the time - Eagle, Ark Royal and Victorious; Hermes I am not sure about.
Thank you for the heads up on the kit. Totally understand the instructions, I saw it was very erratic with the build sequence and missing some if not all the paint callouts. But as you say the kit looks ok and buildable and I am sure will look amazing when complete. Hope you get your wing sorted and installed. Just hoping Airfix does theirs but I am sure they have allowed Sword to do it. This is also my favourite version compared to the AS version, so may end up doing Swords one.👍👍
Ive built the sword 1/72 version of this gannet twice and this seems like a upscale of that actual kit,,even so ive ordered one as ive had my picture took with this exactly aircraft on the deck of the ark royal when i was younger ,,,great review....
Building this at the moment. The instructions are nonsensical & a lack of illustrations of the internal layout makes it necessary to think hard about the build process. No part numbers on the sprues - the parts diagrams of course DO help but there is no logic regarding the placing of the parts on the sprues or the numbering so while say subassembly parts 124 & 126 may be together on the sprue, part 125 is on another sprue altogether! Also parts are called out in the instructions by number but NO corresponding parts on the diagrams or the sprues themselves! Absolutely NONE of the radar operators cockpit will be seen once assembled so don't waste too much time on it. You can pose the doors open but even then little will be seen! That said fit is so far very good & the level of detail - especially that nose gear is incredible!
I am building this kit right now. Whilst it is reminiscent of 'limited run' in being a little flashy and no pin-and-socket assembly, other parts have notches and indentations as to where other parts go and - overall - the fit is actually quite good. I am, however, having some issues mating the starboard wing (neither of which has a folding option) to the fuselage, hopefully with some trimming and fettling this won't be a problem. It could be me rather than the kit.
The instructions are at times vague and can jump about illogically, but take your time and all will come together well enough. Be aware though that there are no numbers on the runners, you will need to find each part via the runner map.
The cockpit has some detail on the dashboard and sidewalls but to be honest, nobody is going to be able to see any of it once it's all put together, same as the rear radar operator's section - there's detail for that, but entrance doors open or closed, it's not really going to be seen. I left out the rear detailing as I'm doing it with the doors closed, but it wouldn't really be seen with those doors open anyway.
I wish Airfix had done the AEW3 rather than the AS version they did, but could it be that Airfix became aware that Sword were tackling the AEW3 so decided to leave them to it - how many 1/48 Gannet AEW3s would the market stand? Either way, this is likely to be the only 1/48 injection moulded Gannet AEW3 we see, unless Airfix take us all by surprise again.
If it sounds I am being negative about the kit, far from it. Sure it's less easy than a Tamiya or even modern-day Airfix; it might take a little more time but there is nothing that a reasonably experienced modeller can't cope with.
Incidentally, 849 might have been the only squadron to have operated the AEW3 as we have here, but that was sub-divided in to 'flights' with the AEW3 operating off the RN's big carriers of the time - Eagle, Ark Royal and Victorious; Hermes I am not sure about.
Thank you for the heads up on the kit. Totally understand the instructions, I saw it was very erratic with the build sequence and missing some if not all the paint callouts.
But as you say the kit looks ok and buildable and I am sure will look amazing when complete. Hope you get your wing sorted and installed.
Just hoping Airfix does theirs but I am sure they have allowed Sword to do it.
This is also my favourite version compared to the AS version, so may end up doing Swords one.👍👍
Great review, thanks for sharing,you mentioned that 44 were built , 22 were lost as well crashes / right off’s etc so half the production 🙁
Wow I did not know that, makes even the one not too far from me at Newark Air Museum even rarer.
Thank for the kind comment and the heads up👍👍
Ive built the sword 1/72 version of this gannet twice and this seems like a upscale of that actual kit,,even so ive ordered one as ive had my picture took with this exactly aircraft on the deck of the ark royal when i was younger ,,,great review....
It's just an up-scaled version of the 1/72 kit.
Not seen the 1/72 one so I cannot say, but I am sure you are correct. Lets up it will be a good one👍👍
Building this at the moment. The instructions are nonsensical & a lack of illustrations of the internal layout makes it necessary to think hard about the build process. No part numbers on the sprues - the parts diagrams of course DO help but there is no logic regarding the placing of the parts on the sprues or the numbering so while say subassembly parts 124 & 126 may be together on the sprue, part 125 is on another sprue altogether! Also parts are called out in the instructions by number but NO corresponding parts on the diagrams or the sprues themselves! Absolutely NONE of the radar operators cockpit will be seen once assembled so don't waste too much time on it. You can pose the doors open but even then little will be seen! That said fit is so far very good & the level of detail - especially that nose gear is incredible!