1:72 BRITISH “Gannet” T.MK.2

The British Gannet T.Mk.2 in 1:72 scale from Trumpeter

An injection-molded plastic kit of the British Fairey Gannet carrier aircraft in the T.Mk.2 training form, in 1:72 scale from Trumpeter. The training version differs from the combat one by the added instructor's position and the deleted radar.

The real subject

The Gannet was developed by Fairey for the British Fleet Air Arm as a carrier aircraft for anti-submarine work. Its power plant is unusual: the nose houses the coupled Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba turboprop unit, that is, two separate engine sections that drive contra-rotating coaxial propellers through a common gearbox. The crew could shut one section down and, with one propeller feathered, patrol economically over the sea for long hours. For carrier operation the aircraft has a folding wing and strengthened landing gear. The T.2 version is a dual-control training conversion derived from the anti-submarine version: it received a second, raised instructor's position with its own canopy and lost the radar under the fuselage. It served with training units of the British Fleet Air Arm in the 1950s and 1960s.

Building and painting tips

Assemble and balance the contra-rotating coaxial propellers carefully, because they dominate the model; distinguish the two sets of blades by the correct direction of the leading edges. British naval schemes are two-color with a sharp division, which comes out best with masking from shaped tape. Cover the surfaces with a gloss clear coat before the decals and finish with a matte or satin one.

Who the model is for

• Collectors of British carrier aviation
• Modelers interested in turboprop machines with contra-rotating propellers
• Anyone interested in training versions of combat aircraft
• Builders of less common types in 1:72 scale

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.