Cold War Bench Notes #4: 1/48 Airfix Gnat progress

Life’s been pretty busy over the past few months, so progress on my Airfix 1/48 Folland Gnat T.1 has been a bit slow. That said, I’m happy to report that things are definitely moving forward.

I did run into a small hiccup with the cockpit, namely that the canopy just wouldn’t fit properly. In the end, a bit of careful “surgery” was needed, trimming a little off the bottom of each seat to get everything sitting as it should.

I’m finishing the model in the Aluminium and Dayglo Orange scheme, as I’ve always had a soft spot for those early Cold War colours.

For the aluminium, I used the excellent Vallejo Metal Color range. It sprays beautifully and consistently gives a really convincing finish.

The Dayglo Orange, however, proved a bit more challenging. I initially tried to track down the recommended Humbrol 209 (Fluorescent Fire Orange), but couldn’t find any in stock. My next thought was Revell Matt 26 enamel, but then I remembered that Hataka produce a range of RAF-specific colours. So I picked up their Modern Royal Air Force Paint Set Vol. 3, which includes Luminous Orange.

I have to say, I’m really impressed with how well the Hataka Orange performed. I had a slightly rough start, but that was down to my own airbrush not being as clean as it should have been. Once I gave it a proper clean, the paint sprayed straight from the bottle with a smooth, even finish.

As you can see, I started with the wing tanks, so the next step will be tackling the rest of the Gnat.

All in all, I’m very happy to recommend both the Vallejo Metal Color range and Hataka paints based on this experience.

Useful bits and pieces

If you’re planning a similar build, here are a few of the paints and products I used along the way. They worked well for me, so they might be worth a look if you’re after something similar.

Links are included to Amazon and Airfix for ease. They’re affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.

Airfix 1/48 Folland Gnat T.1 kit

A really enjoyable kit overall, with nice detail and only minor fitting tweaks needed.

→ Available from Airfix

Vallejo Metal Color

My go-to for natural metal finishes. Sprays straight from the bottle and gives a consistently realistic result.

→ Available via Amazon

Hataka Modern Royal Air Force Paint Set Vol. 3 (includes Luminous Orange)

Used for the Dayglo Orange areas, once my airbrush was properly cleaned, it sprayed beautifully with a smooth, vibrant finish.
→ You can find this set at Hannants (not an affiliate link)