Folland Gnat- Petter’s lightweight fighter
On Internet, there is a lot of information on the Gnat and that is why this story is kept short! More can be found on this selection of websites:
http://www.warbirdalley.com/gnat.htm
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Vintage/Fighters/Gnat/
http://www.faqs.org/docs/air/avgnat.html
http://www.vectorsite.net/avgnat.html
http://www.stormjager.nl/fotoalbum/leeuwarden%202008/album/slides/55%20-%20Folland%20Gnat%20Synchro%20Pair%203.html
http://www.elisanet.fi/kurt.ristniemi/WWV/gnat/gnat.htm
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Galleries/Models/Polly/013/
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Rev3/2001-2100/rev2017-ProResin72039/00.shtm
However, there are much more sites giving Gnat details and photos. Google gives in total 20,800 hits for this subject!
The Aeroclub 1/48 scale vacform model kit
The Gnat has been introduced as a model kit both by Airfix and Matchbox. Both companies had very nice 1/72 scale kits, but strictly for the two-seat trainer version. In particular the Airfix kit must be easily available on aviation markets nowadays, and it definitely is not a rare item.
The single-seat fighter is much less represented in model form. Aeroclub offers now a kit at 1/72 scale, but many years ago they ever released a very nice vacform kit at 1/48 scale. Even on this larger scale, the Gnat has only a length of 18.5 cm! This kit has sharp and accurate outlines and it must be quite straightforward to build. Aeroclub included full decals for the Finnish air force Gnat and serial numbers for the R.A.F. and Indian machines. As we may conclude from the photos published here, the 1/48 Gnat could be made into a very nice model with some care. Unfortunately it must be regarded as a rare item since production of this vacform kit was in low numbers only.
Note:
Interested in a high-resolution image of one of the Gnat photos as published above? Contact web-administrator!
Nico Braas
Photos- Nico Braas except different mentioned Digital Art- Srecko Bradic
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