[Black 6]

Fellow member DH got me started on a quest to find models of the Westland Gannet or Wyvern airplanes. I've found them and am now patiently scouting for deals (and I am very patient in this regard). One thing I've come across are vacuformed models. I recall the old Mattel Vacuform toy (back when toys were great and lawsuits against toy companies rare), and the vacuformed parts for the Guillows balsa planes. Neither strike me as being a real viable method to build a model.

Have things changed and are these kits worth doing? Or are they as crappy as I imagine they would be?

[smartd]

Originally Posted by Black 6

Fellow member DH got me started on a quest to find models of the Westland Gannet or Wyvern airplanes. I've found them and am now patiently scouting for deals (and I am very patient in this regard). One thing I've come across are vacuformed models. I recall the old Mattel Vacuform toy (back when toys were great and lawsuits against toy companies rare), and the vacuformed parts for the Guillows balsa planes. Neither strike me as being a real viable method to build a model.

Have things changed and are these kits worth doing? Or are they as crappy as I imagine they would be?

Vacform kits can be a challenge if you are not a model builder with some skills. All parts are usually formed in one sheet and have to be cut out, trimmed, shaped and fitted to keep intended shape. Parts can be thin and need internal bracing when fitting together. Undercarriage is usually best scratch built from other sources.
Very time consuming but the results can be good in the right hands.

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Black 6

Fellow member DH got me started on a quest to find models of the Westland Gannet or Wyvern airplanes. I've found them and am now patiently scouting for deals (and I am very patient in this regard). One thing I've come across are vacuformed models. I recall the old Mattel Vacuform toy (back when toys were great and lawsuits against toy companies rare), and the vacuformed parts for the Guillows balsa planes. Neither strike me as being a real viable method to build a model.

Have things changed and are these kits worth doing? Or are they as crappy as I imagine they would be?

Vacuform kits are definitely not for the entry level modeler and can even be a challenge to more experienced builders. I have made a couple vacuform kits over the years and to be honest, prefer resin kits when dealing with some of the less well known aircraft. Trumpeter does put out 1/72nd injection mold kits of both the Westand Gannet and the Wyvern.

[Black 6]

Thanks SmartD and Cruver for your comments. It's obvious that I will not have the necessary skills to tackle this type of modeling. So is it a niche market for this type of kit? Are the results worth the extra trouble or is it the challenge that makes someone want to try one of these? Just curious now.

As for the resin kits, it appears that Trumpeter, Frog and Eastern Express are the three companies that have kits of those particular planes. I had never heard of any of them until I started looking for those models.

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Black 6

Thanks SmartD and Cruver for your comments. It's obvious that I will not have the necessary skills to tackle this type of modeling. So is it a niche market for this type of kit? Are the results worth the extra trouble or is it the challenge that makes someone want to try one of these? Just curious now.

As for the resin kits, it appears that Trumpeter, Frog and Eastern Express are the three companies that have kits of those particular planes. I had never heard of any of them until I started looking for those models.

Vacuform and resin kits are nice in that they cover some of the aircraft that would normally be passed up on. Over the past few years resin kits have come a long way, and there some really nice kits out there. Trumpeter kits are pretty neat and Frog kits have been around for along time. I think at one time I built a Frog Fairely Gannet kit.

[Cruver Collecter]

I found another source for the Fairey Gannet and the Westland Wyvern. Czech Master Resin from the Czech Republic puts out a 1/72nd scale resin kit of each of these aircraft. A little on the pricey side, but probably the best model you will find of either aircraft.

[Black 6]

Thanks CC - I'll look for that as well.