So, I finally sprang for the Airfix Gannet AS.1/4, while Sword sent me a review copy of their Gannet AEW.3 - I decided to do the much simpler Sword kit first.

The Sword kit is limited-run. With kits from this manufacturer, I usually look at the instructions as suggestions; however, there are times when they know why they're saying what they're saying.

You really do have to assemble the landing gear early on, with all that entails. I did so with the nose gar, before installing the sub-assembly in the fuselage. I only broke the nosewheel leg three times during later assembly, but it's repaired and all is well. I did not assemble the main gear before installing the wheel well sub-assembly in the wing, as the instructions tell you to do. Bad move! It was really hard to get the gear installed once the wheel well was in the wing; you really need to follow instructions here.

The wing and tail sub assemblies fit to the fuselage such that I decided to attach them before closing up the fuselage, so I could work the joints from both inside and outside the fuselage and get it nice and tight. That was a good idea.

As you can see from the residue of the Mr. Surfacer liberally applied on the fuselage centerline and the nose, the fit isn't the best. But I doubt anyone but Sword would release this beast in 1/48 injection plastic of any kind.

It's now ready for painting.

At least there was plenty of room inside this kit for noseweight, unlike the Airfix kit. I think I found the solution to he Airfix kit in a comment over at Thunder and Lightnings, that the tail hook was almost always down on the ground when the airplane was parked.

Big, Ugly, and British - for some of us, that's a feature, not a bug.

6 attached images. Click to enlarge.

@j-healy - I'm looking forward. Gonna do the Op Musketeer version - with army desert yellow rather than white (some stripes were done that way for airplanes on Cyprus, you can't tell the difference from photos so nobody can prove me wrong).

Great progress on this extraordinary aircraft, Tom @tcinla
Never knew the operators were located at the center of the aircraft, your interior details revealed something new to me.

Painted and ready for decals. I used Mr Color C-368 Sky and C-333 Extra-Dark Seagray.

For those interexted in technique, I have found doing this FAA scheme easiest to paint the EDSG first, since it involves less masking for application of the Sky color.

The scheme is both pre-sdhaded and post-shaded, but with only a little color variation - which is apparent in person - but not "Spanish school."

2 attached images. Click to enlarge.

The painting turned out really nice, Tom @tcinla
Wise decision to paint the EDSG first.

Calling the AEW.3 finished.

Full review this week at Modeling Madness.

Saw a review of the 1/72 version of this kit, where the reviewer called the AEW.3 "the best-looking Gannet." Hmmm... not sure about that. Perhaps you have to be British. I'm open to arguments.

4 attached images. Click to enlarge.

An impressive build, Tom @tcinla
You clearly showed that ugly can be beautiful as well.