Airfix 1/72 J8a Gladiator

[Beggsy]

Done and dusted on one of the most complicated rigging jobs I've yet attempted!

 

This kit is built out of the box, with he only modification being a new sliding canopy piece, as the kit piece for the open canopy wasn't very convincing.  I've kept the weathering fairly light on this one, as it only operated in this paint scheme for a few months, during which any mud and dust was covered by snow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for taking a look!

 

Beggsy out.

 

 

[Horatio Gruntfuttock]

No-one has made a comment yet so I'm in to help a fellow Orestrayen ( even if you are from south of the border! heh heh) That looks really nice and it is great to see a different scheme for a change. The rigging looks nice and taut - presume you used clear HSS? The exposed upper cylinders also lend interest.

[russ c]

Very nice Gladiator, love the scheme too

[Bangor Lad]

Great job on the rigging.

[stevehnz]

Very nice Beggsy. I enjoyed your WPI, some interesting info re colour schemes in there that I hope to apply when I get around to my one of these. I'll be rapt if I can get it looking as good as yours.

Steve.

[Beggsy]

Thanks all for your kind comments!  This was was good fun to build, once I was finally happy with the colours!

 

On 5/14/2017 at 9:57 PM, Horatio Gruntfuttock said:

The rigging looks nice and taut - presume you used clear HSS?

 

Nope, I've got no idea what HSS is!  I used electrical wire from a piece of pre-tinned cable.  I un-raveled individual strands, and then quickly rolled them back and forth under a metal ruler to get them dead straight, then cut them to length (well, cut, test, cut, test, cut, test........).  I like this method as it doesn't involve having to drill holes all the way through the wings, then having to re-paint the opposite sides of the wings once the thread is cut off.  It also gives a very nice glint when the light catches it correctly.

 

On 5/14/2017 at 10:04 PM, stevehnz said:

I enjoyed your WPI, some interesting info re colour schemes in there that I hope to apply when I get around to my one of these. I'll be rapt if I can get it looking as good as yours.

 

Thank you!  Let me know if there's any advice I can give or information I didn't share in the WIP that you're after.

[bertielissie]

Looks magnificent. Did you apply the aluminium first and then the green or vice versa? Acrylics or enamels?

I plan to do this version soon but the camo is perplexing me.

[Beggsy]

I did the green and blue first, then the aluminium over the top of both (just like the real thing).  It was all painted with Tamiya acrylics.  I got the camo pattern using blue tack for masking

 

Glad you like it!.

[Vadim]

Lovely finish, great rigging! Well done!

[TEMPESTMK5]

Good afternoon Beggsy

 very good job

Patrice

[bertielissie]

Hi Beggsy,

Didn't realise you lived in my part of the world until I read your reply. Thanks mate. 

I usually use enamels but I think I'll give the acrylics a go.

It's been a "hit and miss" affair with the so-called new Humbrols. I like Testors Model Master enamels but they're too expensive for me at present.The BluTack trick is a really good one .I've used it a few times.

Cheers.

[RidgeRunner]

nice