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Sea Gladiator


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Looking through the stash for my Revell reboot of the Matchbox Gladiator for the Matchbox GB I came across this. 

 

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Its packed a little different with each sprue in a separate plastic bag and foam wrapped around the fragil integrally moulded parts. It is exquisitely moulded with restrained but crisp detail.

 

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Simple instructions to follow. 

 

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Two versions and i and I will build the Malta defender but I think the paint job is a bit more detailed with a shadow scheme on the lower wing and black and white underneath the lower wings

 

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Cockpit painted assembled and Tamiya tape seat belts added.

 

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fuselage closed up, engine attached and front upper decking and cabane struts added. 

 

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And believe or nor there is a join in here the full length of the fuselage. It's almost impossible to see. The engineering on this little kit is excellent. 

 

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Masked the collector ring and applied a few coats of Barley Grey, as an approximation of Sky Grey.

 

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Done some more masking and first coat of white under the lower wing done. No photo yet but will sort out later. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Done quite a bit of painting and masking, so just catching up with the photographs. There are 7 different colours on this little airframe, so masking has been fun, even for brush painting. I have done in little 10/20 minute sessions before going to work in the morning, hence the lack of photos. Here's the underside, the black is Revell Aqua and the white Citadel Ceramite White. Took about 3 and 4 thin coats respectively. 

 

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Now with some more paint on. Light slate grey and dark sea grey on the lower wings, dark slate grey on the remaining upperworks, along with Sky grey (I use Barley grey for this) on some other surfaces.

 

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Waiting for a coat or two of Extra Dark Sea Grey

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Airframe complete, sitting on her own wheels and just the upper wing to go on with the canopy and exhausts.

 

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I think I'll put the transfers on before the upper wing just in case the upper wing fittting is a little fragile. 

 

Also the kit kit has a lovely well moulded canopy. Here it is after a dipping in Future. 

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Almost finished. Got the transfers on. Straight out the kit. 

 

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I'm not 100%sure on those pre war style roundels on the upper wing but Hobbyboss are pretty accurate with their research. 

 

Another view. The kit transfer performed well and settled lovely with a wash of Micro Sol   There is a little work needed on the fin transfer but that can wait 

 

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Upper wing on. Only broke one of the cabana struts. But got it sorted out OK, but there was a fight with the carpet monster. Lesson to self. Don't try to fix things standing up. Sit down and work over the cutting mat. 

 

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Just the canopy and prop to finish off. 

 

Anybody able to give info on likely prop?  I thought it would be a Fairey Reed three blade but I read somewhere that the Malta defenders started with Fairey Reed three blades but swapped them for two blade props. In these kits I have an anonymous two blade, a number of original Watts two blades, as well as a pair of Aeroclub white metal Fairey three blades. What are likely to be the most appropriate props?

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I seem to have managed to bypass this up till now :( , I'm impressed with this, I think you just showed me another NEED :) . I wouldn't be too sure with Hobby Boss' research, they've made the odd faux pas along the way but this one looks pretty good even though I might have expected type B roundels on that upper wing but I can't say for sure either way.

Steve.

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Some more photos. 

 

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And the masked and painted canopy. 

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Not much much more to go. A bit of touching up, the last bits glued on and a coat or two of matt varnish. 

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On 11/26/2017 at 1:12 PM, stevehnz said:

I seem to have managed to bypass this up till now :( , I'm impressed with this, I think you just showed me another NEED :) . I wouldn't be too sure with Hobby Boss' research, they've made the odd faux pas along the way but this one looks pretty good even though I might have expected type B roundels on that upper wing but I can't say for sure either way.

Steve.

I would tend to agree But there are exceptions Looking good  though 

Martin H

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Just about done. Canopy painted and unmasked.  Prop on, I've plumped for the Watts as I did find a photo on Google

 

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Completed airframe and rest in Gallery

 

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