Richard M Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 (edited) Slight change of plan my build will be of the Airfix 1/72 Gloster Sea Gladiator N5519 "R", "Charity" of the Hal Far Fighter Flight, Hal Far, Malta June 1940. Best Rich Edited August 5, 2008 by Richard M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke481 Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Your Anson Collection must huge Rich!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Posted August 6, 2008 Author Share Posted August 6, 2008 Started on the build, this is a Gladiator from the 08 release programme. Not exactly a huge part count, a bit of flash in places but not too bad considering the vintage. The decal sheet features enough decals to do 4 complete Gladiators, handy for the spares box. Putting the fuselage halves together took about 30 seconds - no interior to obsess over. Then liberal amounts of filler was applied to the panel lines on the fuselage and ejector marks on the wings. I also sanded off the seam line running around the cowling, the cylinder head scallops were misaligned so I got rid of them too. I'm planning on adding these using teardrops of 5 minute epoxy. Best Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Posted August 9, 2008 Author Share Posted August 9, 2008 Sanded all the filler down on the fuselage panel lines. The locating hole for the stand (not included in this release) will need filling with plastic card. Filled and sanded the ejector pin marks in all the wings. The engine cowling showing the seam and scallops sanded off. Best Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Posted August 19, 2008 Author Share Posted August 19, 2008 Put the lower wings on and filled and sanded down, did the same for the tail planes, no major issues really. Filled in the hole for the stand. Added the leg struts and applied filler. I also removed the machine guns as these are molded flush with the wings, I'll replace these with some Aeroclub items. Best Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Posted August 23, 2008 Author Share Posted August 23, 2008 Bit more progress, the legs have been sanded into the fuselage. I've added the scallops to the cowling, in clear epoxy so they're a bit hard to make out - I think it worked pretty well. Started to paint the pilot figure. Best Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Posted August 27, 2008 Author Share Posted August 27, 2008 Cowling is on the fuselage and the pilot painting proceeding. I want to get the canopy on before adding the upper wing as there will be some work needed to build up the spine and fair the canopy in which will be easier without the wing in the way. Best Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Posted August 29, 2008 Author Share Posted August 29, 2008 Pilot painted and the cockpit interior blacked out with a surround of Hu78, I've painted the underside of the canopy Hu78 to match the surround, all ready to be epoxied in place. Best Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeew Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Nice work so far on a golden oldie Rich. This is gonna be nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousA667 Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Great thinking with the pilot and 'cockpit', we laugh about moulded in pilots but how many people will notice the difference unless they take a very close look? peebeep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Posted September 4, 2008 Author Share Posted September 4, 2008 Cheers for the comments. The gladiator has had the canopy blended into the fuselage spine with some milliput. Then the upper wing was added. Bit of a frustrating exercise, if there is a next time I'll ditch the kit struts, cover and fill the slots and scratchbuild my own. Using the kit ones they didn't really fit well and a load of filler was applied to cover the mess. I'm sure they're overscale anyway. Best Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousA667 Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Looking good Rich. If you can get hold of any, the old Contrail strut material is very useful, I think Aeroclub may have something like that on their catalogue. Is this going to be a virtual entry or are you going to try and get it to Telford? peebeep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Posted September 4, 2008 Author Share Posted September 4, 2008 Provided I don't balls something up and finish in time I'll be sending it over. Best Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousA667 Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Great, I'm sure it will turn out fab. peebeep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 Finished up sanding and filling the struts, I suspect a primer will be needed to make sure it's all OK. I scratchbuilt an additional intake under the cowling as I believe these Gladiators were fitted with one. Masked off the canopy so everything is ready for primer. Best Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Posted September 13, 2008 Author Share Posted September 13, 2008 Sprayed Hu64 on as a primer coat, as I thought it showed some areas around the struts which needed work. Did a bit more sanding, hopefully by the time the paint and rigging is on it won't be too obvious how cack-handed I am with bi-planes! Currently spraying the white on the underside, should need about three coats by the look of things. Best Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Posted September 16, 2008 Author Share Posted September 16, 2008 Three layers of Hu130 are on, I can start masking for the next colour which will be Hu164 for the upper surface of the lower wing. 7 different colours on a model this small - I'll be insane by the end of it! Best Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Posted October 9, 2008 Author Share Posted October 9, 2008 Mask and paint, mask and paint, ad infinitum for the seven odd colours involved. I'm beginning to wish I'd done the silver version! Getting there, I just hope the Aeroclub gun barrels arrive in time. Best Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted October 9, 2008 Share Posted October 9, 2008 That must be fun - spraying in between the wings! Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Posted October 16, 2008 Author Share Posted October 16, 2008 Finally finished all the different colours and removed the masking. There's plenty of touch-ups to do, plus I have to paint the cowling ring and add the exhausts. I distressed the paint a bit by sanding it to give it a worn look. Once the touch ups are done I can gloss cote ready for decals. Best Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornish Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 Coming together nicely Rich, nice to see such work going into the old girl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Tango Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 Looking good Rich, don't envy you with all those colours though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Posted October 18, 2008 Author Share Posted October 18, 2008 Thanks for the comments. I'm making steady progress. I extended the exhausts to the forward cowl ring, not great but better then what is OOB (still to be painted). I added Aeroclub gun barrels and put the aerial masts in place and added the wheels. I have made decals to represent the wheel hub detail whcih will go on once I've applied the gloss cote. Best Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 Nice, getting there Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Posted October 24, 2008 Author Share Posted October 24, 2008 I've applied the decals to the Gladiator. They were on the brown backing paper. I didn't have any trouble, but I used hot water to remove them. I had one decal split, an R, but this was when the water had cooled to lukewarm. They went on well, but the blue is a bit translucent, which is visible against the white of the lower wing, the yellow could do with being denser as well, but overall pretty good - better than the shiny ones on the pale blue paper! The home made decals went onto the wheel hubs really well and I'm pleased with the effect. Best Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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