Doug Rogers Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 (edited) This is my first entry for this GB, a lovely multi media Gloster VI; The kit really is a work of art, resin, brass struts, PE radiators; And two frets of PE bracing wires; Kit can be done either in Blue or Gold, so I'm going to be going for the Gold finish. Bit of history; Two aircraft, with serial numbers N249 & N250, were built, the first flying on 25 August 1929, and the second on 31 August They showed promise and high speed, but also had significant problems with fuel supply when banking that led to engine cut-outs. For such a risky business as low-altitude air-racing, this was an unacceptable risk and the aircraft were withdrawn from competition in the 1929 Schneider Trophy, leaving the way clear for the Supermarine S6 to win. An alternative theory for the withdrawal is rumoured to have been an accident to the lorry delivering the engines from Napier, and insufficient time to repair the damage until the day after. On 10 September 1929, the day after the Supermarine S.6 had won the Trophy, N249 returned to flight. Flight Lieutenant George Stainforth flew her over a measured mile course for a top speed of 351.3 mph and a ratified world absolute speed record, averaged over four runs of 336.3 mph.This record was held only briefly, as a later run by Squadron Leader Augustus Orlebar in the S.6 managed to raise it over 350 mph. During the final Schneider Trophy in 1931, the Gloster VI was still in service with the High Speed Flight for training purposes. Edited April 2, 2013 by Doug Rogers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhaselden Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Oh that's a beauty Doug. Where did you find that kit? Must get me one...if the pennies will stretch that far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyC Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Doug, that looks a fab kit - always loved the story of the Schneider Trophy as a kid and those a/c and the Macchi are just so sleek! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Rogers Posted April 1, 2013 Author Share Posted April 1, 2013 (edited) Good luck with that, I got it from Telford year before last, it's not cheap mate...I got it for around £73, and it's limited edition, 500 units. here's the website : http://www.wmm.at/aviation-line/21-gloster-vi.html Looks like they're out of stock. I'd love to have a Macchi M.39 in 1/48, a Japanese firm caled Noix Models used to do one, but they're long OOP and virtually unobtainable now. Edited April 1, 2013 by Doug Rogers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Ohh that's nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 A great choice Doug - I'm looking forward to this one. Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C460 Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Great choice, I'm looking forward to see the model. Adrien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarLos Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Fantastic choice! I'll be watching this one very closely. Carlos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Yes they are out of stock - cos the box is now on my shelf!!!!! Looking forward to following this build. Not sure if I can fit mine in this year, though it doesn't look difficult - save for the bending of those wing radiators. I am not entirely convinced by the colour schemes. I think the 'all' gold machine should actually have white floats, or maybe even BMF. White would look better and fit a little better with the blue, gold and white colour scheme of N250. Good luck Doug, I will be watching with interest. cheers Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Rogers Posted April 2, 2013 Author Share Posted April 2, 2013 Think you're right Grant, there's a recoloured picture on the net of N250 which shows silver floats, so I may go for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatbaldbloke Posted April 3, 2013 Share Posted April 3, 2013 According to Robert Hirsch's "Schneider Trophy Racers" The fuselage, wing and empennage were painted gold and the radiators were copper. Floats were light blue except for the copper radiators Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Rogers Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share Posted April 8, 2013 Made a start this morning, I'd forgotten how much I dislike PE! Glued the rudder to the main fuselage; Elevators to the horizontal stabilisers; Get some more done later in the week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarLos Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Good start! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Rogers Posted April 18, 2013 Author Share Posted April 18, 2013 Got a bit more done today, interior painted, not that you can see a lot of it. Put in a harness from the spares box; Fitted the wings to the fuselage; More soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 Already looking very tasty Doug. I've often wondered why so many top-rate multi-media kits don't include harness belts? Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Rogers Posted April 19, 2013 Author Share Posted April 19, 2013 I know Cliff, all that nice PE that they do give you, but no harness! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_W Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I love a build that makes me do a bit of research. Supermarine went on to build the Spit, they went on to build the Meteor... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Rogers Posted April 19, 2013 Author Share Posted April 19, 2013 Hi John, yes it's interesting, how would we have faired at the outbreak of WWII if Supermarine hadn't built the S4, S5 and S6's, encouraging Rolls-Royce to build their racing engines, which evolved into the Merlins and Griffons. Interesting the Germans never got involved in the Schneider Trophy, I guess they were prevented by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PanzerPaulo Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 Sporty looking bird!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricP Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 This will be spectacular in Gold! Looking forward to your WIP pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Rogers Posted May 4, 2013 Author Share Posted May 4, 2013 Got some more PE work done today. So here is one of the radiator panels as removed from the fret; I used one of the floats and the handle of a file to roll it slightly, roughly into the right contour for the wing; Pretty much there now, just the small locating plates for the bracing wires; More soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Looking good Doug. I wouldn't fancy trying to get those delicate curves into brass - well done! Did you anneal the brass? Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Rogers Posted May 5, 2013 Author Share Posted May 5, 2013 No I didn't anneal it as I was concerned it might discolour it. I got it to as near the shape as possible, clamped it and ran some extra thin CA glue around the edges. As PE goes it seems quite forgiving, not sure if it's because it seems quite thick compared to some of the Eduard stuff I've tried to use in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 What a lovely aircraft, have never seen this kit before. Should be something special once it's done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Rogers Posted May 29, 2013 Author Share Posted May 29, 2013 Finally managed to get some more done today. Drilled and pinned the tailplanes; Then masked her up and got some Alclad Pale Gold on; Painted up the floats in Alclad Aluminium, so going to try and get them on tomorrow if I get time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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