Gloster Gladiator cowling interior finish

[Wez]

I've recently bought the rather lovely new Airfix 1/72nd Gladiator and whilst trying to decide what scheme to finish the model in (I've decided on the early 3 Sqn scheme from the Model Alliance Silver Wings set), I wondered how the cowling interior (the bit behind the collector ring) was finished.

Not being au fait with RAF interwar finishing schemes I wondered whether it was it bare metal, left in primer, stove enamelled or something else? What colour should it be?

Does anybody know?

Regards

Wez

Edited June 22, 2013 by Wez

[scorpiomikey]

Looks like the same as the outer cowling (or bare metal)

[Aeronut]

The Gladiator example at Duxford has the inner cowling (the part behind the collector ring) painted interior green. But whether that is the original spec I'll leave it to the experts to debate.

[Wez]

Looks like the same as the outer cowling (or bare metal)

Mikey,

I've clarified my post as I mean the sheet metal parts behind the exhaust collector ring which is what the picture you posted shows (nice picture though thanks)!

The Gladiator example at Duxford has the inner cowling (the part behind the collector ring) painted interior green. But whether that is the original spec I'll leave it to the experts to debate.

Yes that's the area I'm thinking of, I really need to make the question clearer! Yes I'm wary of restorations.

Whilst we're at it, what's the correct colour for the carburettor air intake pipes? Those shown in Mikey's picture appear to be natural metal but I'm sure I've seen some somewhere finished in black (can't remember where I've seen those and that may too have been a restoration).

Thanks to both.

Wez

[scorpiomikey]

No idea where the photo was taken, credit to the photo taker whoever they were.

[Max Headroom]

Whilst we're at it, what's the correct colour for the carburettor air intake pipes? Those shown in Mikey's picture appear to be natural metal but I'm sure I've seen some somewhere finished in black (can't remember where I've seen those and that may too have been a restoration).

Wez

Wez

Here is the RAFM Blenheim/Bolingbroke (caveats about restorations repeated)

To muddy the waters somewhat, I remember a cover photo in the original SAM showing an all yellow Master. If I remember correctly the period photo showed them to be red? Unfortunately my copy is long gone.

Trevor

[Wez]

Wez

Here is the RAFM Blenheim/Bolingbroke (caveats about restorations repeated)

To muddy the waters somewhat, I remember a cover photo in the original SAM showing an all yellow Master. If I remember correctly the period photo showed them to be red? Unfortunately my copy is long gone.

Trevor

Trevor,

AFAIK, those two "trumpets" at around the 9 o'clock position are the carburettor intakes, I'm sure the photo I referred to earlier shows a Gladiator (buggered if I can find it though), had black intakes the same. The trouble is of course, I don't know whether that too was a restoration - it would appear they could be black but then again, they could be NM/silver.

As for the cowling interior, difficult to tell, the baffles between the cylinders look silver though.

Useful detail on that picture though - thanks!

Wez

Edited June 22, 2013 by Wez

[stevehnz]

I think I'm right in saying that the trumpet thingies are oil cooler intakes, the carb intake is the small boxy thing that hangs below the cowl ring on the Gladiator, Blenheim too by the look of that scoop just behind the bottom prop blade.

Steve.

[Jon Kunac-Tabinor]

http://www.haf.gr/en/mission/weapons/historic/1935_1940/Gloster_Gladiator.asp

Pic looks to show pale trumpet intakes. When I built my Roden one I went with aluminium for inside the cowling, but there's so much going on in there you can hardly see any of it anyway.

Cheers

Jonners

[Wez]

I think I'm right in saying that the trumpet thingies are oil cooler intakes, the carb intake is the small boxy thing that hangs below the cowl ring on the Gladiator, Blenheim too by the look of that scoop just behind the bottom prop blade.

Steve.

Steve,

You're right of course Shame on me for getting it wrong (what with me being an aircraft engineer and all - not engines though so I've got an excuse)!

http://www.haf.gr/en/mission/weapons/historic/1935_1940/Gloster_Gladiator.asp

Pic looks to show pale trumpet intakes. When I built my Roden one I went with aluminium for inside the cowling, but there's so much going on in there you can hardly see any of it anyway.

Cheers

Jonners

Thanks Johnners, I'll use that as my defence!

Wez

[dogsbody]

I always thought that the oil cooler on the Gladiator was the corrugated section on the upper right side of the fuselage, forward of the cockpit.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gloster_Gladiator_fuselage_gun.JPG

Chris

[stevehnz]

You are of course right Chris, but & don't ask me to expalin the why & wherefors of it exactly,these trumpety things are a feature of many Mercury/Pegasus installations & in pretty much every thing I've seen such as this it shows them leading to an oil cooler. I'm not sure how that applies to the Glad, I haven't been able to find a decent cutaway that shows where they go but in the Gladiator entry in my Airplane partwork p4249, it shows some ducts running back from about the right area to a oilcooler cockpit heater so I'd guess they ran to this but totally stand to be corrected on this. I feel certain they have something to do with the oil cooling system in light of other Bristol set ups I've seen illustrated.

Steve.