rob85 Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 Hi all, I’ll pop my hat in with this as I can build it while finnish-ing (see what I did there) my b-25 and starting whatever I do start for ‘in the navy’! firstly I wanted to build this but I appear to have lost the clear parts (well part) so that’s out the window.... so will start on the below as soon as I get some time. it will be a Finnish version with ski’s in silver and green. any help is always welcome! Rob 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 welcome along Rob, great to see another Gladiator in the build. It's a shame the wee Fokker couldn't make it, but the Gladiator is a fine replacement. Good luck with the build, hopefully a smooth build without issues. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Hellers Gladiator is a good one and nice to see proper Finnish swastika roundels rather than those ‘plus and minus’ decals than seem to be included in today’s kit boxes. I’ve got two new Airfix Gladiators however will gladly purchase another Heller kit should one come along at a good price. Cheers and best of luck.. Dave 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted January 23, 2020 Author Share Posted January 23, 2020 5 hours ago, Rabbit Leader said: Hellers Gladiator is a good one and nice to see proper Finnish swastika roundels rather than those ‘plus and minus’ decals than seem to be included in today’s kit boxes. I’ve got two new Airfix Gladiators however will gladly purchase another Heller kit should one come along at a good price. Cheers and best of luck.. Dave Cheers Dave, I was thinking the same while going over the kit. The detail is actually really nice and there appears to be prep drilled holes for rigging! (I’ve never rigged anything so should be fun) 7 hours ago, trickyrich said: welcome along Rob, great to see another Gladiator in the build. It's a shame the wee Fokker couldn't make it, but the Gladiator is a fine replacement. Good luck with the build, hopefully a smooth build without issues. Yeah I was looking forward to making that one but will just have to wait. It might turn up in a box somewhere who knows. Rob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 While this may be one of the oldest kits available of the Gladiator it still makes for a nice model. Nice to know your going to rig it as well 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted January 23, 2020 Author Share Posted January 23, 2020 28 minutes ago, Col. said: While this may be one of the oldest kits available of the Gladiator it still makes for a nice model. Nice to know your going to rig it as well Well yes.... that’s the plan Col! All subject to status, terms and conditions apply... Rob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 No pressure Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vingtor Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 On 1/21/2020 at 10:38 PM, rob85 said: It will be a Finnish version with ski’s in silver and green. Be aware that the Heller painting instructions are not very accurate. The aircraft were standard Swedish dark green and light blue, with silver added for the operations in Finland. The pattern differed between the aircraft. There are several good aftermarket decal sheets, e.g. from AML and Kora. I would especially recommend this book on the subject: https://www.bookdepository.com/Gloster-Gladiator-Hawker-Hart-Mikael-Forslund/9789197767712 Nils 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted March 30, 2020 Author Share Posted March 30, 2020 On 1/24/2020 at 8:04 AM, Vingtor said: Be aware that the Heller painting instructions are not very accurate. The aircraft were standard Swedish dark green and light blue, with silver added for the operations in Finland. The pattern differed between the aircraft. There are several good aftermarket decal sheets, e.g. from AML and Kora. I would especially recommend this book on the subject: https://www.bookdepository.com/Gloster-Gladiator-Hawker-Hart-Mikael-Forslund/9789197767712 Nils Thanks nils, I will have a look. I have however started painting it silver already as forgot about you comment 😬. went together very nicely so far, but if clean up on the seams etc but nothing scary. Rob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 Very nice rob , it's a good old kit the heller gladiator 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 Not a great photo, but it's all I've got. Chris 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted March 31, 2020 Share Posted March 31, 2020 It's nice to see this one underway Rob and I'm really impressed by your 'model holding' tool. It sure trumps my bit of old sprue and a blob of Blu-tac ! Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted March 31, 2020 Author Share Posted March 31, 2020 (edited) On 1/24/2020 at 8:04 AM, Vingtor said: Be aware that the Heller painting instructions are not very accurate. The aircraft were standard Swedish dark green and light blue, with silver added for the operations in Finland. The pattern differed between the aircraft. There are several good aftermarket decal sheets, e.g. from AML and Kora. I would especially recommend this book on the subject: https://www.bookdepository.com/Gloster-Gladiator-Hawker-Hart-Mikael-Forslund/9789197767712 Nils 10 hours ago, dogsbody said: Not a great photo, but it's all I've got. Chris I see what your saying now! Dark green and the light blue should have been the first colours with the silver over painted.... time for a repaint like this guy http://users.kymp.net/mode0522/planes/gladiator.html Rob Edited March 31, 2020 by rob85 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamevender Posted March 31, 2020 Share Posted March 31, 2020 The Heller kit is very nice. Petite and fits very well. I converted one into a Sea Glatiator. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted March 31, 2020 Author Share Posted March 31, 2020 2 hours ago, gamevender said: The Heller kit is very nice. Petite and fits very well. I converted one into a Sea Glatiator. She a beaut, lovely work! And a great shot of the rigging, very helpful. thanks for posting. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted March 31, 2020 Author Share Posted March 31, 2020 8 hours ago, CliffB said: It's nice to see this one underway Rob and I'm really impressed by your 'model holding' tool. It sure trumps my bit of old sprue and a blob of Blu-tac ! Cheers Missed you there Cliff, @CedB pointed them out at Telford. The company is called sphere I think and they have a lot of handy little things like that, it comes with a stand! green and light grey blue painted on, blue looks too bright in the pictures but it’s not like that to the naked eye. Few more cotes of green to finish it off. and probably another cote of the grey blue. after a second cote on the green and then we shall leave it to dry properly. cheers Rob 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 Another step forward. I got two cotes of aluminium on today, well actually the first was ‘steel’ so darker to help with coverage and the second was Tamiya flat aluminium. It will get a third vote to sharpen it up but I’m happy with how it’s going. I’ve used the paint guide from a set of Kora decals off the internet. cheers for stopping by! Rob 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 gosh she is coming along nicely, and wow what an interesting scheme! Do you know why the "silver" was added later? I do like the holding stand as well, very clever! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 7 hours ago, trickyrich said: gosh she is coming along nicely, and wow what an interesting scheme! Do you know why the "silver" was added later? I do like the holding stand as well, very clever! TBH I haven’t a clue! It was the Swedish volunteers that had this scheme I think? Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 Great piece of work with a great kit I remember fondly, in fact the Heller kit was the baseline Gladiator for many years. If you've got any more Heller kits you may want to consider the Heller Classic GB later in the year? 7 hours ago, trickyrich said: Do you know why the "silver" was added later? It's a good question because it seems counter intuitive doesn't it? Overpainting camouflage with something that isn't camouflage, my only thought is that it disrupted the hard lines of a camouflaged aircraft against a snowy backdrop especially around lakes? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamevender Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 (edited) Just a guess. Ever looked out an aircraft window over a snowy landscape? There's a silver glint to it and at times the ice and snow reflect the sun into a glare. It might look more like an icy/snowy forest from the air with the glare shining through. Maybe? Edited April 6, 2020 by gamevender 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 Well I have been neglecting updates and using bits of free time to work on this, so this might be picture heavy as it has progressed! Engine made and put together, I need to paint the tip of the cone yellow from what I can see. that’s my attempt at a wood effect, bit dark. then it all got a good gloss cote ready for decals. Also the skis were glued on. decals on, which were really old! So I was apprehensive as they have just crumbled before, but they behaved really well and settled down with boiling water and pressure from a cotton pad. also added the top wing then added the outer struts engine still needs a tidy up. Then rigged the thing, my first ever go and it was nerve wracking, with stretched spruce. Not sure what colour to paint it now. and that’s where we are at, matte cote and adding the last little bits and detail painting and we should be done! all this while ‘home schooling’ the little ones! Topics were evidently talking to swans (a talent of the little girls it would appear) the history of fortifications through the medium of sand castles and how to climb broken trees (a lot easier that the upright type) not bad for an hours walk! Rob 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 gosh she's come along really well! Nice job on your first time rigging, you look to have done a fine job, well done! That rigging stuff scares me, Ive tried it and don't like it one bit. That is such and interesting scheme, i've never seen anything like it, and it's nicely done yet. Hopefully when this virus thing is all over they give out medals to all those the had to home school wee demon spawn!! I don't know how you do it (lots of alcohol probably helps! ). I'm lucky, mines left home and is the armies problem now! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 All those photos look like good progress to me Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted April 16, 2020 Author Share Posted April 16, 2020 On 4/10/2020 at 12:21 AM, trickyrich said: gosh she's come along really well! Nice job on your first time rigging, you look to have done a fine job, well done! That rigging stuff scares me, Ive tried it and don't like it one bit. That is such and interesting scheme, i've never seen anything like it, and it's nicely done yet. Hopefully when this virus thing is all over they give out medals to all those the had to home school wee demon spawn!! I don't know how you do it (lots of alcohol probably helps! ). I'm lucky, mines left home and is the armies problem now! cheers! To be fair mine have been amazing but have been keeping me busy! Alcohol has indeed been consumed, but at a level quantity I feel, only a pint a day..... however about halfway through the whiskey really starts to get to your throat. i really like the scheme and it’s something very different for me! The kids and girlfriend are all over the moon it’s not the “same colour as the rest”!! All my aircraft are different colours! There’s even blue ones, but I’ve told them the next home school lesson is ‘the difference in colours of FAA and RAF aircraft 1939-1945’ I don’t give a monkeys if it’s not ‘on the curriculum’. On 4/10/2020 at 9:23 AM, Col. said: All those photos look like good progress to me Rob Cheers Col, it is indeed progress and below you will see my first complete build of 2020 (the spitfires don’t count because I started them in 2018 or something silly). so she got her touch ups, I painted the rigging a dark steel and got a matte cote to dull that high gloss and got a little yellow nose! Her leg is wonky now, not sure how that happened and some bits of the rigging are too but I like her. It’s been a fun build. shes really cute I’m told Rob 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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