1/48 Roden Mk.I Gladiator, 33 Sqn Palestine 1939

[Quiet Mike]

I'm calling this one done. A relatively short build for me! And mostly OOB. My usual deliberations on which scheme to go for, from the five RAF markings on offer with this kit. I liked them all, so another build may be on the cards. I picked up an old copy of Roald Dahl's Going Solo in a charity shop for 10p, and have only just finished it. Had I picked it up before I started the build I would have chosen the 80(F) Sqn markings shown on the box art, the squadron Dahl joined in Greece after recovering from crashing his Gladiator en-route to joining them when they were stationed in Egypt.

 

In the end I went with my default preferences for prewar RAF, and chose 33 Sqn based out in Palestine in early 1939.

 

There are a lot of things I could do better on this kit, which isn't without it's faults either, but it was still fun to build. And I received some excellent advice and tips on the build thread. This is my first attempt at rigging a biplane. It is a little rough around the edges and a few short cuts were made. Hopefully they aren't as obvious to you as they are to me!

 

 

1/48 Roden Gloster Gladiator Mk.I by Mike, on Flickr

 

1/48 Roden Gloster Gladiator Mk.I by Mike, on Flickr

 

1/48 Roden Gloster Gladiator Mk.I by Mike, on Flickr

 

1/48 Roden Gloster Gladiator Mk.I by Mike, on Flickr

 

1/48 Roden Gloster Gladiator Mk.I by Mike, on Flickr

 

1/48 Roden Gloster Gladiator Mk.I by Mike, on Flickr

 

1/48 Roden Gloster Gladiator Mk.I by Mike, on Flickr

 

1/48 Roden Gloster Gladiator Mk.I by Mike, on Flickr

 

1/48 Roden Gloster Gladiator Mk.I by Mike, on Flickr

 

1/48 Roden Gloster Gladiator Mk.I by Mike, on Flickr

 

1/48 Roden Gloster Gladiator Mk.I by Mike, on Flickr

 

1/48 Roden Gloster Gladiator Mk.I by Mike, on Flickr

 

 

[Vulcanicity]

Terrific Glad and not one of the normal schemes. Love your weathering too - the cowling ring is particularly nice

[John Masters]

First rate build all the way.  Excellent rigging too, btw.  What did you use?

 

I've always wanted to build Dahl's aircraft too.  If only to temp the gremlins.

[Epeeman]

Very nicely done, and good rigging for first attempt - I like it.

 

What did you use for rigging material and how well did the kit go together?

 

Regards

 

Dave

[Alex Gordon]

.

[Quiet Mike]

16 minutes ago, Epeeman said:

Very nicely done, and good rigging for first attempt - I like it.

 

What did you use for rigging material and how well did the kit go together?

 

Regards

 

Dave

 

21 minutes ago, John Masters said:

First rate build all the way.  Excellent rigging too, btw.  What did you use?

 

I've always wanted to build Dahl's aircraft too.  If only to temp the gremlins.

 

Well, the rigging was found on ebay, and is sold as beading or thread for making bracelets and jewellery, but I think it might be the same stuff as fishing line thread? Anyway, it does what it says on the tin, and is 'strong and stretchy'. The smallest size I could get was 0.4mm, which I knew would probably be a tad oversize. I think it is too chunky, but not enough to spoil the effect. Also, it is round, not flat, like the RAF rigging bars, so looks more convincing from the side than from the front!

 

Rigging the Gladiator by Mike, on Flickr

 

I had already drilled holes with a .3mm drill. I should really have made them bigger, so the thread fitted in them better and had more to glue on to.

[Quiet Mike]

36 minutes ago, Vulcanicity said:

Terrific Glad and not one of the normal schemes. Love your weathering too - the cowling ring is particularly nice

 

Just a Flory wash, which I wasn't as happy with on the silver for some reason. I think I should experiment with oil washes more! I'm still learning on the cowling front. I had two goes with the Blenheim, but they turned out better I think 🧐

Thanks, and I'll be checking out your excellent Stranraer thread (again) as I have the old Matchbox kit in the stash ...

 

A selection of aircraft that float and fly by Mike, on Flickr

[Angell328]

What an absolute beauty

 

Matt

[John Masters]

33 minutes ago, Quiet Mike said:

it is round, not flat, like the RAF rigging bars, so looks more convincing from the side than from the front!

 

At 1/48th, or smaller...hmmm...if it passes the 75cm test, it's alright.  Someone probably makes a PE set of RAF flying wires for that aircraft but I find it is sometimes more of a bother than it's worth.  In other words, it's for other modellers, not myself!

 

That Eduard Sopwith Baby in the stash is a nice old kit, back before Eduard had really polished their chops, but still very fine.  I built the 1/72nd scale for one the GB here a while back.  

[bigbadbadge]

Great job  Mike on your first but of rigging,  there is no stopping you now.  The Glad looks great in the silver scheme.  

Chris

[RMCS]

Niiiice 

[Dunny]

That is beautiful work Mike - congratulations! 

[SAT69]

Very nicely done. I confess I wouldn't recognize a rigging shortcut if it was staring me in the face! The rigging looks wonderful to me.

[swralph]

Excellent modelling.😀

[Andy Dyck]

Great Job there Mike! Especially the rigging looks perfect. 
and men who are born June 8. are the best!!!!!!!!
 

Andy 

[russ c]

Really nice Gladiator there, great job

[Buzby061]

Lovely job, a Gladiator looks best in a silver scheme.

 

Not the easiest of kits to fettle. I did the Eduard re-pop in a Latvian AF scheme.

 

Pete

[Hairtrigger]

That's exceptional... The rigging looks pretty good to me.

[Gary Brantley]

Oh man, that is so cool Mike.   Beautiful result and an impressive rigging job to boot!   I have a Lindberg (ex-Impact) Gladiator in my stash and I'd like to see it turn out half this well.  Great modeling sir!  

[Homer]

What a fantastic piece of work sir 👏 

[Quiet Mike]

Thank you all for the lovely comments 😊

 

And I think I've decided ... I'm going to build the Micro-Mir S.5 next ... I'm hoping I'm not the first, and that someone has already posted a build thread somewhere!  I'm guessing for a limited run kit it is not going to be straightforward and I'd like to know what to be wary of before jumping in. If not, well I guess you'll be learning from my mistakes then ...

[Duncan B]

Very nice done.

 

Duncan B