Bear43
Well-Known Member
WHAT?!?
Group Build: Biplane - barnstormer to fighter
- Thread starter BarleyBop
- Start date
WHAT?!?
Bear43
Well-Known Member
Barley, have you been seeing a lot of sink marks on your Sea Gladiator kit? I just filled in a couple on the top of the landing gear struts and have to do a couple on the prop yet.
That looks very good!
Like this belly button?
I think it will be hidden once assembled.
But dry fit is very tight: will need careful sanding to fit and at proper angle.
Gonna call it a night.
Almost finished prepping wing parts.
Still some PE hatches and plates to add after scraping the kit plastic.
Tomorrow.
'night all.
Almost finished prepping wing parts.
Still some PE hatches and plates to add after scraping the kit plastic.
Tomorrow.
'night all.
Bear43
Well-Known Member
At least Roden is consistent.
So the last of the PE hatches aren't in the plastic, so I'm using tape to mark edges for placement based on instructions and photos.
Apparently — though I had to dig for this information — hinges are located towards the front of the plane, using airflow to keep the hatch on and closed, should the latch fail. Makes sense.
The AIMS instruction sheet is not high enough resolution to see that!
Hope you aircraft guys realize how much you know and have just absorbed... A little detail like that stops a newbie like me in my tracks, or should I say in mid-air!
Apparently — though I had to dig for this information — hinges are located towards the front of the plane, using airflow to keep the hatch on and closed, should the latch fail. Makes sense.
The AIMS instruction sheet is not high enough resolution to see that!
Hope you aircraft guys realize how much you know and have just absorbed... A little detail like that stops a newbie like me in my tracks, or should I say in mid-air!
Moving along... For several hours I couldn't upload my photo because of a supposed unsupported file extension. 
Seems to be working now.
Tiny gap at wing root.
Filled and sanding tomorrow.
Seems to be working now.
Tiny gap at wing root.
Filled and sanding tomorrow.
It's looking good from where I sit!Moving along... For several hours I couldn't upload my photo because of a supposed unsupported file extension.
Seems to be working now.
View attachment 197803
Tiny gap at wing root.
Filled and sanding tomorrow.
Getting back to the little Avia, I had painted the silver underside and yellow wing tips, masked that off and then started the green topside.
I started painting the fuselage when I realized I forgot to mask off the lower wing, DOH! I wasn't about to go back and mask it now, so I was carefull to not get overspray on it.
Not bad. After that dried a few days I masked for the yellow nose and fuselage stripe. I decided to challenge my airbrush skills by not masking the whole model, using lower PSI and flow to avoid overspray when painting the stripe.
Not bad. A little white overspray which was the base for the yellow. I can probably lightly take an eraser to it to get it off.
I decided to go ahead and glue the top wing on now because I keep breaking off wing struts. I probably wont be rigging this one.
I started painting the fuselage when I realized I forgot to mask off the lower wing, DOH! I wasn't about to go back and mask it now, so I was carefull to not get overspray on it.
Not bad. After that dried a few days I masked for the yellow nose and fuselage stripe. I decided to challenge my airbrush skills by not masking the whole model, using lower PSI and flow to avoid overspray when painting the stripe.
Not bad. A little white overspray which was the base for the yellow. I can probably lightly take an eraser to it to get it off.
I decided to go ahead and glue the top wing on now because I keep breaking off wing struts. I probably wont be rigging this one.
Don't think they were quite expecting a catapult! 
Bob T
Well-Known Member
I wonder if anyone at Roden actually tried to build this kit?
The propeller would not go together without some major surgery.
The two parts of the hub would not fit over the large section between the blades.
Had to really whittle it down. Spent most of my time on it this weekend.
And then there is the decals.
Decal 11 as shown goes on the cowling from the black to the end.
But the decal is too short.
Probably going to add more black to the nose. It won't be correct, but most won't notice.
The propeller would not go together without some major surgery.
The two parts of the hub would not fit over the large section between the blades.
Had to really whittle it down. Spent most of my time on it this weekend.
And then there is the decals.
Decal 11 as shown goes on the cowling from the black to the end.
But the decal is too short.
Probably going to add more black to the nose. It won't be correct, but most won't notice.
Thanks for the heads-up! Just filled the blade dimples...
You could extend the black trim further so the decal fits per the diagramI wonder if anyone at Roden actually tried to build this kit?
The propeller would not go together without some major surgery.
The two parts of the hub would not fit over the large section between the blades.
Had to really whittle it down. Spent most of my time on it this weekend.
And then there is the decals.
Decal 11 as shown goes on the cowling from the black to the end.
But the decal is too short.
Probably going to add more black to the nose. It won't be correct, but most won't notice.
Jakko
Well-Known Member
That was what I was thinking, too. If there any spare black bits on the decal sheet you may be able to cut bits from that to do it.
... So here is the approximate position of the arrestor hook when placed on fuselage of the Sea Gladiator.
...only, my research is indicating that it should have been recessed, and in the case of the Gladiators on Malta, the actual hook was removed along with some other 'naval' items like the dinghy, to reduce weight and increase climb rate.
In the case of mine, 'Faith', the engine had also been upgraded and a three bladed prop from a Bristol Blenheim installed. Thankfully, the kit includes the prop.
I'll have to screw up my courage and gouge the arrestor recess.
...only, my research is indicating that it should have been recessed, and in the case of the Gladiators on Malta, the actual hook was removed along with some other 'naval' items like the dinghy, to reduce weight and increase climb rate.
In the case of mine, 'Faith', the engine had also been upgraded and a three bladed prop from a Bristol Blenheim installed. Thankfully, the kit includes the prop.
I'll have to screw up my courage and gouge the arrestor recess.
kevin
Well-Known Member
You only live once, have fun !I'll have to screw up my courage and gouge the arrestor recess.
Edbert
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 16, 2024
- Messages
- 3,197
"Have to"?I'll have to screw up my courage and gouge the arrestor recess.
Only if you want to.
I've often wondered if companies ever pay someone to take their product and assemble it with the directions they provide. Seems like it would be a smart thing to do.I wonder if anyone at Roden actually tried to build this kit?
The propeller would not go together without some major surgery.
The two parts of the hub would not fit over the large section between the blades.
Had to really whittle it down. Spent most of my time on it this weekend.
And then there is the decals.
Decal 11 as shown goes on the cowling from the black to the end.
But the decal is too short.
Probably going to add more black to the nose. It won't be correct, but most won't notice.
Oh my gosh. I just saw you wrote that! Haha.
Gloster Sea Gladiator
Close enough.
Close enough.
kevin
Well-Known Member
What tool did you use?
Mostly, panel line scoring tools in progressively larger widths, the fiberglass brush to clean out the groove, and a diamond tip narrow round file to deburr.
The first few passes were against rigid panel line tape to keep the blade straight.
kevin
Well-Known Member
I like the paint work, those roundrells looked great.
After what seemed an eternity of sanding the landing Gear struts to fit in the fuselage, success! Masked the cockpit and added the cowling.
Upper wing struts, more masking and maybe primer tomorrow?!
Upper wing struts, more masking and maybe primer tomorrow?!
I saw a YouTube video about a guy that Airfix hired to build their 1/24 scale Hellcat. It was interesting. He had a deadline in order to have the kit finished for a model show.
Based on the kit decals, looks like I won't be building 'Faith' with the Blenheim prop, it is actually 5519 (Charity): Fitted with a 3-blade metal Fairey Reed propeller.
Mr Googles summarizes for us:
Some say that the names were never attributed to particular aircraft. Just generally to the sole early defending Gladiators seen over the island.
Others that they were... (appeals to my storytelling bent)
Others that it was a propaganda stunt spread by newspapers... and a story readily taken up and embellished after the war.
Mr Googles summarizes for us:
It is interesting reading about the 'trio' as there are many varying accounts.
Some say that the names were never attributed to particular aircraft. Just generally to the sole early defending Gladiators seen over the island.
Others that they were... (appeals to my storytelling bent)
Others that it was a propaganda stunt spread by newspapers... and a story readily taken up and embellished after the war.
