Dominic Thomas Posted June 15 Share Posted June 15 My first attempt at a Work in Progress post. This is the Pavla Gladiator and will become a machine of 813 Squadron FAA in 1940, flying from HMS Eagle in the Mediterranean. Even though I have several Airfix Gladiators to build, I wanted to build this kit for several reasons, a) to remove it from the stash, b) to see what the Temperate Sea Scheme Shadow Shading looked like, c) to try a slightly different approach to rigging the cabane fuselage struts, and d) build a Sea Gladiator out of the box. I had been inspired by Ratch’s build of the 1/48 Walrus and the subsequent discussion of the colour scheme. I downloaded the instructions and checked I had all the Humbrol paints for the Shadow Scheme. I reasoned that the Airfix recommendations shouldn’t be too far from reality. So to the first couple of pictures The above pic shows the lighter versions of the TSS on the lower wings compared to the standard, darker, colours on the top wing, upper fuselage, and tail plane. The representations seemed ok to me. This next pic shows why I chose the Pavla kit in this instance. Up until now, when adding rigging between the cabane struts, I had started by securing the elastic thread to the fuselage at the base of the struts. I then drilled holes right through the upper wing so I could feed the thread through when the wing was fixed in position, The thread would then be pulled taught, super glued, then cut flush with the wing surface. Each hole on top of the wing would then be filled, smoothed, and painted. The new plan was to drill right through the fuselage at the base of the struts. By feeding longer lengths of thread through and just drilling ‘half’ holes in the top wing, the thread could be fixed to the top wing and then pulled taught through the large gap where the engine will subsequently be installed. The picture shows that I have fished the thread from inside the fuselage and then temporarily fixed it with blue tack, waiting for the installation of struts and top wing. Im not sure how long it will take to get the next set of pictures so please be patient if this post is of interest 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SD45elect2000 Posted June 15 Share Posted June 15 (edited) I'm doing this pair from Sword. I'll be watching your efforts ! Randall Edited June 15 by SD45elect2000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic Thomas Posted June 17 Author Share Posted June 17 Progress with the top wing added. I was not looking forward to this as I had no jig(s) to help stabilise the struts. It did not go swimmingly but the wing is in place now. A day or so to let the glue fully harden before adding the cabane struts. I’ve tried to show the shadow scheme difference between upper and lower wings in the first photo. I used Humbrol acrylics throughout applied by brush. This next pic shows the blue tack holding the thread in preparation for the rigging on the fuselage once the struts are in place. It’s been very difficult to stop myself adding the engine so far. I would normally have added it well before this point. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic Thomas Posted June 20 Author Share Posted June 20 All struts in place. Not the easiest job as there were no location holes, just fine outlines of the respective positions. I cleared these of paint to give the bond the best chance of success. Next step, rigging. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modeling maniac Posted June 20 Share Posted June 20 Looks really good, and good look with the rigging. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic Thomas Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 Just to prove this a ‘warts & all’ post, I noticed that one of the long main rigging lines had sprung. Because of the way I attached the rigging lines, once each line is super glued in place, I cut away any excess under tension. If it then breaks the bond, it’s not long enough to reattach easily. Having determined that I needed three hands to effect the repair, I decided to fetch the brand new, unused jig from the garage. You can see the tension rising here as I also broke one of the main wheels. Anyway, I managed to repair the line. The next post should show the rigging finished. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SD45elect2000 Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 Hang in there Dominic! Looks like it will be worth it . Randall 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 Don't make the thread too taut. Just a little stretch to keep the line straight. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic Thomas Posted June 25 Author Share Posted June 25 Ratch, too late now. 😊 I’ll show the results of yesterday’s effort shortly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modeling maniac Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 I take it didn't go well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic Thomas Posted June 25 Author Share Posted June 25 (edited) Perhaps I exaggerated with ‘shortly’. Anyway, the rigging around the wings has been finished whereas I still have to add it to the tail plane. A few minor details (guns and exhausts) still need to be added. And then tidying up the paintwork before finishing the addition of markings. Edited June 25 by Dominic Thomas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerazzurri Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 (edited) Don't envy you the rigging Dominic 😭 I've never tried it........and I'm no hurry to! Good job. Gavin. Edited June 25 by Nerazzurri 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modeling maniac Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 I see you have reattached your weel, and the rigging appears to have gone very well yor post before this sounded like it didn't go well but it has turned out very well. Better than I could do as I have never done a biplane before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic Thomas Posted June 25 Author Share Posted June 25 Guys, thank you for your positive comments. Much appreciated. I have to say that with an Airfix Gladiator waiting in the wings (!), I wish they would make the Sea Gladiator the next version to be released. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul71 Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 coming on well Dominic a great job on the rigging again 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SD45elect2000 Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 2 hours ago, Dominic Thomas said: Guys, thank you for your positive comments. Much appreciated. I have to say that with an Airfix Gladiator waiting in the wings (!), I wish they would make the Sea Gladiator the next version to be released. I’ll second that !! I like the Airfix Gladiator. Randall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic Thomas Posted June 27 Author Share Posted June 27 Painful progress. Painfully slow, that is. In trying to fix another sprung rigging wire, I knocked the other wheel off. Financial tip : think about shares in superglue because at the rate I’m getting through it …… Anyway, the main plane rigging is done. Here are a couple of photos to show the steps to make the rigging wire holes (through the wings) invisible, or as near as I can manage. This shows the application of Perfect Plastic Putty on the lower wing holes at the bottom of the photo. At the top of the photo, the wires are held taut in place with blutack while superglue applied to the top surface sets. In the next photo, I have smoothed the putty and repainted the underside colour (Humbrol 28). The couple of filled holes at the top of the photo are still to be painted, as is one at the bottom of the photo. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SD45elect2000 Posted June 27 Share Posted June 27 Glad you stuck it out Dominic, looks worth it to me. Randall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic Thomas Posted June 27 Author Share Posted June 27 (edited) Cheers Randall. I still have the opportunity to mess it up with the markings 😝 Edited June 27 by Dominic Thomas 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumps123 Posted June 28 Share Posted June 28 Quote Great work, I've never done this (apart from antennae) so it is very enlightening. 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul71 Posted June 29 Share Posted June 29 do Quote looking good Dominic, does the rigging thread shrink back a bit so you can fill the hole with putty or do you cut it really close to the hole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic Thomas Posted June 29 Author Share Posted June 29 1 minute ago, paul71 said: do Sorry for the delayed reply. I have to admit to being confused by these quoted comments. Makes me think I should have seen it before, but I don’t remember this one. Anyway, the method I use once the superglue has hardened around the thread on the upper side of the wing is to pull the thread as taut as possible on the underside. Then I cut the thread as close to the hole as possible with a pair of sharp pointed scissors. Most of the time, the remaining thread recoils back into the hole and I can fill the hole with putty to give a smooth finish to the wing again. If it does stand proud of the hole, I cut it with a sharp scalpel. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul71 Posted June 29 Share Posted June 29 no Dominic its my laptop it was updating and throw a wobbler as i was writing it, as i changed my wording it put the rest of it in a quote box for some reason and i didn't notice it, you worked out the question perfect any way that was what i wanted to know how you cut the end of the thread thanks Dominic 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominic Thomas Posted July 8 Author Share Posted July 8 At long last, 90+% finished. Just the arrester hook, cockpit step, and underwing roundels to add. But this has been going on for long enough so here are the pix. Colours were Humbrol acrylics as referenced in the painting guide for the Airfix 1/48 Walrus. I am happy with the tone variations between upper and lower wings, and will be using the paint references in future. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SD45elect2000 Posted July 8 Share Posted July 8 I think it was worth the effort, I hope mine turn out as well as yours. ill use your photos as a paint guide ! Randall 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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