Gladiators Ready!

[null_null981707818191]

Pipped at the post by Dominic (and I was very impressed by your Matchbox version Dominic), here’s my latest build, this time of the Airfix 1/72 Gloster Gladiator finished as a Mk II of 615 Squadron, flown from St Inglevert in France in December 1939.

Built OOB, according to the research that I did, KW-T was flown by Flt Lt James Sanders who made the only validated claim for a Gladiator during the Battle of France, damaging a Heinkel 111. For the record, Sanders went on to claim 16 aircraft destroyed whilst flying Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain, and a further two aircraft at least damaged whilst flying Defiant night-fighters with 253 Squadron, so definitely an “Ace”! This particular aircraft survived the Battle of France and was flown by 247 Squadron during the Battle of Britain.

The build started as usual with the cockpit and the pilot of course:

It's not the first Gladiator that I’ve built, but it turned into a bit of an extended project, largely due to the paint scheme. I followed the colour instructions, and therefore painted the undersides black and white – involving lots of masking and drying time, and then for the upper surfaces, I went for the shadow scheme for the lower fuselage sides and lower wing top surface.

That meant the following paints were all brush applied:

White – VMA Insignia white

Black – VMA Black

Dark Earth – VMA Dark Earth

Dark Green – VMA Dark Green

Light Brown – Humbrol Gen 2 119 Light Earth

Light Green – Humbrol Gen 2 117 Light Green

One puzzle that I have not been able to resolve relates to the aircraft’s serial number (N2308). The kit painting guide shows that it was painted over with Dark Green, whilst the colour profile in the excellent Osprey Gladiator Aces by Andrew Thomas shows it blanked out in lightish brown-red. Whichever, I can’t find any explanation as to why it was painted over. Anyone got any ideas?

The rigging was put on using AK Thin line, fixed in place with Roket Hot and Roket Blaster. Rather fiddly, and I found the rigging guide a bit confusing, so I might not have got it absolutely accurate.

I think it’s a vast improvement on the previous Gladiator that I built, representing (coincidentally) one flown by 247 Squadron, so I guess that I’m improving, which perhaps bodes well for my next build, this time of a Gladiator Mk I flown by the Norwegians in April 1940, and according to the paint scheme, at least it’s going to be more or less one colour all over, but then it’s meant to be BMF, and it’s got the same rigging…. I must be a glutton for punishment!

[Dominic Thomas]

Thank you for the compliment. 
Your build clearly shows the quality of the Airfix version. 
The paint scheme is one I particularly like being a step more advanced than on my aircraft in that it uses the shadow scheme.
I also like the sharpness of your black/white demarcation. I have to admit I cheated by using the unsmoothed join of the fuselage to make the painting easier 😊

Well done. 

[Ratch]

Many RAF aircraft had their serials over-painted at the beginning of WWII, though I cannot recall why. I'm intrigued by the red flash over the port roundel, why was that?

[null_null981707818191]

I've no idea about the red blob either - it was one of the decals, and again appears on the colour profile image in the Osprey book. Hope someone can come up with a reason for either (or both!) - I can't think of any reason why you'd over-paint the serial number; not exactly a state secret I wouldn't have thought...

[Dominic Thomas]

I think the ‘red blob’ over part of the roundel was a repair of battle damage (bullet holes), using the type of approach used later in the Battle of Britain to cover machine gun ports on eg. Spitfires and Hurricanes. 

[null_null981707818191]

A pretty reasonable supposition regarding the red blob Dominic - but no nearer to the over-painting story!

[SD45elect2000]

I got this one. 

 

 

Randall

[modeling maniac]

I think that red streak on the left hand side may be the red 'tape' used to cover the gun holes on the wings of spit and hurries.

Edited October 30, 2024 by modeling maniac
typo

[Dominic Thomas]

I’m wondering if the over-painting of the serial occurred when the squadron went to France in November 1939. 
There is an IWM photo of a line at Vitry en Artois, and I can’t make out a serials on the first two aircraft. 

 

[Pretty Mediocre Modeller]

The serial numbers were painted out on several, but not all, squadrons that were sent to France. It may be a case of an over zealous squadron leaders, or maintenance officers misinterpreting the instructions on secrecy. Ity may even be that the serial was redacted by the official censor on a photo for publication, and it has since been seen as a painted out serial in actual fact.

[null_null981707818191]

Some interesting theories! I wonder if we will ever know the actual reason.

[null_null981707818191]

Oh, and a very nice build Randall!

[SD45elect2000]

I think I have 8 more kits plus the two sea gladiators, I’m not sure what exactly to do with them. 
I think your build is much better than mine, hopefully my next 10 will be better.

 

Randall

[null_null981707818191]

Praise indeed - thanks Randall. I'm not sure I'd want to rig all those that you have in the pipeline.

[A J Rimmer]

Excellent builds Chaps!