discussion Valerons Airfix 1/72 Gloucester Galdiator Mk. I

[Valeron]

I'll be building this for this GB.

I'll be brush painting as usual.

It's quite a small kit with not that many pieces. The sprues look very clean and tidy.

The challenge for me will be how to paint it and keep it together.

I had an aborted attempt at a 1/72 scale bi-plane a couple of years ago and it was a disaster. I need to think about how to assemble it, especially with the top wing in mind.

I'll also be doing full rigging. This is new to me and given the size of the pieces, the amount of rigging and my big fat fingers, this will be challenging.

Anyway, hopefully I'll start tomorrow.

Mike

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

For shortcut sake, there is a rigging kit available for this lively little kit, by SBS, but it costs almost as much as the 'plane itself.
I think I've mentioned this before, but be aware the wheels are 'handed' for flight / ground. I messed THAT up!

 

[Valeron]

For shortcut sake, there is a rigging kit available for this lively little kit, by SBS, but it costs almost as much as the 'plane itself.
I think I've mentioned this before, but be aware the wheels are 'handed' for flight / ground. I messed THAT up!

I did read your comment before. Thanks but I probably won't bother due to the cost and I already have some rigging wire.

I'm not sure what you mean about the wheels.

Mike

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Okay, there are two sets of wheels. B12 and B11 for in -flight, with the weight off, and B6 and B7 for on the ground, with the weight on; in other words, the suspension compressed. The wheels in-flight should hang almost at the top of the landing leg, on the ground more in the middle. I managed to fit the on-ground wheels upside-down, which is enough to be noticeable when I look at the photos of the Shuttleworth Collection example I based mine on
It's one of those annoying niggles that, once I knew I'd done it won't let me forget
'We've all done it, but that's no excuse.'

 

[papa 695]

Looking forward to seeing this develop Mike.

 

[Guest]

I have the ICM 32nd scale one in my stash and keep trembling at the thought of that rigging.
Will be there supporting you.

 

[Valeron]

I started today with some cleanup and fixing a few pieces and some dry fitting.

I've decided the best strategy is for me to paint the top wing separate to aircraft and attach it afterwards. I'd struggle to brush paint the wings if they were fully attached.

Next step is to organise paints and do the cockpit.

 

[Valeron]

I've finished the cockpit. It is pretty basis but went together with no problems. Now to get the pilot on board and close this up. I'm hoping that the previous dry fittings will make this seamless.

 

[papa 695]

Nice start.

 

[colin m]

I built the Ski boot version of this a few years back. It's a nice little kit. As you will have noticed, not short on detail for a little 1:72

 

[Valeron]

I've completed of the main body of the aircraft and am preparing to prime it. I'll be using a rattle can. I'll then move on to painting. I'll be attaching the top wing after painting as I'll be brush painting and would struggle to paint between the wings.

The model has gone together well so far with only a small amount of filler needed on the seams.

I've opted to have the canopy open amd the pilot is there beneath the tissue mask.

 

[papa 695]

Coming along very nicely.

 

[yak face]

Nice work mike , looks a lovely kit , cheers tony

 

[Tim Marlow]

Looking very good. Nice touch by Airfix having the struts moulded and supported at the correct distance apart for easy fitting. I assume you clip out the cross supports once the top wing is on?

 

[Valeron]

Looking very good. Nice touch by Airfix having the struts moulded and supported at the correct distance apart for easy fitting. I assume you clip out the cross supports once the top wing is on?

Yes, that's correct Tim.

I imagine it would have been very difficult getting the struts in the correct place without them.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Yes, that's correct Tim.

I imagine it would have been very difficult getting the struts in the correct place without them.

A lot of biplane kits go the individual strut way though Mike, it’s one of the things that make them harder than most other models.

 

[Jim R]

Looks a ncie little kit Mike. Good start. That way of ensuring the struts are correctly spaced will save a lot of hassle.

 

[The Smythe Meister]

I've completed of the main body of the aircraft and am preparing to prime it. I'll be using a rattle can. I'll then move on to painting. I'll be attaching the top wing after painting as I'll be brush painting and would struggle to paint between the wings.

The model has gone together well so far with only a small amount of filler needed on the seams.

I've opted to have the canopy open amd the pilot is there beneath the tissue mask.

Looking good :thumb2:

 

[Valeron]

All primed and I've painted the underneath of the aircraft and attached the engine and some of the engine cover. I was then planning to paint the camouflage colours on the side and top but am struggling to connect the top panels of the engine cover. They just won't meet without a large gap. This is one for another say as its driving me mad.

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

I replaced my kit engine with a resin job - and that's a spare Mercury engine left over! I only test-fitted the cowlings and they didn't fit with the replacement, so it didn't occur to me the engines are oversized
It would be a job to thin the cowlings down
Or remove the rocker heads