benjaminsummerfield Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Reposting from my SP&R topic Link to the review http://www.scaleplasticandrail.com/kaboom/index.php/all-things-aviation/132-135-scale/132-kit-reviews/678-132-gloster-sea-gladiator Previously on Bens model bench........ This is my first full resin kit build kindly provided by SP&R, as resin kits go this is the best ive ever seen, the overall quality is better than the limited run boys usually manage, its gonna take alot more prep obviously but its totally accurate and i havent encountered any fit issues at all! Im finishing this as a pre war 802 squadron machine on HMS Glorious, ill be using some custom masks made by AD Astra as the kit decals are probably one of the only areas you can be a bit critical about. Plus the attractive diamonds on the top of the wings are actually yellow not blue as usually depicted. So far ive had to scratch build the cockpit framing as the kit one was too warped and broken to repair. p[ the engine is together save for a few scratch built parts ill add once its inside the cowling, as you can see its very comprehensive, although the Mercury isn't an overly plumbed engine so there isn't much more you could add. i used the collector ring as jig while i added the pistons as the exhaust manifolds need to mate up to this properly The instructions tell you that the wings should have 6mm of dihedral so i taped them flat to the bench and made spacers while they dried, same for the lowers although getting them level was trickier due to the fuselage. I painted the cockpit framing Alclad white aluminium, and above the waist line cockpit green, the cockpit is superb and matches the Mushroom publications book im using as reference perfectly!! Fuselage went together well despite my scratch built cockpit, although one side of the instrument panel needed to be trimmed alot for it to sit right, luckily it wont be visible due to the angle you'll view it from; this is a problem ive read about in other builds of this kit. The main area you can critisize the kit for is the fairy reed prop, it has no aerofoil cross section too it and is warped, also the spinner looks more like a football !! i put the spinner in my Dremel and used a grinding bit to act as a lathe to make it the correct tapered shape, i sanded a rounded edge onto the prop. its still not perfect but a big improvement, will see how it looks under some paint. The wings are now on, starting to look like a Glad now !! Ill update you all soon. Ben. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators James H Posted March 3, 2013 Administrators Share Posted March 3, 2013 That pit looks amazing. I'll be wanting tips for the Silver Wings Hawker Hart when the time comes. What paint/weathering did you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators JeroenPeters Posted March 3, 2013 Administrators Share Posted March 3, 2013 Wow... That pit looks pretty real. Love the scratches on the oil-tank. (at least that's what i think it is!!) Following this one.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamme Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 I started this one also but dropped the build because the difficult fit. Nice to see your build. Cheers, Jamme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjaminsummerfield Posted March 3, 2013 Author Share Posted March 3, 2013 i use white ensign for my main colours and Alclad, and Games workshop acrylics for weathering/hand painting. Its not to bad of a fit to be honest, just all the cleaning up thats a pain in the arse, the fuse took some filling but if it had been an injection moulded kit the cement would have sorted the gap out no problem. im actually enjoying it so far, just dreading the rigging!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmayhew Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 beautiful work! thanks for sharing Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallSignOWL Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 wow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvey boyer Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Nice start ! This should be interesting !.............Harv 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjaminsummerfield Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share Posted March 4, 2013 Started working on attaching the upper wing, I'm going to leave it off until its fully painted but need to make sure it fits There's a good how to on Silverwings website and they recommend drilling the holes for the struts at the angle they will be when finished. So I followed their advice and used scale plans to cut some foam filled plasticard to the same angle as the struts to rest my pinvise drill on. Seems to of worked but the struts don't stay in place tightly enough yet for a proper dry fit, I'm going to make a jig of some sort to hold the struts at the correct angle while they dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamme Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Interesting part of the Job, Benjamin. Cheers, Jamme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallSignOWL Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Ill have to remeber that trick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvey boyer Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Very interesting little trick. Have to remember that !...........Harv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjaminsummerfield Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share Posted March 4, 2013 Quick look at how's she's looking right now. Still some fiddly parts to do before I can start chucking paint on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ninetalis Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I love Gladiators, I'm happy that'll still be able to see what this one will finish like.You did some great work on this one so far!With regards, Ninetalis. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjaminsummerfield Posted March 5, 2013 Author Share Posted March 5, 2013 More progress... Made a jig for the struts Nice gap on the dinghy pack!! Made a new arrestor hook from Albion alloys brass rod using the kits hook, some more etched to go aorund the hook too And test fitted the upper wing, it sits level and at the right angle but the struts dont sit flush where they meet the wing and theres a gap; i cant really fill it here as im leaving the upper wing off until its painted so need ideas here!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallSignOWL Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 quick questoin, but it looks to me like the arrestor hook is backwards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjaminsummerfield Posted March 6, 2013 Author Share Posted March 6, 2013 quick questoin, but it looks to me like the arrestor hook is backwards? just a trial fit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallSignOWL Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 ahh, gotcha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougN Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Looks great so far! Regarding the upperwing strut fit, you could put some tape on the wing, fit in place and build up the strut attachment area, then remove the wing, and the tape should keep the putty from sticking to it (if that makes sense). Otherwise, you could carve out an indentation the same shape as the strut end so it is a little recessed into the upper wing. Sorry, that is about the best I can think of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjaminsummerfield Posted March 8, 2013 Author Share Posted March 8, 2013 Looks great so far! Regarding the upperwing strut fit, you could put some tape on the wing, fit in place and build up the strut attachment area, then remove the wing, and the tape should keep the putty from sticking to it (if that makes sense). Otherwise, you could carve out an indentation the same shape as the strut end so it is a little recessed into the upper wing. Sorry, that is about the best I can think of. The tape idea sounds promising, the strut makes contact with the upper wing in places so I might give that a go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamme Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Nice job Benjamin. Cheers, Jamme 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_ Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 Good work Benjamin So your overall assessment of the fit/difficulty sounds like it is pretty good. I suppose the strut fit can't be odds'd in as much as this is a hand crafted model, cast in a material that has a degree of variability in final size (i.e. resin shrinkage). Only the likes of Wingnut can achieve close to perfection by a combination of CAD and high quality injection moulding. Look forward to seeing the paint on it. Is it going to be an inter war silver doped jobby?? Just re-read page 1. Looking forward to seeing it finished as a silver doped inter war jobby.... Matt 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjaminsummerfield Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 Good work Benjamin So your overall assessment of the fit/difficulty sounds like it is pretty good. I suppose the strut fit can't be odds'd in as much as this is a hand crafted model, cast in a material that has a degree of variability in final size (i.e. resin shrinkage). Only the likes of Wingnut can achieve close to perfection by a combination of CAD and high quality injection moulding. Look forward to seeing the paint on it. Is it going to be an inter war silver doped jobby?? Just re-read page 1. Looking forward to seeing it finished as a silver doped inter war jobby.... Matt It really is beautifully engineered, like i said earlier i had to cosmetically fill the fuselage seam but only as its resin, if it was injection the cement would have bonded the plastic. The instructions are quite vague, luckily the Mushroom walkaround book helps to show what everything is and where it goes so id recommend using that if you build one (THANKS JIM!!!) The interior needs alot of care to get it all in the right place or it what fit but other than that there really aren't any fit issues, i cant wait for the Bulldog they're doing now! Small update... I've used Aluminium foil (Duck tape) to replicate the joining strips on the upper wings, im not sure if they're fabric or metal on the real aircraft but they are visible under paint. Im going to use the tape on the undercarriage legs aswell. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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