1/32 Revell / ICM Gloster Gladiator 247 Sdn 1940 Plymouth

[PanzerWomble]

 

 

 

 

[PanzerWomble]

Ok so first build of 2023 , first completion for this forum. 

 

Gladiator HP-B N2308 247 Sdn Roborough Plymouth October 1940 . Revell re pop of ICM tooling. Sillouhette cut masks for seriels , kit decals which were ok for Revell for once . The Revell boxing includes this aircraft, but both the seriels and the paint scheme are incorrect , as they copied from a scheme worn by the Old Warden Glad a few years ago . 

 

I’ve wanted to build this aircraft for around 10 years. & I'm not without history on this subject. Two , ( count them ) attempts were made using Roden(t)s 1/48 offering ( both binned mid build as not good )

 

But why the obsession with this particular aircraft?

 Well .......247 were the last RAF squadron to use Glads on mainland UK.

My father as a young lad (12) in Plymouth remembered seeing them in the air overhead in the summer of 1940 ....well... that nailed it for me as "have to do" . Oddly - as a similar aged child I used to go to (now civil) Roborough to watch the RN Chipmunks train. Isn't life a circle at times?

 From Aug 40 - March 41 they defended HM Dockyard Devonport based from RAF Roborough , the light civil grass airfield built just north of Plymouth in the late 20s and hastily taken over by the RAF in 1938. The runway was too short to accommodate early Spits or Hurries with fixed pitch props ( which needed a longer take off run ( 1700ft) than the variable pitch props that came later (800ft ish) . In late 1941 a much larger airfield 7 miles north was built at RAF Harrowbeer, and Roborough was left for liaison and the odd SAR aircraft.

 So the poor old Glads had to make do defending Plymouth with occasional help from squadrons based at Exeter's larger airfield until well into the blitz, when they were swapped out for Hurricanes (Feb 41) . 

 I bought this wonderful book about 12 years ago . Made in conjunction with the Squadron Association , it provides a wealth of details from formation to disbandment , including all the aircraft flown etc . They became "China British" later in the war as they had "sponsorship" from Hong Kong businesses and expats.

 

[PanzerWomble]

Pics then ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quickboost seat - worth the money even though I'm not a bit fan of buying extras ..

 

 

Inside is basic 

 

 

Tailplane is weak suggested mod to help 

 

[PanzerWomble]

Sorry Gary ...no turnbuckles at all 🤥I know .....I am  competely lazy ...also why there is a small amount of rigging left to do ...

Laterz

 

PW

[npb748r]

that looks brilliant - weathering is spot on. I'm deeply impressed by anyone who tackles wires and extra wings, it sends shivers down my spine just thinking about them !!!!! Great personal story to go with a great build.

neil

[PanzerWomble]

Although they were Mark II's this squadron seems to have stuck with the two bladed props for some unknown reason .

The 1940 Winter was exceptionally cold , having grown up in Plymouth I can tell you , it don't snow ever. 

 

[Martinnfb]

Impressive result, exceptionaly realistic finish. Thank you for sharing

Cheers

Martin

[Spitfire]

Beautiful job, I really like that.

Cheers

Dennis

[HubertB]

Very nice Gladiator. It's an airframe that is growing on me, thanks to the great ICM kit.

Of course, no camo for me, but one of the garish 1930s silver wings schemes

Hubert

[KevinM]

Nice Build !and is this the one you were rigging imitating the Pub?😋

[PanzerWomble]

4 minutes ago, KevinM said:

Nice Build !and is this the one you were rigging imitating the Pub?😋

I had had a few , and was playing around with the model doing little jobs ...when common sense came over me and I left the Top wing till the next day . Man's gotta know his limitations 😃

[KevinM]

i hear ya brother  She came out better for it.Now off to my Scotch.

[Clunkmeister]

Truly brilliant!  This is another of my “someday gotta do’s”.  Fabulous work! 

[MARU 5137]

PW,

SUPERB  build. The colour scheme is fantastic  and SO very NEAT. 

BEAUTIFUL  model and  I am  liking the base.