Time for an update. I did a bit of practising with gluing bits of EZLine into sprue, with mixed results. I can get the first end stuck, but the second isn't so easy. AlsoI was really struggling to break down that 'forest' of
rigging on the 1:1 Gladiator into a series of mini-tasks: "length Xmm between A and B" sort of thing. I couldn't get a picture in my mind of how to go about it. I decided that the top wing needed to be attached first, which was a bit of a struggle but it came out alright. I thought I'd taken some photos but can't find them, so here's one of my great-granddaughter instead!
Anyway, I found another forum where someone mentioned the '
Airfix rigging diagram' - I checked on Scalemates for the instructions for the stand-alone kit - mine's a Dogfight Double - and sure enough there's a
rigging diagram:
Unfortunately, it's wrong, or at least different from the one I photographed. It also doesn't give any clues about the length required, and seems to be referring to parts supplied in the kit - perhaps PE? So, I was about to give up on
rigging, but then I remembered the motto "If at first you don't succeed - cheat!" and bought an aftermarket PE set from Hannants.
I'm not very experienced with PE, but can usually manage without too much trouble. Most PE is just extra detail, and if it doesn't cooperate you can just leave it off. This
rigging is different though, it's all or nothing. It came with its own set of problems: for one thing it's steel, and my favourite tweezers, unknown to me, are magnetic. Also there seems to be a mistake in the PE instructions, if I'm reading them right then they've got two part numbers swapped round, and there's a reference to a part that doesn't exist, or if it does then it's called something else on the PE fret. These are minor problems though, compared to manoeuvring bits of PE into the right place at both ends while trying not to spread CA all over the paint job.
This took me a full day:
That's one side mostly completed. I still have to add some reinforcing plates where the
rigging wires join the wings, but they'll be relatively easy as they're just small rectangular flat plates. I'll start the other side when my nerves have recovered!
While waiting for the PE to be delivered I started to build up the engine, which I'd left until late in the build to avoid having to mask it. The exhaust collector ring is always a bit of a dilemma - what colour to paint it? In the past I've used various metallic colours, but none seemed quite right. This is what I'm after:
After a coat of Vallejo Steel, I built up a series of coats of
Tamiya Smoke - I lost count of the number of coats, my Smoke has been thinned too much, and I'm rather pleased with the result:
The colour seems a pretty good match although the gloss needs dulling down a bit. I'll give it a coat of Galeria satin later on. The lower part of the cowl includes the exhaust pipes, which have had the same treatment - the Dark Earth will be added, probably by brush while I'm doing some touch-ups.
That's all for now, thanks for looking in.
Pete
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