ICM 1/32 Gloster Gladiator Mk1

BarryW

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I saw the attached where a makeshift jig was cut to suit plane and then skewers or slim sticks poked into it to hold everything in place. Never tried it myself but looked like it worked.View attachment 397443
Interesting. I only threw out a load of polystyrene packing on Thursday! It is an idea to work on though. Thanks for that.
 

Dave Ward

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Barry,
I assemble the wings with the top wing on the bench ( shimmed at the centre to compensate for the dihedral ) & held down with masking tape. I cut two cardboard jigs, that fit just outboard of the wing struts to give the correct wing spacing. The fuselage & lower wings are offered up, concentrating on the centre section struts first, then the interplane struts - it might be necessary to hold the card jigs in place with blue tack. Glue then can be applied to the strut locations as needed. You might need to brace the fuselage/lower wings to prevent them moving...................... then tiptoe away, and leave overnight to dry!!!
Dave
 

BarryW

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Thanks everyone. I will sleep on it and see what I can rig up tomorrow.

in the meantime I got in with a bit of engine painting and metal powder dry brushing.

BA38B5A1-F25C-4E20-B00B-8EBB91649430.jpeg

D76EB61F-DC1B-46CB-AD18-EED28EC70611.jpeg

Tomorrow I will work out what to do with the wing. I cannot progress until it done now.
 

KarlW

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I've seen a bi-plane building jig on eBay, but it probably costs about the same as 2 kits......and you can probably knock up a custom one with polystyrene/foamcore/corrugated card.
 

BarryW

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Hi Karl, yes I have seen it too. It seems to me that you cannot really just dip into biplanes on a casual basis very easily without getting the right kit. As these will be quite a rare excursion for me I will just have to do what I can with what I have.

anyway - I have made progress....

I used clamps like this to line things up.
E9E5102B-9C2B-41A1-B6F0-B3804465B7B1.jpeg

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It worked, just. I cemented the bottom outer pylons to the lower wing first.

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Then it was the turn of the inner ones, cemented to the fuselage. I temporarily attached the upper wings and adjusted them into position. It was fiddly but I got there.

4A7D2103-DEE6-46CC-89BD-C00BEC412908.jpeg

I then had some more parts to cement to the underside including the u/c legs.
B91F478E-5BEB-4818-9846-4F06EBE2F773.jpeg

All masked up.
032285C3-C3A1-46E1-A7DC-91539F962985.jpeg

incidentally, I think I might have a little too much rake on the wing but there is nothing I can do about it and will just have to live with it. It not much but I am pleased that at least I got it done. I really wont be doing WW1 models in a hurry much as I was tempted by the new Meng.

First interior grey green.

AFE7D1F4-655D-432E-9485-397940C9FEFB.jpeg

Then black primer...

F36BC7F1-7F67-4B70-BD5A-F604DEB594F6.jpeg

There is a little work to do on some build flaws shown up by the primer. But, overall she is looking rather sexy in her black undies...
 

KarlW

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I'm sure we managed before all these commercially jigs became available, just as you seem to have.

Coming along nicely.
 

rtfoe

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Not easy these Bi-plane wings but you nailed it Barry...yes black underwear is sexy even on a Gladiator. :tears-of-joy:

Cheers,
Richard
 

Tim Marlow

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Looking good Barry. Solving problems is part of the fun ;)
 

adt70hk

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Looking good Barry and glad you solved your problem.

ATB

Andrew
 

BarryW

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Camo done. I will spray two coats of Alclad Acquaint Gloss before decals. This to protect the paint from the lacquer varnishes I will use later.

C4EC4DF2-38F9-4F00-9846-8E699B73DB67.jpeg

Detail painting also done, not that there was a lot of it and touch ups were minimal.
 

Tim Marlow

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Looking good Barry, nice paint finish.
I seem to remember the upper and lower wing colours on biplanes were different to each other though? Dark earth/dark green and light earth/light green.....Is it not the case with this one? I might be completely wrong, so don’t take that as gospel...
 

BarryW

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Hi
Looking good Barry, nice paint finish.
I seem to remember the upper and lower wing colours on biplanes were different to each other though? Dark earth/dark green and light earth/light green.....Is it not the case with this one? I might be completely wrong, so don’t take that as gospel...
hi Tim

I too wondered about that and I have the appropriate colours for that. The instructions though say Dark Earth/Green for this aircraft bottom wing so I went with that. I have the lighter colours for the Mk 2 as well but have not yet checked to see if they are needed.
 

Tim Marlow

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No probs Barry. I just thought I’d mention it before you put the top wing on and made correction almost impossible ;)
 

BarryW

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No probs Barry. I just thought I’d mention it before you put the top wing on and made correction almost impossible ;)
Thanks Tim.
I did just check the Sea Glad and that one does have the 'shadow' scheme. I am rather pleased about that as I want that one to have as many differences as possible to the Mk 1.
 
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