quang

Thank you Mike and Mark And the build goes on... with THE ENGINE. ICM provides optional parts for two configurations: cowling closed or with open panels. Check carefully the instructions to decide which parts to use. These are the parts I used for a closed cowling: Parts are painted prior to assembly Townend collector ring added. Note machine-gun synchronization mechanism on top of crankcase The cowling comprises of 3 parts and needs careful study to locate them in the final assembly. The parts assemble superbly without putty. Admirable design Power egg in situ With propeller That's it folks. Next time we'll look at the wings. All questions and comments are welcome as usual. Cheers; Quang

I'm just speaking from my experience. Of course YMMV

In the typewriter years, modellers used TIPP-EX correction fluid to fill small cracks on models. The Vallejo Putty and PPP are basically the same stuff re-directed to the modelling market. The filled seams look good when new but the putty crumbles with time.

I understand that some use an ‘optical’ black to represent the bottom of the fuselage under the cockpit ‘floor’, but from what you can see, you may as well leave it aluminium or grey-green.

You should have asked me first. I have no use for mine.

Rick, this Dutch Decal sheet is included with the ICM Gladiator kit destined to the Belgian market. As a matter of fact, the sheet was originally released in 2012 to be used with the Silver Wings 1/32 resin kits. HTH Quang

My ‘Belgian Edition’ ICM Gladiator kit includes a Dutch Decal sheet for a Belgian Gladiator AND a Fiat CR42. Is it coincidence or is it time travel?

I knew I could count on the ‘kind forumers’ but I didn’t know they would respond so quickly. Thank you all for your concern. Now back to the Bristol engine

FLYING COLOURS ! Time to choose a livery for the Glad. I opted for No. 72 Squadron (RAF) in 1937. No. 72 was the first RAF squadron to receive the Gladiators. It's well-documented in Tom Docherty's Swift To Battle: 1937-1942 The plane I chose is K6140, one of the options included in the ICM kit. I only had to add the blue/red fuselage and wing bands. Masking for the squadron colours. On the following pics, my first attempts at the fuselage bands were wrong and are being corrected with new masks The larger red bands were painted first, then masked and the blue band added. After studying the period photographs, I painted the empennage blue denoting the leading aircraft of 'C' Flight. Note the bare replacement panels forward of the roundel. Decals on I've been warned about the ICM decals being VERY thin and prone to folding over themselves. The roundels went OK but no such luck with the port fuselage serial Hopefully a kind forumer who has a spare unused decal will come to the rescue. I'd leave it at that for the time being. Comments and questions are welcome as usual. Cheers, Quang

I still don’t understand the scale wars. To me, if a good model is good, it’s good regardless of the scale (sorry LSP). What I value most in a forum is the sharing and the camaraderie. That’s why I’m here

The beauty in the between-the-wars period is that there were not yet strict regulations concerning aeroplane construction. Technology was evolving from wood and cloth towards metal; biplane towards monoplane, etc. More often than not mixed materials were used: wood, metal, plastic/bakelite, leather, canvas... The modeller has many finishing options to choose from. As for me, I chose to paint the upper-side of the cockpit in grey-green and the rest, including the skeleton frame in aluminium. I like the contrast and how it makes the cockpit looks busy.

See how lively the ICM hand-sculpted figures are compared with the sterile 3D-prints!

I think the people at ICM are among the first to be surprised by the popularity of the Gladiator. IMO the success of the kit owes much to the no-nonsense, thoughtful design of the kit and the overall excellence of the production i.e. the realistic simulation of the cloth-covered areas. If the new Fiat Cr.42 is in the same vein, it could open a new niche and introduce many modellers to the colourful and much-neglected inter-war period.

Finish line at last! Congrats for an exciting ride, Max! Still hopping behind, Quang

I got your PM, John. Thank you. I’m watching your FB news