mozart Posted December 18, 2024 Posted December 18, 2024 1 hour ago, Iain said: Primer is on - this is getting dangerous... Iain ……but will you make it before GB end date Iain? I’m hoping to finish my Fury tomorrow or Friday at the latest, all those fiddly bits like venturis and pitots take forever!
Iain Posted December 22, 2024 Author Posted December 22, 2024 Don't think I'm going to make it by the Dec 25th deadline - but with a few days away from the day job I might just make year end... Iain mozart, DugyB and geedubelyer 3
Iain Posted December 24, 2024 Author Posted December 24, 2024 We've been granted an extension - so game on - let's see if I can finish by the 25th and a 'bit' (end of the month). Working today and Friday - but maybe some time on it tomorrow and boxing day - plus the weekend. Iain DugyB and geedubelyer 2
DugyB Posted December 24, 2024 Posted December 24, 2024 4 hours ago, Iain said: We've been granted an extension - so game on - let's see if I can finish by the 25th and a 'bit' (end of the month). Working today and Friday - but maybe some time on it tomorrow and boxing day - plus the weekend. Iain Sitting here with my legs, arms and fingers crossed ….. oh before I forget, Merry Christmas too 😀 Landrotten Highlander and mozart 2
Iain Posted December 30, 2024 Author Posted December 30, 2024 OK - well - with a BiG Thank You to Kevin for allowing a few days grace until the end of the year, I'm going to report that I'm not going to make it - which is hugely frustrating. There's so much in this build that I've been pleased with - and the subject perfect - but yesterday I did something I *really* shouldn't have done - experimented with new materials. Having sprayed the fin blue - and the rest of the airframe Xtreme Metal 'White Aluminium' - I needed to gloss-coat the model ready for decals. This is where it's all gone wrong. Having read rave reviews of the VMS Varnishes I thought I'd give the Gloss a go. Supposed to be sprayed direct from the bottle - but, well, it needs 20 - 30 PSI through the brush - and I've been used to working with pressures less than half that. The finish is patchy - and, in places, the varnish is overly thick. I've tidied up a few blemishes with micro-mesh - but the airframe is currently sat in the airing cupboard in disgrace. I *really* should have stuck to my usual thinned Tamiya X-22 on this one. I'm in three minds: just bin it carry on later in the week or break and use the cockpit in a completely new build (I have a spare Mk.1) So - thanks for everyone chipping in - but she's not going to make it whichever route I go. Having a wee dram and watching a remake of 'Whisky Galore!' on BBC iPlayer to cheer myself up. Tomorrow is another day... Sláinte! Iain LSP_Kevin, Dpgsbody55, wunwinglow and 3 others 6
mozart Posted December 30, 2024 Posted December 30, 2024 Ah what a shame Iain, but a cautionary tale with the “dreaded varnish”. Can it all be stripped back to bare plastic, it was looking really good. Iain 1
Iain Posted December 30, 2024 Author Posted December 30, 2024 Don't know at the moment Max - possibly. It's a big disappointment just now - was trying to re-kindle my modelling MoJo going into the new year - and a start of a run of Silver Wings models. Will sleep on it and have another look in the am... Iain mozart 1
Iain Posted January 1 Author Posted January 1 Happy New Year everyone! Well - I haven't binned it - and have experimented in a few places with some Micromesh now that the varnish has hardened, and I'm now feeling a bit more positive. The finish isn't going to be perfect - but I'm going to plod on and see what happens. As I've mentioned I have a pile of inter-war projects I'd like to crack on with - so, at worst, this will be a test piece for the others and I can apply lessons learned. At least the ICM Gladiators are fairly cheap and easily sourced - unlike some of the others!! Day off from work today - so will get some photos of where we are. Have moved the build back to 'Works in Progress' as the Silver Wings Group Build has now ended. Blue skies, Iain Uncarina and mozart 2
Dpgsbody55 Posted January 1 Posted January 1 A sad end to what was shaping up as a good model. At least it was last year's model. That won't happen again this year. Good luck with the Mk.II version of your Gladiator Mk.I. Cheers, Michael Iain 1
Iain Posted January 1 Author Posted January 1 OK - some 'glamour' shots of where the project is currently - with some areas of the airframe already treated to a going over with Micromesh - which has certainly improved things now that the varnish has hardened... This is the worst area - starboard wing root - very uneven/pebbly/gritty - but it's very hard to see in the photo. I'm hoping some more, careful, micromeshing will smooth things out: Hopefully recoverable... Iain Trak-Tor, mozart, LSP_Kevin and 11 others 14
Iain Posted January 1 Author Posted January 1 Monday evening I took a break from the airframe and did some more work on some of the ancillary parts - thinking they'd be of use on another build even if this particular build ended up in 'File 13'... Prop is part way through paint. Collector ring part way through 'heat treatment': Wheels: Hopefully something positive to report over the weekend... Iain Kagemusha, LSP_Kevin, Paul in Napier and 10 others 13
Dpgsbody55 Posted January 1 Posted January 1 I'd try to rescue this as it's great so far, paint blemishes aside. It still looks good Isn't that area in the starbord wing root supposed to be a black tread plate? 'Scuse my ignorance as I'm not that familiar with Gladiators. Cheers, Michael mozart and Iain 2
mozart Posted January 1 Posted January 1 I can’t see too much wrong with your Gladiator Iain, most definitely worth further work even if (by your standards) not perfect. Interested to know what 1930s planes you have in mind too! Iain 1
Iain Posted January 1 Author Posted January 1 6 hours ago, mozart said: Interested to know what 1930s planes you have in mind too! Hmmm... That question has prompted a trip loft-side - and the following quick photos. There are also some Wingnut Wings kits (post-war Brisfit and Snipe), an Essdale Supermarine S.5 and an Ally Cat Gloster Grebe somewhere - probably a few others too. And these are just the British types - most of which I *never* expected to see in kit form - plastic, or otherwise. One of the Tigers will be converted to a Thruxton Jackaroo - and one, perhaps, a conversion to one of the other 'Moth' types. Walrus will be silver: The early Spits - one will be converted to the prototype - something I started about 20 years back with the old Hasegawa/Revell kit. Second for a pre-war 19 Sqn aeroplane. The Baffin is 1:72 - but if I can further hone my CAD skills I'd like to draw up and print at 1:32 as my grandfather flew them in the mid-30s. Inspiration for this little collection from some brilliant online builds - especially yours Max - and an interest in the period from my grandfather's flying - he learned to fly at RAF Leuchars '33/'34 I believe - so Hart trainers? Also - my scratch-built Dart Kitten came out OK in the end - and that made me realise that I do, actually, have a favourite period in aviation. Anyway - there's a huge amount of work in that lot - so I was hoping to get on a bit of a roll this year if the Gladiator was/is successful. Glad is a test of my silver dope method - and using RB Productions flat wires for rigging. It's good to dream... 😇 Iain Landrotten Highlander, Dpgsbody55, Paul in Napier and 7 others 10
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