Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted (edited)

SNAP! for several of those Iain!  I suspect your AlleyCat Grebe is really, like mine, a Gamecock which I am intending to convert to a Grebe.  Probably your grandfather was in an Avro Tutor as an ab initio trainer but would have graduated to a Hart later.

Edited by mozart
Posted

Glad you were able to pull this one out of the fire, Iain, even if it didn't make the GB deadline. Clear coats have become my new break point with builds these days, as I've had them go wrong a lot lately - especially "hot" lacquer-based ones reacting badly with decals. Now I use Alclad's Aqua Gloss whenever I think there might be an issue like that. It's far from my favourite clear gloss, but is at least relatively inert chemically, and allows me to use hotter products over the top if required.

 

Looking forward not only to the finished Gladiator, but everything else in your running sheet!

 

Kev

Posted (edited)

Beautiful work as always from you Iain......

 

I really wish I had managed to get a Gamecock for my Grebe conversion too!   As Max will rightly know, I am very much involved with a group with the aim bringing a Grebe back from extinction and hopefully in flying form.  There are a lot of commonalities between the two but the Fuselage is a whole different game sadly.  Although during study of the parts manuals etc, the centre wooden structure is extremely similar but cockpit located in a different bay and all the fuse former's bare no resemblance to a Grebe. Gamecock is like a Grebe on steroids.  I'm learning CAD so maybe I'll have a go at a 1/32 Grebe fuselage???

 

Anyhoo, keep up the great work!  Loving it

Edited by Anthony in NZ
  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

After allowing the clear coat to harden for a couple of week it's been Micromeshed in places (8000/12000), followed by Novus Plastic Polish, which has removed the worst of the flaws.

 

With that done a start has been made on the decals:

 

48b427_ba13ae99c03e47b298debdd142534afb~

 

48b427_fb82b36f4ed5401abd1463a8519df316~

 

48b427_784f03ebc34c490da62bf1092fcb47f2~

 

A few things I'm not happy with...

 

The orientation of the squadron snake on the tail motif doesn't match photos of the real airframe - so I've swapped sides to get the right front/rear 'S' orientation of the snake - I can then alter tails/heads with a fine brush as these are now out/opposite ends.

 

Also I thing I may have the rear of the fuselage markings a little high compared to the tailplane - jury still out on that one...

 

Decals have settled down beautifully, however - and the roundel blue more accurate that some of the brighter blues I've seen used for inter-war types from other manufacturers.

 

I *may* have to get a second set of decals...

 

Iain

Posted
12 minutes ago, Iain said:

After allowing the clear coat to harden for a couple of week it's been Micromeshed in places (8000/12000), followed by Novus Plastic Polish, which has removed the worst of the flaws.

 

With that done a start has been made on the decals:

 

48b427_ba13ae99c03e47b298debdd142534afb~

 

48b427_fb82b36f4ed5401abd1463a8519df316~

 

48b427_784f03ebc34c490da62bf1092fcb47f2~

 

A few things I'm not happy with...

 

The orientation of the squadron snake on the tail motif - decals follow illustrations I've seen - but not the photos of the real airframe - so I've swapped sides to get the right front/rear 'S' orientation of the snake - I can then alter tails/heads with a fine brush as these are now out.

 

Also I thing I may have the rear of the fuselage markings a little high compared to the tailplane - jury still out on that one...

 

Decals have settled down beautifully, however - and the roundel blue more accurate that some of the brighter blues I've seen used for inter-war types from other manufacturers.

 

I *may* have to get a second set of decals...

 

Iain

I think I still have mine Iain, didn’t use them at all so you’re welcome to them if needs be….. but let me know asap because I leave on Tuesday for a month’s holiday! 

Posted

Thanks Max - still not sure - and not sure I can go through trying to remove the existing ones.

 

Only shows if you have a photo in front of you - but then again, it'll be nagging at me...

 

Iain

Posted

That’s looking very well finished Iain. Good to know the details on the decals. I am looking forward to seeing the covers taken off the completed model!

 

Kind regards,

Paul

Posted

Well - I decided to remove the fuselage markings and do them again - I just wouldn't have been happy with it... :deadhorse:

 

I was dreading trying to remove them - but some strong sticky tape has completely removed them - without damage to the surface underneath.

 

Actually - this is a bit of an endorsement for the clear coat - as it obviously doesn't react to setting solutions.

 

Right - onwards and, hopefully, upwards.

 

Iain

Posted

A set of replacement decals are en-route from Hannants as I type - along with the other AIMS set that includes a pre-war Sea Gladiator.

 

48b427_7296204550ad410da767466878b24fb0~

 

So I'll have to build another Silver one now, in FAA markings.

 

48b427_a6d21bb82e284ce39dfa460f6b0b79c3~

 

Oh, and a Malta one.

 

But I *really* must finish this one first...  😇🤣

 

Have also just ordered some of this to try out on the etched flat rigging wires:

 

AD93PhotoEtch25ml_1019x1019.jpg

 

Iain

Posted
On 1/13/2025 at 2:49 PM, Iain said:

A set of replacement decals are en-route from Hannants as I type - along with the other AIMS set that includes a pre-war Sea Gladiator.

 

48b427_7296204550ad410da767466878b24fb0~

 

So I'll have to build another Silver one now, in FAA markings.

 

48b427_a6d21bb82e284ce39dfa460f6b0b79c3~

 

Oh, and a Malta one.

 

But I *really* must finish this one first...  😇🤣

 

Have also just ordered some of this to try out on the etched flat rigging wires:

 

AD93PhotoEtch25ml_1019x1019.jpg

 

Iain

Very interested in your thoughts on this Iain.

 

Regards. Andy

Posted

Your Gladiator is coming on beautifully.  Are you re-doing the same markings, or doing something different?

 

 

Cheers,

Michael

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...