Eduard 1:48 - Gloster Sea Gladiator

[shortCummins]

Eduard have re-boxed and added some “extras”, PE and mask, and released a limited edition run (3000) of the 2002 Roden kit.
There are Cartograf decals for eight different schemes
2 pre WWII RAF
RAF (France)
RAAF (Libya)
Finnish Air Force (with landing skis)
Latvian Air Force
Belgium Air Force
Sea Gladiator (Navel Air Squadron)

Whilst the Finnish scheme was very tempting, skis on a plane , I really like the extra dark sea grey and dark green camo so I’ve decided to build the Sea Gladiator scheme


If Eduard had provided an option for one of the iconic defenders of Malta, either Faith, Hope or Charity I’d have built one of them, possibly all three? If anyone knows of any after market decals for Faith, Hope or Charity please let me know


until next time
as always, any suggestions or comments will be gratefully received.
rgds
John(shortCummins)

[Joesdad]

I nearly picked one of these up last weekend John. Is it a nice kit? Certainly is a nice subject

[SteveW]

Good luck John. I have just finished this kit but in RAF shadow scheme, Option A I think. Had all the PE for it too but didn't use it all and went with Quickboost machine guns and exhaust.I also had to replace the canopy with a Vacform as the kit one was not only badly deformed but was as thick as me and cloudy too . The build wasn't to bad things like the internal machine guns I ended up cutting the bodies off and just had the barrels showing. The struts can be a bit brittle and the ones coming of the fuselage seemed to be to long so I had to trim them down. The decals were a surprise as initially I thought they were to thick and would not go down very well. However giving them a brush of micro sol and set and leaving over night they went down quiet well. Took a couple of coats but in the end I was happy. This was my first go at rigging too. I used the Ezy Line stuff along with super glue to attach it. For some reason that was when the super glue decided to take its time going off No doubt if had put some on my fingers it would have worked much quicker . Anyway I got there in the end and it looks like a Gladiator so good luck with your build mate i shall be looking forward to seeing how you get on.

[shortCummins]

I nearly picked one of these up last weekend John. Is it a nice kit? Certainly is a nice subject

thanks Joesdad, on first inspection it look OK

Good luck John. I have just finished this kit but in RAF shadow scheme, Option A I think. Had all the PE for it too but didn't use it all and went with Quickboost machine guns and exhaust.I also had to replace the canopy with a Vacform as the kit one was not only badly deformed but was as thick as me and cloudy too . The build wasn't to bad things like the internal machine guns I ended up cutting the bodies off and just had the barrels showing. The struts can be a bit brittle and the ones coming of the fuselage seemed to be to long so I had to trim them down. The decals were a surprise as initially I thought they were to thick and would not go down very well. However giving them a brush of micro sol and set and leaving over night they went down quiet well. Took a couple of coats but in the end I was happy. This was my first go at rigging too. I used the Ezy Line stuff along with super glue to attach it. For some reason that was when the super glue decided to take its time going off No doubt if had put some on my fingers it would have worked much quicker . Anyway I got there in the end and it looks like a Gladiator so good luck with your build mate i shall be looking forward to seeing how you get on.

thanks for the heads-up Steve, much appreciated

rgds
John(shortCummins)

[shortCummins]

A little bit about the aircraft curtesy of Wikipedia
The Gloster Gladiator (or Gloster SS.37) was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) (as the Sea Gladiator variant) and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it was being introduced. Though often pitted against more formidable foes during the early days of the Second World War, it acquitted itself reasonably well in combat.

The Gladiator saw action in almost all theatres during the Second World War, with a large number of air forces, some of them on the Axis side. The RAF used it in France, Norway, Greece, the defence of Malta, the Middle East, and the brief Anglo-Iraqi War (during which the Royal Iraqi Air Force was similarly equipped). Other countries deploying the Gladiator included China against Japan, beginning in 1938; Finland (along with Swedish volunteers) against the Soviet Union in the Winter War and the Continuation War; Sweden as a neutral non-combatant (although Swedish volunteers fought for Finland against USSR as stated above); and Norway, Belgium, and Greece resisting Axis invasion of their respective lands.
The South African pilot Marmaduke "Pat" Pattle was the top Gladiator ace with 15 victories

Malta
A stock of 18 Sea Gladiators from 802 Naval Air Squadron had been delivered by HMS Glorious, in early 1940. Three were later shipped out to take part in the Norwegian Campaign and another three were sent to Egypt. By April, Malta was in need of fighter protection and it was decided to form a flight of Gladiators at RAF Hal Far, to be composed of RAF and FAA personnel. Several Sea Gladiators were assembled and test-flown. In the siege of Malta in 1940, for ten days the fighter force defending Malta was the Hal Far Fighter Flight, giving rise to a myth that three aircraft, named Faith, Hope and Charity, formed the entire fighter cover of the island. The aircraft names came into use after the battle. More than three aircraft were operational, though not always at the same time; others were used for spare parts. No 1435 Flight, which later assumed control of Malta's air defence, took on the names Faith, Hope and Charity for its aircraft upon its reformation as the air defence unit in the Falkland Islands in 1988.

The Italian air force units deployed against Malta should have easily defeated the Gladiators but its manoeuvrability and good tactics won several engagements, often starting with a dive on Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero bombers before the Fiat CR.42 and Macchi MC.200 escort fighters could react. On 11 June 1940, a Gladiator damaged a Macchi and on 23 June, a Gladiator flown by George Burges, managed to shoot down an MC.200. Another successful pilot over Malta was "Timber" Woods who managed to shoot down two S.79s and two CR.42s, also claiming a Macchi hit on 11 June and another S.79 damaged. The Gladiators forced Italian fighters to escort bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Although the Regia Aeronautica had started with a numerical advantage and air superiority, during the summer of 1940, the situation was reversed with Hurricanes being delivered as fast as possible and gradually taking over the island's air defence.

By June, two of the Gladiators had crashed and two more were assembled. Charity was shot down on 31 July 1940. Its pilot, Flying Officer Peter Hartley, scrambled at 09.45 with fellow pilots F. F. Taylor and Flight Lieutenant "Timber" Woods, to intercept an SM.79, escorted by nine CR.42s from 23° Gruppo. During a dogfight a CR.42 flown by Serg. Manlio Tarantino shot down Hartley’s Gladiator (N5519), badly burning him. Woods shot down Antonio Chiodi, commander of the 75a Squadriglia five miles east of Grand Harbour (he was subsequently awarded a posthumous Medaglia d’Oro al Valor Militare, Italy’s highest military award). In May 2009, the remains of Charity and others were the subject of an underwater search by NATO minesweepers. Hope (N5531) was destroyed on the ground by enemy bombing in May 1941. The fuselage of Faith is on display at the National War Museum, Fort St Elmo, Valletta today. The fate of at least five more Gladiators that saw action over Malta is not as well documented.

until next time
as always, any suggestions or comments will be gratefully received.
rgds
John(shortCummins)

[Bissyboat]

Thanks for sharing your research on the Gladiator. This project already looks interesting.

[RicRodrigues]

About the Defenders of Malta, I know Roden made a kit about it, 1/48 scale as well.

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/133326- ... -gladiator

And I found these decals sets.

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/174484- ... lta-part-i
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/173271- ... ta-part-ii

I'll be definitely following this one!!! I was in Malta 2 years ago and I was absolutely astonished with the story of those Gladiators Defenders of Malta. Even managed to visit the museum where "Faith" is in exposition and got a few decent pictures of it. On the next few days, I'll try to upload those here on the forum as reference photos, hope it helps you on this build!!

[strawnobi]

Looks like a fun build. I finally found a swordfish floatplane (Tamiya) that should be here today or tomorrow. There is just something magical about biplanes from this era and biplanes in general. I'll be anxious to see your progress on this one.

[RicRodrigues]

As promised, some reference photos from the "Faith"!!!

viewtopic.php?f=109&t=21538

Just a quick note. The original "Faith" was a modified version of the Gloster Sea Galdiator MkI, which used a "Bristol Mercury XV engine and three-blade Hamilton Standard variable-pitch propeller salvaged from a Bristol Blenheim" (source: Wikipedia); therefore, this is not the most accurate "Faith" but just a refurbished version of the original one!!!

Enjoy your build, I'll be following this one with all the interest!!!

[RossiM1]

That looks a gorgeous kit John yet another of your stunning builds to follow cannot wait

[shortCummins]

About the Defenders of Malta, I know Roden made a kit about it, 1/48 scale as well.

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/133326- ... -gladiator

And I found these decals sets.

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/174484- ... lta-part-i
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/173271- ... ta-part-ii

I'll be definitely following this one!!! I was in Malta 2 years ago and I was absolutely astonished with the story of those Gladiators Defenders of Malta. Even managed to visit the museum where "Faith" is in exposition and got a few decent pictures of it. On the next few days, I'll try to upload those here on the forum as reference photos, hope it helps you on this build!!

unfortunately the aeromaster decals are no longer available, the Eduard kit I'm building is the same as the Roden, so "if" I enjoy this build I'll get that version

As promised, some reference photos from the "Faith"!!!

viewtopic.php?f=109&t=21538

Just a quick note. The original "Faith" was a modified version of the Gloster Sea Galdiator MkI, which used a "Bristol Mercury XV engine and three-blade Hamilton Standard variable-pitch propeller salvaged from a Bristol Blenheim" (source: Wikipedia); therefore, this is not the most accurate "Faith" but just a refurbished version of the original one!!!

Enjoy your build, I'll be following this one with all the interest!!!

Sir, you are a Gentleman and a Scholar

this will come in invaluable
many thanx
John(shortCummins)

[shortCummins]

Looks like a fun build. I finally found a swordfish floatplane (Tamiya) that should be here today or tomorrow. There is just something magical about biplanes from this era and biplanes in general. I'll be anxious to see your progress on this one.

I've got a floatplane Swordfish sitting on the shelf of doom, Tamiya's PE set doesn't fit properly, the 'rigging' is either too long or too short so it doesn't sit right, one day I'll remove it and try again. really nice kit apart from that

That looks a gorgeous kit John yet another of your stunning builds to follow cannot wait

cheers RossiM1, so far I'm not too impressed as the Rodin plastic is a bit odd compared to Tamiya and the cockpit needs quite a lot of clean up, far more than I'd expected, still early days

rgds
John(shortCummins)

[shortCummins]

There are a few areas that needed some clean-up, injector pin marks and extra lumps of plastic
Once these were removed/cleaned up I added some of the PE and gave everything a coat of Ultimate black primer


Additional bits of PE have also been given a coat of primer


some of the PE will require some stretched sprue


The IP needed the moulded detail to be removed and a coat of primer


PE instrument panel


Interior painted grey/green




Next I’ll detail paint the cockpit and add the remaining PE

until next time
as always, any suggestions or comments will be gratefully received.
rgds
John(shortCummins)

[MrGav]

An interesting project on the go I see John, looking forward to watching your progress

[shortCummins]

I’ve added the remainder of the PE, detail painted and added a panel line wash of brown



the cabin floor, seat, joystick, rudder controls etc


the instructions suggest that the seat should be aluminium however I’ve decided to give it a coat of grey/green

I’ve dry-brushed and added paint details to the IP


the radio(?) has also been dry-brushed


mini-moan time; there are no location points or even marks to help place the IP, cabin floor or radio. This is compounded as there are no location points for the fuselage halves, this means that you have to guess the position of the interior parts while you join the body, not a great deal of fun!




Once I’ve joined the fuselage I’ll get on with building the engine

until next time
as always, any suggestions or comments will be gratefully received.
rgds
John(shortCummins)

[shortCummins]

I’ve joined both halves of the fuselage, no location points, however the seat/floor and radio did not line-up inside the cockpit and looks squewiff, I’m really not impressed, so much so that I very nearly abandoned the build! I’ve decided to continue but I’ll have the canopy closed.

Apart from having no location points the fuselage went together reasonably well, the only areas that needed any filler was ware the sprue gates were



The rear of the cockpit has some nice PE, I’ve given it a coat of black Ultimate primer, the instructions suggest that this should be painted aluminium but I’m going to paint it grey/green.


I’ve sprayed the machine-gun slots with the base colour and then used liquid mask on the machine-gun barrels



I need to paint the rear of the cockpit and attach the windshield before attaching the lower wings and spraying with primer

until next time
as always, any suggestions or comments will be gratefully received.
rgds
John(shortCummins)

[Kingdan]

Lookin good mate


Dan

[shortCummins]

A quick tip should you decide to have a go at this kit, attach the windscreen before the gunsight, there’s no “guide” as to where both of these items fit so if you attach the gunsight before the windscreen you could run into difficulties


I’ve added the rear canopy and masked the cockpit


The radial engine is really nice



I followed the instructions

and glued the cowling together


and now the engine won’t fit



I’m currently wondering if I should bother with this kit, I’m going to leave it alone for the weekend and see how I feel next week, I’m not sure I want to keep on fighting this, I’ve been spoiled with Tamiya and Eduard kits, I certainly won’t be buying another Roden kit anytime soon

until next time
as always, any suggestions or comments will be gratefully received.
rgds
John(shortCummins)

[shortCummins]

I nearly picked one of these up last weekend John. Is it a nice kit? Certainly is a nice subject

I've given up in frustration, the final straw was the engine cowling didn't fit and I've run out of patience

It's a shame its the only 1:48 version (the Eduard is a rebooting of the Roden) available, I'll not be buying another Roden kit

[dogsbody]

Just so you know, the central gear casing on the engine should be a semi-gloss black colour.


Chris

[Twokidsnosleep]

Wow John , some great progress..... the engine details and cock look FANTASTIC
Pop a pic, kit description and what paint and PE you are using up on Dan's thread for the Friday Live show...your kit deserves some more online exposure

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=21655

[Joesdad]

I nearly picked one of these up last weekend John. Is it a nice kit? Certainly is a nice subject

I've given up in frustration, the final straw was the engine cowling didn't fit and I've run out of patience

It's a shame its the only 1:48 version (the Eduard is a rebooting of the Roden) available, I'll not be buying another Roden kit

Oh no!!
Leave it alone for a while John, come back to it later

[Twokidsnosleep]

A cowling off display of your beautiful engine work perhaps??
Maybe take a break and then adjust the cowling to seat better after your patience and tolerance have returned???
Dont chuck her out, John, it is fantastic work....guys on the live show might have some suggestions for you too if you post up a photo and note the problem

[RicRodrigues]

Don't give up, buddy!!! Have "Faith" on it and come to it later!!! This bird deserves it!!!

[Zen]

Too bad that you're facing so many difficulties on this build, all the detail is looking excellent... I stand with everyone else, don't give up on it!

[shortCummins]

thanks guys, I've put it on the shelf of doom, it was this close to going in the bin!

I might come back to it one day, but it won't be next week

rgds
John(shortCummins)

[Bissyboat]

Great job on the office.