Gladiator - the ultimate test of my patience

Alec K
Nice start! Taking a seat.

Łukasz Gliński
Welcome 🙂

Dave Flitton
Watching

Łukasz Gliński
Welcome Dave! 🙂
Already sprayed all 3 colours. After removing the masking I can see multiple small corrections are necessary.

Stefan Schacht
very nice so far, i take a seat

Łukasz Gliński
Thanks and welcome Stefan 🙂

Urban Gardini
Looking great! A word of advice before you decal the bird. The black n' white skull n' bones roundel was only used for the ferry flight back to Sweden after the Winter War. F19 flew with the Finnish white n' blue Hakaristi roundel during the Winter War.

Łukasz Gliński
Hi Urban, long time no see 🙂
I studied the story of F19, I'm well aware of the markings and I'm going to depict it as it looks on the project photo 🙂 The pic shows the 'H' plane, but I may stick to 'F' after all. Anyway thanks for reminder, maybe other will read it too before building one of the F19 planes.

Erik De Smet
The Gladiator is one of my favourite too, and the Airfix kit is very nice

Łukasz Gliński
It's nice indeed, notable exception being the fit of the engine cowling😉

Łukasz Gliński
It escalated quickly😉 My fastest build ever, I think. I found a picture of the 'F' Gladiator of F19 before return to Sweden (it's good to take time and browse old books sometimes 🙂 ). In the meantime I couldn't decide what colour to use for the propeller - J8A in the musem has it painted in grey-blue (like the undersides), Airfix says Hu110 (light brown), but it looks darker on the b&w pics. So,I picked up the 'Propeller Color' by MrColor 🙂

Daniel Klink
Following of course... Very interestng subject Lukasz

Guy Rump
Looking good so far Lukasz 🙂

Łukasz Gliński
Thanks guys. Decals sealed, postshading done, upper wing attached (after couple of attempts), time for rigging (which will take few weeks 🙂 ).

Vince Venezuela
A british plane in axis service, a quite rare and interesting subject! Makes one wanna look into it further. Great job and thanks for sharing!

Łukasz Gliński
Thaks Vince, there's more to it than meets the eye: it's a Swedish one, used by Swedish volunteers in the Winter War on the Finnish side and then ferried back to Sweden 🙂

Daniel Klink
Wonderful piece of work Lukasz....👍

Olivier
I agree with Daniel

Dave Flitton
How did you like the actual build? This is the new mold for Airfix and I have yet to buy this one.

Urban Gardini
Looking great!

Łukasz Gliński
Thanks guys, I appreciate that 🙂
@Dave: overall fit is very good and requires minimal amounts of putty. The biggest issues are the upper wing and rigging, as I don't have too much experience assembling the biplanes. Either I mounted lower wings too low (but they fit the fuselage very well) or the upper wing shouldn't be bent so much. I don't know - I just took the stronger glue😉

Erik De Smet
Lukasz, I can recommend the thin rods of Albion alloys for the rigging. It comes in 0.1 0.2 and 0.3 mm diameter and can be cut at length with scissors. I used it for my BelgianGladiator in the snow.
@Vince: it was not a British plane in Axis service. Both Finland and Sweden were neutral in 1939-40 and fought against the Sovjets in the Winter War.
Germany and the Soviet Union had signed previously a non agression pact.

Łukasz Gliński
After two weeks of rigging attempt you can the 'results' on the last two pics. I'm putting this horror on hold as a candidate to fly into the trash bin soon.

Urban Gardini
You should try to rig with an elastic thread instead.

Erik De Smet
Lukasz, what kind of wiring are you using ?

Alec K
Yeah. Rigging is a pain... 😄

Nikolaos Kouzinis
The solution Lukasz is this:
migjimenez.com/en/ac..per-fine-001-mm.html
I used it and it is very elastic ,it cannot brakes, it is always straight. Sometimes I was not carefully handed the model and stoke the wire there isnt problem because it is very elastic.

David Taylor
Aero club used to do elastic thread so when got the chance got a couple (10/15 yrs).Exellent stuff.Still a pain though,well done stick with it.

Gordon Sørensen
Lucasz, just keep repeating to your self... "At least its not an Amodel..."

Łukasz Gliński
Thank y'all for support, I appreciate it 🙂
The packaging of the stuff I use states: 100% Polyamid, transparent, 200m, 200yds/vgs, Made in UK
Not sure what the diameter is...
It used to work when longer pieces were cut, but with a short ones (like here) it's no good anymore.
I think I'll give a try to the MiG stuff, I'm afraid it's so thin that I won;t see it when using it 😄
On the other hand the Gladiator is so filthy of the CA glue that I'm not sure I won't build the second one anyway...
Just found out there are 3 sizes: 0.03, 0.02 & 0.01, anybody used the thicker ones?

Alex K
Hi Lukasz... First time I ever post a comment here, but I silently watch (and admire) some of you for some time. Now, as far as rigging is concerned, here is a product I would personally like to try soon: Elastic Rigging Thread (Uschi van der Rosten 4007, 1:72) and uschivdr.com/products-in-detail/rigging/

David Kopielski
I use to use fishing line or wire. Now I use EZ-Line. Very elastic and easy to work with. It is so elastic that if you accidentally tap it nothing breaks. davidsscalemodels.co..ez-line-for-rigging/

Łukasz Gliński
Ok, I'm going to try one of these you mentioned, but I'm wondering what 'tools' and metodologies you use to make them straight - have your say please. I used to warm the old airbrush needle or a screwdriver over a candle fire, but maybe I'm not aware of some better ways...

David Kopielski
With EZ-Line or a high elastic line you do not need to make them straight. They keep themselves straight. The line is very stretchy. Think of them as a very fine rubber band.

Martin Oostrom
Mig's wire is a reboxing of Uschi's. Uschi's is cheaper.

Erik De Smet
Lukasz, I will make an album with my experience with different rigging method. An a new Airfix Gladiator is much cheaper than the Dakota.

Martin Oostrom
Drill the tiniest dent in the wing, not enough to be a hole. Put a tiny drop of ca in the dent. Put a bit of ca accelerator on the end of the wire. Touch the ca and voila. Cut the elastic wire a bit too short and repeat at the other end. Sounds easy, but requires a bit of trying on spare sprue.

Łukasz Gliński
Hm, CA accelerator sounds very new to me, I have to learn a bit more I can see 🙂
MiG vs Uschi depends on their availability here 🙂

Alec K
I use the fine EZ Line as well - I used it on Avia B-534 with thin metal wires on the ends to simulate turn buckles: the added advantage of this method is that there is something to hold on to when handling. For more info see Avia B.534.81, I. series, wing guns removed: build log & gallery | Album by Pardubak (1:72) starting with photo 49 (I got into bit of detail there...)

I have the Uschi fine thread also, and have yet to use it. It's VERY thin (I believe there is ultra fine version also), and it seems too thin for bracing wires IMHO. Either way you go, be prepared for long modeling session and lots of choice words 😄

Erik De Smet
For Lukasz : Biplane rigging experience | Album by opadesmet

Łukasz Gliński
So, I have ordered the following: MiG's thinnest thread, new pack of the odourless CA glue, CA accelerator and new set of mini drills, waiting for delivery 🙂

Łukasz Gliński
@Erik and Alec: Many thanks for your pics. I don't want to go for wires and I don't think I'm able to see such tiny loops, but your pics are impressive and made me wanna try again. I think I'll keep on using this Gladiator as a trainer and maybe uy another one. Can you imagine Airfix now supplies all Gladiators with skis? 😄

Spanjaard
the idea of CA in one side and accelerator in the other seems really a good one.... need to try that in next rigging project. last took some work, but the Gladiator was 1/144 😛

Łukasz Gliński
Rigging in 1/144! 😠 And I thought my Gladiator is tiny 😄

Spanjaard
i think i used High Elastic Rigging Thread (Uschi van der Rosten 4007, No) on it. but it is being some time.... not finished yet, unfortunately.

David Januska
Oh my god. This is real modelling. Excellent 👍. I can't beleive my eyes.

Łukasz Gliński
You mean Spanjaard's 1/144, don't you?😉 I'm going to experiment using MiG's stuff and hopefully I will be able to mask the CA marks after all - wish me luck 😄

Spanjaard
good luck! 👍 and thanks for the compliment!

Łukasz Gliński
Restarted the damn rigging. In the meantime I gave up a bit and ordered the SBS PE set along with the thicker MiG sets (0.2 & 0.3 namely) to be tested on the next build.
I hope to cover the CA spots using a brush and Vallejo paints afterwards.

Guy Rump
Very impressive Lukasz, you must have immense patience 🙂

Łukasz Gliński
Not really, just needed a break. And I try to reduce plastic waste😉

Łukasz Gliński
Finished rigging the wings today (2 evenings of work and swearing) - unless I break something😉
Result: 2 errors found in the SBS intructions.
PS. Wondering in the meantime what should be the next build to try the elastic rigging stuff by MiG - Chupacabra maybe?😉

Spanjaard
looks good

Alec K
The rigging look great 👍. Too bad about the errors, but the result is convincing to my eyes.

Erik De Smet
A Gotha G.IV in Polish parkings would be a good riggging test, ????

Łukasz Gliński
Thanks for your encouraging comments, mates. 🙂 Gotha would kill me😉, but the most probable candidates are: The Chupacabra, PWS 26, SPAD XIII (Academy/Design), Smer's Chayka and MS 225. Not sure whether Piper's Cubs need any rigging. Or maybe I should acquire a Tiger Moth by Airfix?

Alex K
No, apart from a couple of very simple tension wires on the tailplane, the Cub doen't need any rigging. The new-tool Airfix Tiger Moth is said to be a great kit (I have the old tool one), but rigging might still be a bit tricky, if you go for the full Monty. From my previous modelling life, when I was young, I seem to remember that the SPAD XIII (double bay, "rectangular" strut structure, with simple "X"s) was the easiest one, as far as rigging was concerned. Anyway, my two bits. Congrats on the successful rigging of the Gladiator.

Urban Gardini
This one could be fun for you to rig... Airco DH-2 (Eduard 7049, 1:72)

Łukasz Gliński
Many thanks for your input gents. Urban, I see you want to make me sleepless for the winter😉
After a second thought I think SPAD is too tiny, Tiger Moth has clear instructions and pre-drilled holes, so maybe I'll restart my training using Pipers as the first step.

Erik De Smet
Good choice,. Lukasz, I had problems with the rigging of the Eduard Spad as the tiny struts were unable to withstand the tension of the wires.

Urban Gardini
HEHEHE

David Taylor
Lukasz what about the venerable Airfix HP 0/400

Dave Flitton
Now you are just getting mean, that is just a nest of wires

Olivier
I propose the Morane 225 from Heller. It is the only plane I ever rigged and that was eons ago. It gave a nice result.

Łukasz Gliński
Seems like the orrrrrderrr (Kudos to Mr Bercow😉😢 is getting more clear with every post😉
So, Piper for a start and the onto Morane 225. Does it sound like a plan?
@Dave: there are some Urban legends regarding an HP 0/400 apparently carrying Polish registration after the Great War, but I'm not so convinced😉

Dave Flitton
I have seen profiles with Polish insignia, maybe it's rue

Chris Greathouse
Great looking plane, rigging is a pain in the neck sometimes but you made this look good. even with any issues

Andy Ball
Hi Łukasz, have you tried Uschi's rigging thread? I used it on Wellington and Spitfire- lots of stretch and near-perfect scale effect. I think your patience is a virtue and rewards for those who persevere!

Łukasz Gliński
@Chris & Andy: Thanks a lot, the tail is still waiting to be done. I hope next rigging efforts will look better 🙂
@Dave: Some say it is😉
@Andy: I think I mentioned it earlier on, that I failed to source Uschi's stuff locally and went for MiG instead. Bought all 3 sizes (namely 0.1,0.2 & 0.3).

Andy Ball
Indeed you probably did. I was just too lazy to go back through the threads! Glad you're sorted!

Łukasz Gliński
Finished! Kiitos everyone for watching! Not my best effort, I'll take some break and try to rig sth else soon.

Chris Greathouse
If you had fun, learned something, and come out with a product that you enjoy looking at (even with errors... there's always errors, ugg) Then I'd say you did a bang up job 🙂 The rest of us are like those little aliens in the Toy Story claw machine just admiring your work like "Ooooooohhhhhh".... 😄 [img1]

David Taylor
looks great to me.Luckily I still have a stash of Aeroclub stretch thread

Łukasz Gliński
Thanks guys.
@Chris: The only error being hard to accept is too much CA residue on the main wings, the rest is fair enough for my taste.

Erik De Smet
You made a very nice Gladiator model , Lukasz, but I miss the radio antenna wires,

Łukasz Gliński
Hmm, you might be right Erik...

Łukasz Gliński
Yup, you are. Turns out the Airfix instructions is wrong as it asks to remove the tail mast 🙁

Erik De Smet
I replaced the plastic tail mast on my Gladiator by a metal one as it bended under the tension of the radio wire . I drilled a small hole in the tail some 5 mm deep and glued a bit of copper rod in it with superglue.

Łukasz Gliński
I decided to use a metal pin and MiGs 0.2 rigging thread. Will upload final pics soon.
I have to admit 0.2 is way easier to handle in my clumsy hands than the thinner one.

Łukasz Gliński
At last there was a bit of sun through the clouds today, so I managed to take few pics of the updated Gladiator. Radio antenna added using 0.02 MiG thread, next time I won't paint the CA joints, the transparent ones are harder to spot 🙂
Thanks once again Erik, I really appreciate your hint! 👍
Hereby I announce it Finnished - first Finn on my shelf 🙂
PS. In the meantime I found out I have 2 old Lublin R.XIII kits, which require only a bit of rigging...😉

Andy Ball
You go ahead Łukasz.....suffer for your art! ????

Łukasz Gliński
Thanks Andy 👍
Btw. It turns out MiG rigging threads have a small Uschi's logo on the box, so it turns out I bought the best one not even being aware of it 🙂