Well I messed up with fitting the top wing. I said earlier that I got a bit too much rake on the wing and it was that which contributed to the problems. I managed to get 6 of the 8 struts into place, but looking wrong, but two of the inner ones would not fit at all. Definitely my fault not the kit. During the process of fighting the wing I really messed up the paintwork as well and I broke a wheel off!
The wheel alone would not be a problem, easily fixed with some brass rod but added to the complete screw up of the wing I am going to abandon this build.
Not a problem, I have treated this build as a learning curve. First lesson, biplanes are not at all easy and it’s not the
rigging that is the problem, but getting the wings into place. I certainly learned what not to do!
So I am going to try to take what I learned with this Mk1 and apply that to the Sea Gladiator and move directly into that build on this thread. I will need to approach the wings very differently, I have some ideas.....
a few final pics of the Mk1
The shots of the wing underside only give a hint at how badly I messed up
Note that I did some ‘ final fittings’ really just to check that there are no other issues lurking. There are none. So, put simply, the only problem to overcome with this kit is to get the top to bottom wing attached....
So, now over to Gladiator part 2, the Sea Gladiator with a shot of the box
There are a couple of extra/changes sprues with the key differences being:
1/ Three blades prop (a two blade option also still in the box)
2/ different i.p.
2/ arrester hook parts
Plus, of course, the Sea Temperate Scheme... Dark Slate Grey/Extra Dark Sea Grey/Sky with a Dark Sea Grey/light Slate Grey lower wing.
I will make a start Monday but as I am back in my office progress will be slower....