**** DONE: GB-57 1/72 Gloster Gladiator - WW2 Foreign Service

[Greg Boeser]

Username: Greg Boeser
Name: Greg
Catagory: Basic, Beginner
Kit: Matchbox Gloster Gladiator
Scale: 1/72
Accessories: ABT decals

Well, my hunt for a 1:72 Hawk 75 was a bust, but I found two (2!) Matchbox Gloster Gladiators, boxed in 1972 and '73, respectively. Rooting around in their decal drawer, I found a sheet for Belgian AF. SCORE!

My build will be "G 23" of 1e Escadrille 'La Comete', 2e Regiment, Aeronautique Militaire Belge.

https://www.deviantart.com/claveworks/art/Gladiator-Belgium-1-72734434

This will be pretty much a OOB build with the addition of the Belgian decals.

 

[Greg Boeser]

Since everybody does their cockpit first, let me just say, there is no cockpit! The kit's interior consists of a floor, and a seat. I painted the floor aluminum, and the seat and inside of fuselage British interior green. The fuselage sides went together just fine. Attached the rudder and horizontal stabilizers. Added a bit of sheet styrene at the rear of the cockpit opening as there should be a bulkhead there. I'll need to file it down a little later.
Engine cowl and engine went together ok. Had to file some blobs off the inside of cowl to fit engine in. Engine painted flat black, cylinders dry brushed aluminum. To achieve "dark bronze" for collector ring, I mixed Tamiya red brown, gunmetal, and gold leaf. I will never achieve that exact color again.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Good on you Greg and I thought for a minute you were going for the record. Entering, building and done all in one day.

 

[Greg Boeser]

I would have bought one of them Hobby Boss kits.

 

[2996 Victor]

Great to see this golden oldie being built, and in Belgian colours, too. Will you be going with the slightly contentious blue rudder shown in various profiles?

Cheers,
Mark

 

[le_steph40]

I agree it's nice to see an oldiebeing built, I remember to have build it when I was 13 or 14 years old.
Nice choice and nice start Greg

 

[Greg Boeser]

Great to see this golden oldie being built, and in Belgian colours, too. Will you be going with the slightly contentious blue rudder shown in various profiles?

Cheers,
Mark

No blue rudder. The decal instructions describe the upper surfaces as "dark khaki", though most other references say "dark olive".
Right now I'm trying to figure out the best brown for the prop.

 

[Greg Boeser]

I agree it's nice to see an oldiebeing built, I remember to have build it when I was 13 or 14 years old.
Nice choice and nice start Greg

It's nice that I got the kit for $9, and the decals for $2.
I remember building the Zero (orange and white) and the Spitfire when I was kid.

 

[Crimea_River]

Nice to have you join in Greg.

 

[Wurger]

No blue rudder. The decal instructions describe the upper surfaces as "dark khaki", though most other references say "dark olive".
Right now I'm trying to figure out the best brown for the prop.

A nice shot of the "23" is here ...

https://www.belgian-wings.be/gloster-gladiator/g-23

The images of the other Belgian Gloster Gladiators can be found here ...

https://www.belgian-wings.be/gloster-gladiator

 

[Gnomey]

Nice work so far!

 

[Greg Boeser]

A bit of progress today. Prop installed and painted. Front fuselage deck and wing struts installed. Lower wing installed. Waiting for the glue to dry, then I can file/sand off all the excess and paint the upper and lower surfaces.

 

[Greg Boeser]

It's been a long time since I built an airplane kit. 40+ years. My meager skills have definitely atrophied in the meantime. If I get this one done in time, I might do the second.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

I'm liking it.

 

[Greg Boeser]

Darn! My Polly Scale paints that I bought, oh, twenty-some years ago have all petrified! Looks like another trip to the hobby store is in order. The Vallejo khaki brown is too brown.

 

[Greg Boeser]

Underside painted aluminum. Elevators, flaps and ailerons traced in flat black.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Brill.

 

[2996 Victor]

Darn! My Polly Scale paints that I bought, oh, twenty-some years ago have all petrified! Looks like another trip to the hobby store is in order. The Vallejo khaki brown is too brown.

When I was planning ahead for my Belgian Gladiator (its still in its box!) I settled on Hataka A018 US Olive Drab (late) - might be worth a look?

Cheers,
Mark

 

[rochie]

nice work Greg

 

[Jock Tamson]

Good stuff! I love these old Matchbox kits.