Restoration of Gloster Gladiator

[Spitfire Steve]

Funny thing is, if I need to make a simple part out of 4130 by cutting and bending it, I can do it. Made a MLG downstop for my Ercoupe that way.

But if I need to make two identical ones? Fergitaboutit! For the other MG made one of a different design that still got the job done.

By the way, for using a rivet squeezer, No 5 flush rivets are my absolute favorite. And that is because I have never done one that looked bad. Thus, my riveting tends to be very much overdesigned.

It's when you have one for the port side made, but then you need a starboard side, mirror image, all the angles reversed and it never seems to go together in the same way. You look at the 1st one you did and thing, ah yes, that's how I did it, but for some reason you can't get the block on or squeezers in were you did before. But somehow we manage it... ...in the end

 

[Spitfire Steve]

I was hoping they would mark it up as either Faith, Hope, or Charity, and I guess that would be 3 blade, although I think one had a Blenheim engine.

They have started to restore one to flying condition in Malta for that very reason. They have been to me for guidance and to see some of the tooling we have.

 

[Engineman]

Looks very nice work indeed!

Eng

 

[MiTasol]

Funny thing is, if I need to make a simple part out of 4130 by cutting and bending it, I can do it. Made a MLG downstop for my Ercoupe that way.

But if I need to make two identical ones? Fergitaboutit! For the other MG made one of a different design that still got the job done.

By the way, for using a rivet squeezer, No 5 flush rivets are my absolute favorite. And that is because I have never done one that looked bad. Thus, my riveting tends to be very much overdesigned.

My two favourite rivet squeezers are my CP450EA and CP450C. They squash anything in to submission.

EA is like this but mine has the original 3/4 hoses and valve. This one with its skinny hoses would be slower than Vlads three day war.

and the smaller CP450C

 

[MIflyer]

My two favourite rivet squeezers are my CP450EA and CP450C. They squash anything in to submission.

All I have is my hand powered one. Biggest problem with it is being not deep enough to get to the all the areas I need. Sometimes I help my A&P friend, bucking the rivets he hits with his pneumatic hand riveter. Now, squeezing I can understand, but I am always amazed when the results of the "ratatatatatat" looks acceptable. Seems like pressing on the tail of a rivet with that hunk of metal just should not work, but it almost always does.

After struggling to install the larger sized blind rivets, which on occasion required the use of both hands and one foot, I bought a much more powerful blind riveter, which looks like a bolt cutter - you squeeze the handles together. Problem with it is that you can't always get close enough to use it. I did not want to spend more than $29 and get one with the swiveling head. The pneumatic powered ones are really neat and always seem to work perfectly but I can go borrow one from my friend if required.

 

[Gnomey]

Very cool!

 

[Spitfire Steve]

The Gladiator is finished in our hands as of today. The new owners are going to have the fabric done on arrival. Another project finished, and this will be my last.

I was diagnosed with terminal cancer last week and have a maximum of 12 months with Chemo, and max of 3 months without.
This may be my last post, or I may put a few photos of warbirds I've restored. All the best everyone. Get out and do things to make memories, live life to the full, do it today don't wait, because you don't know what's creeping up to take it away from you.

 

[Wurger]

 

[cvairwerks]

Steve: It looks great.

As to longevity, whether you believe in higher powers or not, attitude does wonders for proving doctors wrong a lot of the time. My MIL was told in early 1996 that she would be in the grave within 6 weeks....really hacked her off and she let the dr know quite venomously....She walked out the hospital a week later, and eventually passed almost 5 years later...Have had coworkers that refused to believe the timelines and everyone of them beat the dr predictions by months or even years. Fight on!

 

[MiTasol]

The Gladiator is finished in our hands as of today. The new owners are going to have the fabric done on arrival. Another project finished, and this will be my last.

I was diagnosed with terminal cancer last week and have a maximum of 12 months with Chemo, and max of 3 months without.
This may be my last post, or I may put a few photos of warbirds I've restored. All the best everyone. Get out and do things to make memories, live life to the full, do it today don't wait, because you don't know what's creeping up to take it away from you.

Winner for the photos plus winner for your attitude = bacon.

Best wishes for your future. Hopefully you will find time to post more of your photos.

 

[Gnomey]

Great stuff!

Definitely the attitude to take on these upcoming difficult times for you.

 

[Spitfire Steve]

Steve: It looks great.

As to longevity, whether you believe in higher powers or not, attitude does wonders for proving doctors wrong a lot of the time. My MIL was told in early 1996 that she would be in the grave within 6 weeks....really hacked her off and she let the dr know quite venomously....She walked out the hospital a week later, and eventually passed almost 5 years later...Have had coworkers that refused to believe the timelines and everyone of them beat the dr predictions by months or even years. Fight on!

Thank you. I have a PMA, but it is terminal. It is in my chest, stomach, liver and Lymph glands. I will fight it but even with Chemo there's no winning. This is my 3rd cancer, I was 27 years clear, but this sneaky one caught me unaware and it was to late to do anything surgically. I have family and friends helping me to process it all. I just don't want my quality of life to decrease, where it isn't a quality of life, and then depend on family to look after me. I feel for them more than I feel for myself. It's a delayed grieving process, they see me getting worse for how ever long and then when I do finally run off the end of the runway they grieve again for the loss. It shouldn't be that way for everyone else. Again, thank you for your kind words. All the best, Steve

 

[MiTasol]

The ONLY good thing that can be said about your situation is that you can say goodbye to all those dear to you.

For many they never get that chance.

As GTX 's tag line says You can't outrun Death forever...but you can make the Bastard work for it.

 

[SaparotRob]

I don't have the words I want to express.

 

[Airframes]

I'm staggered - just don't know what to say/write.
Thanks for everything Steve.

 

[Spitfire Steve]

If I was to put photos up of what have assisted with in restoration, what thread would I use?

 

[Wurger]

If I was to put photos up of what have assisted with in restoration, what thread would I use?

Please keep continuing here in the thread.

 

[Airframes]

Please do Steve - if nothing else, it's a lasting legacy to your wonderful work.

 

[MiTasol]

Amen to that.