Gloster Gladiator Griffon tribute to Kitnut 617 Finished

[McColm]

I've deleted this build twice from this topic but I have bitten the bullet to let you decide on whether its good enough to be entered for this group build.
The donor kit is the Airfix 1/72 Gloster Gladiator K6142 build but it has a few modifications added and doesn't have the angled struts nor the original engine, the tail wheel is new and bigger as it supports the arrestor hook, there's a single life raft attached to the underside of the fuselage  (real world had this stowed in the fuselage), the main landing wheels have been beefed up to withstand the catapult launches and deck landings or rough terrain. The upper wing sits slightly higher than the standard Mk1, Mk2 and Sea Gladiator giving the pilot better views from the glazed cockpit canopy. The Bristol Mercury IX engine has been replaced with a Rolls-Royce Griffon with contra-rotating propellers which increased the speed to 350 mph and added an extra 40 minutes to the 2 hour endurance if the pilot feathered the inner propellers when on patrol. With the extra torque the Gladiator Griffon could out manoeuvre the latest Spitfire although the wings would be a bit bent due to the Gs being pulled.  Experienced pilots could get the Gladiator Griffon to hover which was a great selling point to private collectors after the aircraft was replaced by the Westland Lynx helicopter.
This example wears an experimental camouflage scheme as the Gladiator Griffon was one of the first aircraft to be flown by all three services, the Royal Air Force then the Royal Navy who passed the Sea Gladiator onto the Army Air Corps.
The Gloster Gladiator Griffon maintained the four 303 Browning machine guns but could be fitted with iron bombs, rockets, cameras and a single torpedo (this required the life raft to be removed).

This is what Airfix wants you to build.


I ran into a few problems with the struts, so they are straight, the new engine, the propellers aren't glued and the original tail wheel is in situ.





The decals are from a Revell 1/72 Fairey Gannet Mk1/Mk4, acrylic Humbrol paint applied with hairy brush, patches and weathering throughout. Some parts need to be highlighted so it's not quite finished.
Topside view.


Underside view, showing off the arrestor hook, life raft, reinforced main landing gear, new tail wheel as the original one snapped off.



From the front.


Right side.


From the back, I couldn't get rid of the seemline along the upper fuselage so I left it in.



Just needs a bit of touching-in and a clear coat of lacquer.

[Robomog]

Get it back in the GB, it looked good to me 

Mog
>^-.-^<

[zenrat]

Mate, one of the benefits of being a Mod is that you get to decide.  Even with your own stuff.

IMO it's fine.  Leave it in.

[McColm]

Thanks, I have managed to find a small tin of what appears to be Revell clear lacquer and have touched up some of the paintwork. The pair of Browning machine guns has increased to four. Next time I will apply the lacquer before adding the decals to hide the film around the edges. Just have to wait until it drys out overnight.

[buzzbomb]

Chunky is what comes to mind. Certainly a different take on the Gladiator

[perttime]

I like it!
Some naval fighters had a guard forward of the tailwheel to prevent arrestor wires getting tangled up with the tailwheel. Is it too late to add one?

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[McColm]

I like it!
Some naval fighters had a guard forward of the tailwheel to prevent arrestor wires getting tangled up with the tailwheel. Is it too late to add one?

You cannot view this attachment.

The tailwheel fits inside the arrestor hook on my build. The Brown and green paint scheme was used but not in this format.

[McColm]

Four Browning machine guns and I think that this is finished.

[zenrat]

Looks powerful and purposeful Mac.

 

[Wardukw]

I like anything where you take something light and add stupid amounts of power too and this fits the bill very nicely indeed 👌 👍 😀
Very cool Mac 😎

[zenrat]

I like anything where you take something light and add stupid amounts of power too and this fits the bill very nicely indeed 👌 👍 😀
Very cool Mac 😎

Heh heh.  Muscle plane...

[Wardukw]

I like anything where you take something light and add stupid amounts of power too and this fits the bill very nicely indeed 👌 👍 😀
Very cool Mac 😎

Heh heh.  Muscle plane...

      I like that 👌

[perttime]

There is such a thing as Muscle Biplane. Generally it is something originally designed by Curtis Pitts, but modified for a bigger and/or badder engine.

[Pellson]

That's an absolutely bonkers build - and I love it!! Magic stuff, Stephen!!