1:32 Gloster Gladiator Mk.I

Gloster Gladiator Mk.I photo-etched set 1:32 (Eduard)

A set of photo-etched parts in thin metal sheet, intended to refine a model of the Gloster Gladiator Mk.I biplane in 1:32 scale. It is not a kit: these are replacement and add-on parts that take the place of coarser plastic detail and add elements that cannot be made by injection molding. The exact contents of the fret are illustrated on the packaging and described in the instructions included.

The real subject

The Gladiator was the last British-built biplane fighter taken into regular service. It had a radial engine, fixed landing gear and, unusually for its day, an enclosed cockpit. The Mk.I version differed from the later variant in its engine and propeller. A structure with a great many braces, rods and instruments is exactly the kind of subject where photo-etched parts tell most in the large 1:32 scale.

Usage tips

• Separate the parts from the fret with a sharp scalpel against a hard surface, and never pull them out.
• Make the folds in a bending tool or between two blades; metal cracks after a few bends.
• Glue with cyanoacrylate applied with the head of a pin, not straight from the tube onto the part.
• First trim off the plastic detail the photo-etched part replaces and sand the area flat.
• Degrease bare metal before painting and go over it with primer, otherwise paint will not hold on the photo-etched part.

Who the set is for

For experienced modelers building a biplane in a large scale who want to raise the level of detail beyond a plastic kit. Working with photo-etched parts calls for tweezers, a sharp knife, cyanoacrylate and patience.

This is a modeling accessory. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.