1:48 Gloster Gladiator seat

Aires resin seat, the Gloster Gladiator (1:48)

A detailed resin part for sharpening up the cockpit of the British Gloster Gladiator fighter biplane in 1:48 scale. It is not an aircraft kit but an aftermarket accessory. The casting replaces the simplified seat from the base kit with a faithful copy that has a fine texture and sharp detail which ordinary plastic cannot carry.

The real subject

The Gloster Gladiator was the last British fighter biplane, entering service in the second half of the 1930s. With its enclosed sliding canopy and four machine guns it belonged to the end of the biplane fighter era and it also took part in the first battles of the Second World War. The open cockpit is clearly visible on the model, so a faithful seat lifts the look considerably.

Use and tips

First wash the part free of mold release agent residue so that the paint will hold. Cut the casting block off with a saw or a knife, do not snap it off. Glue it with cyanoacrylate; ordinary plastic cement does not hold on resin. Protect your airways while sanding and cleaning up, and do not breathe in the resin dust. A primer coat is a good idea before painting.

Who it is for

• More experienced modelers working with resin
• Builders of the Gladiator in 1:48 scale with an eye on cockpit detail
• Anyone after a more faithful interior than the base kit offers
• Collectors of interwar and early wartime hardware

The accessory does not hold the model itself, glue or paints. It is supplied as a resin casting to finish an existing kit with.