Sorry for the long absence. This will be my practice model for more complicated subjects I need to finish.
Glad to see you back in the hobby. I look forward to your progress posts. The Mew Gull is quite small in 1/72. What drawings are you using?
Lou
Looking forward to the progress of the Mew Gull
Cheers
Gordon
Lou, yes, the model is tiny. Wing span is 4 inches. The 1/72 drawing is by J. H. Robinson from the September 1969 Aero Modeller. That drawing represents Edgar Percival's own E3H Mew Gull as raced in the 1937 through 1939 King's Cup races. Robinson also did drawings of Alex Henshaw's E2H Mew Gull, G-AEXF, used to set the Cape Town record. Those drawings appear in 1/48 scale in the American magazine Model Aviation, February 1981 issue.
Gordon, stay tuned.
Wing roughly shaped and trial fit to the fuselage.
Well done Mark. Always love those progress shots.
Lou
Coming along very nicely.
Gordon
Aileron, flaps and cowling panel lines have been scored into the wood which so far, has two light coats of nitrate dope. I've shown before, on my P-80A thread how I make fillets with roughly shaped blocks of balsa cemented and pinned in place. The pin hole in the balsa can be closed with a drop of water. The common straight pin shows how small this model is.
Thanks for the update.
Lou
Nice detail with open cockpit.
Fraser
I've got Edgar Percival seated with his famous brown homburg hat. The model is painted the correct ivory color; looks white in these photos.
Nicely done Edgar. The Mew Gull looks great.
Lou
Well done Mark ! Edgar fills the cockpit nicely. Looking forward to more progress shots.
Cheers
Gordon
Shaping a de Havilland constant speed propeller from a strip of sheet aluminum.
The aluminium prop is looking very nice.
Fraser
Propeller / airscrew finished except for blue paint on the spinner.
Looks great. You've done a great job on the prop to get the twist in it.
Fraser
Undercarriage legs, the one on the left has been fully shaped and doped. The one on the right is still in blocked form. They are built up on a core of 1/16 plywood with 1/16 basswood "cheeks". All the shaping is done with files and sandpaper.
About how big are the parts?
Parts are tiny. Think of the Hallmark Christmas tree airplane ornaments. This is a practice model to reacquaint myself with working in 1/72.
Unpainted undercarriage temporarily fitted today.
Very realistic model. You capture the aircraft perfectly.
Lou
Coming along very nicely Mark.
Gordon
The 1/72 Percival Mew Gull is finished, here seen with lead Skybirds figures and a Dinky MG.
Additional views
Markings here are those worn for the 1938 King's Cup Air Race.
Mark. That is a well crafted model. Canopy detail really adds to the look. The design of the airplane is timeless. It would certainly turn heads in the 2020's if one showed up at your local flying field. Beautiful!
Fraser
Awesome workmanship Mark. The setting is just right and the colour schele make one pay attention.
Bravo Zulu
Lou
Fantastic model Mark,
Well Done
Gordon