NOVO 1/72 Gloster Whittle E28/39 Pioneer

[Rhino]

My entry for Micro Model Month 2026. I took me a while to find the ol' girl. This one came from Curt Young's collection.

Then again, perhaps not.

 

[moon puppy]

Child's play for you!

 

[paddy]

Actually the "after it crashed" version of that model is quite rare

 

[Sharkmouth]

View attachment 189046

Dr. Rhino, to the Plastic Surgery OR... STAT! Dr. Rhino, to the Plastic Surgery OR... STAT! Dr. Rhino, to the Plastic Surgery OR... STAT!

 

[Sharkmouth]

Actually the "after it crashed" version of that model is quite rare

I used to buy some IMC kits BECAUSE they included battle damaged parts! Lindberg molds with added parts! No, the damage wasn't relaistic but in the early 70s, I didn't care!

 

[Rhino]

I ordered the Clear Prop decals, cockpit P/E and pitot tube, or I would just let it go. It's just a model. It ain't life and death.
After yesterdays DOT debacle, I tire of things that are difficult.
I have contacted other airplane model miscreants. I might find one at the Madison show this weekend.

 

[moon puppy]

After yesterdays DOT debacle, I tire of things that are difficult.

Uh oh...

 

[Rhino]

Uh oh...

You ain't just whistlin' Dixie, brother.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Ouch!

 

[Rhino]

If don't find a replacement Pioneer kit at KCCON, I may change my subject. These old turds are NOT worth $15.00 plus shipping.

 

[Rhino]

Soooooo, it's "Fill, sand, mark, fill, sand, cuss" again. I don't know a better way to make sure this old kit can be found for cheap, at KCCON, if the weather holds. I'm on Spring Break, so she should move right along.
All y'all know how I don't like to lose.

 

[Greg Kimsey]

Fill, sand, mark, cuss, repeat
...excellent!

 

[Sharkmouth]

Reviving an ancient tomb dweller will ALWAYS require plastic surgery! Imagine all the work needed to renovate the cobweb caverns shown on this show!

 

[Rhino]

I did not realize how stubby the wings were on the Pioneer. Given she was a test bed for the Whittle jet engine, long trips weren't part of her mission profile.

Clear Prop p/e instructions and NOVO kit cockpit. I may have bitten off more than I can chew on this one.
Time will tell. My model mojo came back after my IADOT visit today.
More to come!

 

[moon puppy]

That's a lot of PE for that little thing.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Looks like you managed to do a good repair on that Fuselage part Chris! Looking forward to seeing the finished build.

 

[Rhino]

That's a lot of PE for that little thing.

Some of the bitty parts are pretty cool!

 

[Rhino]

I needed an instrument panel to hold the p/e panel and stick that the old Novo kit doesn't include.

I never did care for separate control surfaces. Aircraft on the ground largely rest with the controls in neutral positions, and most modelers don't deflect the control column anyway. Separate flaps would be preferable, even though the RAF gave you demerits for leaving them extended after landing. The old companies often made their airplane models like this, but it's a pain in the ass in my opinion.

I spend many of my days at school sitting in torturously small "little kid chairs". The kit seat would simply not do! I will be building a "Hint of Cockpit" for the Pioneer. Enough to be interesting, but not enough to be truly complete.

Fitting the kit canopy required a little modification, but nothing too major. All in all, she's coming together quite nicely so far!
For a vintage kit, The fit is nice, even after my slap-dash repairs on the shattered fuselage half.

An unscheduled freezing rain event cancelled our KCCON trip departure early this morning. Model shows aren't Life and Death.
As a small consolation, our house became The Waffle House, sans the obese, loud, battling black women.
Consolation #2, a binge watch of "Firefly". Shiny!