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Gloster Gladiator

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History
The Gloster Gladiator (or Gloster SS.37) is a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) (as the Sea Gladiator variant) and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it was being introduced. Though often pitted against more formidable foes during the early days of the Second World War, it acquitted itself reasonably well in combat.

The Gladiator saw action in almost all theatres during the Second World War, with a large number of air forces, some of them on the Axis side. The RAF used it in France, Norway, Greece, the defence of Malta, the middle east and the brief Anglo-Iraqi War (in which the Royal Iraqi Air Force was similarly equipped). Other countries deploying the Gladiator included China against Japan, beginning in 1938; Finland (along with Swedish volunteers) against the Soviet Union in the Winter War and the Continuation War; Sweden as a Neutral non-combatant (Although Swedish volunteers fought for Finland against Russia as stated above) and Norway, Belgium, and Greece resisting Axis invasion of their respective lands.

The South African pilot Marmaduke "Pat" Pattle was the top Gladiator ace with 15 victories.
The Model
The Gloster Gladiator in 1/48 was for the longest time only available from Inpact, Pyro, Life Like and Lindberg, but that's a little misleading because they're all the same kit. Luckily, as this model proves, the kit provides the basics of making an excellent model.
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About the Author

About Dave Zehnder (Dave_Z)
FROM: WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES

Avid modeler with a preference towards making models of planes, including bi-planes, as well as work boats and small military vessels.


Comments

Dave, Welcome to Aeroscale. You're going to really like it here. That's one really nicely modeled Gloster Gladiator. I don't think that I've ever seen a base quite like yours before, but it does add that little extra "something" to your display. Nicely done. Joel
JAN 17, 2016 - 06:52 AM
Welcome to the Aeroscale family Dave! Great build to introduce yourself as well, really neat work on the rigging and wires. Looking forward to seeing more of your work. Cheers, D
JAN 17, 2016 - 01:28 PM
Great build! Nice job on the rigging and paint job. Welcome onboard
JAN 18, 2016 - 06:59 AM
I just don't understand how they manage that rigging. Are these people born with 3 hands or something???
JAN 18, 2016 - 12:47 PM
This is a great model of an end of an era fighter, thank you for sharing it with us.
JAN 18, 2016 - 02:33 PM
I just noticed you posted my email. Thanks for doing this for us. Definitely made my husband happy, and our sons! LOL
JAN 18, 2016 - 09:45 PM
Thanks Joel
JAN 18, 2016 - 09:47 PM
Thanks Damian.
JAN 18, 2016 - 10:49 PM
Still a nice kit, very buildable. Still in Lindberg's catalog.
JAN 23, 2016 - 08:35 PM
Dave Gongrats with your first post here and your nice model. Even more gongrats with your wife, a stunning loving action she did! gr TC
JAN 24, 2016 - 02:12 AM