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I'm decalling a 1/72 Sword Sea Gladiator, using Kits-World's Gladiator sheet. The scheme I've chosen is 802 Squadron N5519, in silver wings. The size of the upper wing roundels is easy as it the width of the lozenge band, but what about the fuselage and underwing roundels? The Kits-World instructions shows a Gladiator with underwing serials to have 36" roundels on the underside, and 24" on the fuselage. But the Sea Gladiator doesn't have those underwing serials, so did it have 40" roundels on both upper and lower wings? I just ordered a pre-war roundels sheet from Xtradecal, but it doesn't have 24", only 25", but I've got several Airfix Gladiators in my stash, so I'll take decals from one of those, if 24" is the right size for a Sea Gladiator as well.

Hello gents I was fortunate enough to receive the ICM Gloster Sea Gladiator as a Christmas gift from my folks and my Dad has enquired after its progress a few times since; as I rashly promised that it was next in the build queue it's past due time I got started on it. I also have the original issue Gladiator kit by the same company, which I had been planning to build as one of the Aéronautique Militaire Belge (Belgian Air Force) Gladiators of the 1/I/2 Aé (Comet) Squadron based at Schaffen in May 1940. The Gladiator will be built as G-22, flown by First Sgt Denys Rolin, who had what might euphemistically be described as an 'interesting' day in this aircraft on 11th May 1940 when he was part of a flight of 6 Gladiators tasked with escorting 9 Fairey Battles of 5/III/3 Aé on a mission to bomb the bridges over the Albert Canal. The Gladiators became embroiled with Bf109s of JG1 and although Rolin claimed a 109 as a probable he was in turn shot down and bailed out. The article linked to above says that he bailed out and was captured, but another article states that he was in fact 'roughed up' by Belgian troops when he landed, locked in a cellar and later captured by the advancing German forces. I am planning to build the Sea Gladiator as N5519 'R' of the Hal Far Fighter Flight using the kit decals, having been inspired in my childhood by the story of the three plucky biplanes holding off the might of the Axis powers, which is how I saw it at the time and if, later on, it transpired that it was true only for a comparatively short time in the opening chapter of the Siege of Malta still it left me with a certain fondness for the symbol of Faith, Hope and Charity and for the Gladiator as an aircraft. N5519 'R' was the only Gladiator destroyed in aerial combat when it was shot down by a Fiat CR.42 flown by Sergente Manlio Tarantino of 23o Gruppo, Regia Aeronautica, on 21st July 1940. The Gladiator's pilot, Flying Officer Peter Hartley escaped alive but was badly burned. Here are the kits: They're good sturdy boxes, with a more flimsy outer cover. Here are the parts; the different sprues for the Sea Gladiator are in the middle: Here's some of the bits and bobs that have accumulated: I've ordered another set of the LF decals for the Belgian Gladiator so I can make the G-22 serial and numbers. I've got another Eduard mask set on the way too. The kit's painting guide for the Sea Gladiator fits well with the information in Britmodeller's Tony O'Toole's excellent book on the Malta Battle 'No Place for Beginners'. Oh and I got some resin exhausts from Quickboost and a Top-Notch camouflage masking set for the Sea Gladiator: I think that will do for now... Cheers, Stew

Gloster Sea Gladiator Mk.II (32042) 1:32 ICM The Gladiator was the last biplane fighter used by the RAF due to the introduction of more modern monoplanes. The Gladiator was designed in response to an Air Ministry requirements for an aircraft capable of 250mph armed with at least four machines guns. Gloster decided that rather than developing a brand new fighter they could capitalise on their Gauntlet design. This modified design would dispense with a pair of interplane struts to reduce drag and follow a wing design developed by Hawkers. The "new" aircraft would use the 700 hp Bristol Mercury engine. The prototype flew in 1934, with the first production aircraft being delivered in 1937. The Gladiator was probably the pinnacle of biplane design with its streamlining, closed cockpit and heavier armament. The Mk II would be powered by a Bristol Mercury VIIIA engine. The Sea Gladiator was developed for the Fleet Air Arm, it featured the 3 blade propeller, arrestor hook, and onboard dingy stowage. They operated from HMS Glorious, Furious, and Eagle; as well as airfields including at Malta, While the RAF ordered 180 aircraft the biplane design was really at the end of its life with more modern types being introduced. The type saw service in France in 1940, and on the home front in the Orkneys. Overseas they were used in Norway and most famously in the defence of Malta. Here these aircraft managed to defend the Island against superior Italian forces. Gladiators also saw service in North and East Africa as well as in Greece and the Middle East. Gladiators would also see combat service in Belgium, China and lastly Finland. By 1941 the aircraft had been retired from front line service, though continued to serve in communications and weather research roles. The Kit This is a new tool from ICM who really do seem to be giving us kits we want at the moment. On initial inspection the kit looks very good. There is plenty of detail and the moulding is first class. The fabric effects are not over done and the sprue gates are quite fine. This is the Mark II following on from the Mk.i and this kit has an additional sprue with a new 3 bladed prop and the Naval Part.. Construction starts with the cockpit and interior. Framework sides are added into each fuselage half with appropriate control systems and additional parts being added. Into the each side the fuselage mounted guns are also added at this stage. The cockpit itself with the seat, rudder controls, and the pilots compass is constructed and added into the left fuselage, The coaming around the cockpit is then added along with the main instrument panel and its coaming. Behind the cockpit the rear decking and bulkhead are added in. After the addition of the tail wheel to the rear of the fuselage, the two halves are then ready to go together. Once this is done the gun sight can be put in place. We now move toe the rear tail surfaces with the rudder and tail planes being constructed and added on. All of the movable surfaces are separate parts. Back onto the front of the fuselage the pilots entry doors at each side are added along with the prominent side mounted oil cooler. Its worth noting here that the surface moulding of this part seems to accurately match the real thing. The canopies can now be added. The instructions show the front and rear being added first with the main canopy going over these. Next the lower main wing is assembled and added. There is a one part lower section to this with left and right uppers. The lower main wing part form the bottom of the fuselage in that area. Separate ailerons are then added. To the aft lower fuselage the arrestor hook gor the Sea Gladiator is added. Next up the top wing is assembled. This is in upper and lower parts with the ailerons as separate parts. Once together this can be joined to the lower wing with the outer struts and the inner ones attaching to the fuselage. There are positive locating points for all the struts. Next up the main gear is added. These seem quite strong with an inner part for the axle being sandwiched between the parts for the gear legs. The gun pods also need to go under the wings at this point, and the dinghy pack under the wing centre section. We now move to the front of the aircraft and the engine. Given the scale the engine is as detailed as the plastic parts can make it and it looks to be a good representation of the real thing. To the front is added the exhausts and collector ring. A three part cowling then goes over the engine. The front machine guns are then added along with the lower exhaust parts. The prop can then be added to the engine and the whole assembly mounted to the front of the fuselage. To finish up rigging diagrams are provided for the modeller to correctly rig the aircraft. Markings There are markings for four aircraft in this boxing N2272 No. 804 Sqn RNAS Hatston, Orkney Islands, October 1940. N5576 No. 804 Sqn HMS Furious, May 1940 N5567 No. 813 Sqn HMS Eagle. Summer 1940 N5519 based at Hal Far, Malta 1940. Decals are printed by ICM, with good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Conclusion It is good to see a new kit of this important RN type being released. Even in 1/32 this is not overly large. ICM have done a great job with this kit. Very highly recommended. Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd. Review sample courtesy of

I am declaring this model complete. It is my interpretation of:- Gloster Sea Gladiator N5517/6*A 813(F) NAS, HMS Eagle Mediterranean Jul '40 Flown by Commander CL Keighly-Peach RN This aircraft was involved in the destruction of a number of enemy aircraft; 11.07.40 S79 Destroyed 13.07.40 SM79 & S79 Destroyed 17.07.40 S79 Destroyed 31.08.40 Z506B Destroyed. This model has had a long gestation period. It started well in August '16 but for some reason I just lost mojo with it and it went and sat on the shelf. Going back to the kit in July '17, after building a Seafire, I had a lot of trouble mounting the upper mainplane and managed to break several struts, back it went onto the shelf of doom awaiting its fate. Two weeks ago, having completed my Hellcat build for the Carriers Ahoy GB and not wanting to start my next aeroplane (Pacific War GB), I decided to have another crack. I replaced broken Cabane struts with brass tubing and steel pins and as they say Robert is you mothers brother. I am still happy to get this off the bench and some of the finishing could have been better but I think if a spend any longer on this model I'll break it again. In fact I was in such a hurry to get the pictures done that the PVE on the canopy hasn't dried completely clear yet... In reality it is a good kit and would reward someone with better skills than myself. At some point I will return to Biplanes, I want to build a Swordfish and Albacore for my collection but I have a number of fighter types to do first. Oh and a representation of the 64th (2nd London) Division in the Eleventh Hour GB - Me and figurines - gawd help us all.... Thank you to everyone I questioned as to codes, no codes, IFF Black/white etc for you advice and guidance. I have considered it all and have taken a path, and yes some of the details are debatable but as more research goes on - one day I will revisit my subject. Now for a couple of pictures.. Now for the arty, atmospheric shots, Thanks for stopping by..

After a bit of a hiatus (6Months) I'm back on the case now. Working away on both the Seafire MKII and the Sea Gladiator, getting ready to move them to the paint shop But I'm a bit confused over the Sea Gladiator camouflage so I'm looking for input from the Fleet Air Arm experts out there (this really is a nerdy question).. I am doing a collection around FAA Aces, largely based on the Osprey publication. The Sea Gladiator I am building is going to be that flown by Commander Charles Keightley-Peach who led a fighter contingent NAS 813(F) on HMS Eagle N5517/6oA. I have seen a photograph of this aircraft dated July 1940 the picture is from above and appears in two publications, the Osprey book and Stuart Lloyds Fleet Air Arm Camouflage and Markings (Atlantic & Mediterranean Theatres 1937-1941). The kit also has the markings for this aircraft which is in the S1E scheme with roundel in all six positions. In July 1940 would Sea Gladiator N5517 (which had been in storage in Malta until May/June 1940) have had shadow shaded S1E upper surfaces? It is impossible to tell from the photograph, I think it was supposed to be but I do know shadow shading was quietly dropped. Other Sea Gladiator pictures from around the same period don't seem to have shadow shading but they also have straight demarcation between upper and lower schemes which indicates a repainted aircraft. Would the aircraft have the black port underside (or just main planes)? The Roden scheme does not show it, neither do any of the illustrations I have seen, but you cannot tell from the photograph. The Lloyd books states that the aeroplane has roundels in all six positions which would indicate the standard Sky grey finish underside. Pictures of 813 later in the year indicate that there was a black lower port side IFF but it had no lower roundels... Ideally I would like a dated photograph of N5517/6oA just taking off from HMS Eagle, from below clearly showing every detail of the underside with the serial clearly readable - that's not going to happen but can anybody help?

I am looking for information on the markings of 802 Squadron Sea Gladiators on the HMS Glorious in the spring/summer of 1939. I have seen several profiles of one, the squadron commander's machine, presumably, G6A, serial N5519, like this one: A photograph in the Warpaint Gladiator monograph shows the squadron diamond pattern on the upper wing of this aircraft. I have seen it represented as being blue in some sources and yellow in others. Does anyone know for certain which is correct? It was for most of the inter-war period standard practice for the Royal Navy to paint metal panels grey, while aluminum dope was used on fabric. There is usually a perceptible difference, as in this picture of a Nimrod: In photographs of Sea Gladiators, such a difference in tone is not apparent. Were Sea Gladiators painted in over-all aluminum (like the aluminum paint applied to Skuas)? Were serials marked under the lower wings of Sea Gladiators? I have seen photographs showing such a marking, but none of the decal sets offered for G6A by various companies indicate such underwing serials. Finally, are the identities of any other 802 Squadron Sea Gladiators in this period known? Is there anywhere known, for example, what the serial number of G6B was? I presume, at least, there would have been a G6A down through G6I?