Airfix Gloster Gladiator Mk.I/II (A02052A) - 1:72

[Paul A H]

Gloster Gladiator Mk.I/II (A02052A)

1:72 Airfix

 

 

The Gladiator was developed by the Gloster Aircraft Company as a private venture with the aim of fulfilling Air Ministry Specification F.7/30. This specification called for a fighter aircraft capable of 250 mph and able to carry four machine guns. Rather than opt for a new design, Gloster decided to develop a proposal based on the existing Gauntlet fighter. The resulting aircraft featured improved aerodynamics, cantilever undercarriage, an extra pair of machine guns, a more powerful engine and an enclosed cockpit. The Gladiator flew for the first time in September 1934 and entered service in January 1937. Such was the pace of aeronautical development in the late 1930s that the Gladiator was becoming obsolete even as it was entering service. Nevertheless, over 700 examples were built (including Sea Gladiators) and it saw action in most theatres of the Second World War. Despite being more demanding to fly than the Gauntlet, the Gladiator was popular with pilots. The Gladiators finest hour was probably the battle for Malta in 1940, when a handful of aircraft formed the entire air defence of the besieged island.

 

Airfix's released this kit back in 2013, just as they were hitting their stride following their acquisition by Hornby. The kit is part of the Series 2 range and arrives packed into a red top-opening box with the usual high-quality Adam Tooby artwork showing a Gladiator engaging an He 111. Inside are three sprues of grey plastic and a single clear sprue, holding over 60 parts in total. The mouldings are clean and crisp, with fine, recessed panel lines around the nose of the aircraft and an effective stretched fabric effect elsewhere. As this is the Mk.I/II version, the extra sprue from the Swedish boxing is included, although the only part required for this model is the Fairey three-blade propellor. 

 

 

 

The cockpit comprises a framework floor, seat, headrest, and a single part for the combined control column/rudder pedals. A pilot is also included. The inside of the fuselage sidewalls are nicely detailed and you have the option to remove the access hatch and replace it with a dedicated part that can be fixed in the open position. Before closing up the fuselage, you must fix the fuselage mounted .303 inch browning machine guns through the muzzle holes. These are quite finely moulded and should look much better than if they were just moulded as lumps on the side of the airframe. The remaining steps in the construction process are fairly conventional, but with some clever twists. The upper fuselage immediately in front of the cockpit is moulded as a separate part. The inner struts, the rearmost of which also includes the instrument panel, have to be sandwiched between this part and the fuselage. The lower wing follows, and as you can see from the photograph below, Airfix have marked the points you will need to use if you want to rig the model. Top marks, Airfix! The engine and cowling is quite a complex assembly, made up of no fewer than ten parts. The Bristol Mercury engine comprises the exhaust manifold and the single row of nine cylinders, as well as some smaller parts. The cowling is made up of four parts, with this somewhat complex arrangement being necessary because of the oval cross-section shape of the cowling.

 

 

 

 

 

The inter-wing struts have to be added before the upper wing can be fixed in place. Airfix have taken an approach that was fairly novel in 2013, but which seems to be more commonplace now. Each pair of struts is joined by a small sprue which holds them at the correct angle. These have to be left in place while the wings are joined together and then removed afterwards. This is a clever twist, and it's nice to see Airfix have tried to make this model as easy to build as possible without compromising detail. Once the upper wing is in place, the tail planes can be added. The rudder is moulded as a separate part, but all of the other control surfaces are moulded in place. The undercarriage is simple but effective, and the wheels have separate hubs, which will aid painting. A choice of tyres is provided, both with and without flat spots. When it comes to the canopy, Airfix give you a choice of using either a single part or a canopy split into two parts. If you choose to rig your model, a full page diagram is provided, which shows how to break the job down into simple steps.

 

 

Two options are provided on the decal sheet:

• Gladiator Mk.II, 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron, Royal Air Force, St. Inglevert, Northern France, December 1939. This aircraft is finished in Dark Earth/Dark Green and Light Eart/Light Green; and
• Gladiator Mk.I, 1 Escadrille, 1 Groupe Belgian Air Force, Schaffen Air Base, Diest, Belgium, 1938. This aircraft is finished in Olive Drab over silver. 

The decals themselves look thin and glossy and a full set of stencils are included.

 

Conclusion

 

This isn't the only available kit of the Gladiator in this scale, but it is the best. Although I have a soft spot for the Matchbox version, Airfix's kit has a wealth of extra detail, more options and should be just as easy to build. Overall this kit is a real gem and should build up into an excellent model. Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of