Gloster Sea Gladiator (Interim) - Hobby Boss

[Ed Russell]

This was built mainly because it was a gift and also because it fits in with the theme of building every 1/72 Gladiator available. The others are either built or waiting except the ATO Modelcraft and Skybirds kits! (Anyone got one?)

This kit was released in 2012 to far from universal acclaim – the most common comment was “Wait for the new Airfix kit!” There have been a couple of builds here most of which regard it as sort of okay, taking into account its easy build. Unfortunately, its shape errors and starved-cow wings and rear fuselage make it only a marginal improvement on the 1956 Airfix kit. It was obviously designed by someone from Hobby Botch’s B-team who had never seen a fabric covered aeroplane, let alone a Gladiator. The decals are technically well printed but the colours are all over the shop. It can’t be made OOB as the instruction sheet Sea Gladiator as it lacks the Fairey Reed propeller (although some N-series Sea Gladiators may well have had a 2-blade prop at some stage of their life)) and the recessed hook. From a dozen years ago, it can be excused as an early attempt in plastic modelling but to re-release it unaltered is pretty poor form.

The shape errors – canopy too shallow, fuselage too deep and cowling wrong shape – are not worth fixing but a bit of sanding improved the fabric surfaces. The main things modified were a scratch built hook and the addition of resin cast Airfix gondolas and machine guns to replace the 40mm cannons it comes with. It does build up easily enough and maybe some pretty clothes will disguise its fabric deficiencies.

The scheme comes from Print Scale sheet 72-062 and depicts the aircraft of Sub Lt JW Sleigh

https://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Sleigh.htm

 

 

Print Scale give two (handed) decals for Sleigh’s personal marking. Given the complexity of the marking, that only one side is shown in pictures and that a single side one is the most common personal art, only one was used.

 

 

 

 

 

The reference photo appears multiple times on the net as a 600 x 633 jpg, usually with the same caption. In the recent Sea Gladiator thread here

@detail is everything proposes that the prop was most likely to be a two bladed one and the codes are most likely yellow. Looking at as many pictures as I can find, I am inclined to agree with him on the first and have replaced my scratch built Fairey-Reed prop with an Airfix 2 blade.

 

 

However, looking at the reference photo somewhat enlarged, I think the code matches the blue in the roundel more than yellow, so in the absence of better information it stays black. I assume there must be some documentation that it is G (and not C, O, Q or U) somewhere. If this can be found it might help the colour question (or maybe not).

[georgeusa]

To those of us not Gladiator experts, like me for example, this finished kit turned out extremely well and looks great.  Thanks for sharing.

[Wince]

I have this in the stash and have not really looked at it. Does anyone know how this compares with the Matchbox Gladiator?

 

But nice looking Gladiator nontheless 

[Luka]

Knowing about HB's reputation of hit-or-miss accuracy, I always wondered how this kit fared. Keeping in theme with the petting zoo references, I'd say you managed to turn a pig's ear into a silk purse. Good job!👍

[bigbadbadge]

Great job on this kit Ed, looks great.  Interesting re the code letter, was thinking of modelling this machine in a future build, so will keep a lookout when I get near to it.

Chris

[Ed Russell]

On 1/8/2025 at 3:27 AM, georgeusa said:

those of us not Gladiator experts

Once you have built a few Gladiator kits, without being an expert, the deficiencies become obvious. Thanks.

[Ed Russell]

On 1/8/2025 at 11:51 PM, Wince said:

Does anyone know how this compares with the Matchbox Gladiator?

If I were to choose between them I would take the Matchbox kit.