Gloster Sea Gladiator Mk.II With Royal Navy pilots

Air forces of the Royal Navy at the beginning of World War II consisted of 20 squadrons with a total of 232 aircraft. The tasks of naval aviation included reconnaissance, spotting for battleships, offensive operations against enemy warships and merchant vessels, and protection against submarines and enemy aircraft. Squadrons typically had 9-12 aircraft of the same type, although sometimes their composition was mixed. A notable feature of British naval aviation before World War II was the significant number of biplane aircraft. This was due to their superior flying characteristics for deck landings in open seas. The single-seat biplane fighter, Gloster Sea Gladiator, was produced from 1938 and was a naval version of the land-based Gladiator fighter. The deck variant differed from the land-based one with a reinforced lower wing, modified equipment, a tailhook for landing, and a life raft housed beneath the fuselage. Between December 1938 and February 1939, 60 Gloster Sea Gladiators were produced, with an additional 38 aircraft obtained by converting land-based Gladiator Mk.II fighters.

ITEM NUMBER32045SCALE1:32DATE18.01.2024TIME PERIODWW2BOX SIZE410 x 260 x 55 mmNUMBER OF DETAILS140+28

Gloster Gladiator was the last British biplane fighter. It was in service with the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy and Air Forces of many other countries in the late 30s. It was used in the Norwegian company, Battle of Britain and in the Mediterranean. In total 746 aircraft were built in 1936-1938.

Mk.II version had Mercury VIIIA engine with 3-blade Fairey Reed propeller.

ITEM NUMBER:32041SCALE:1:32DATE:20.02.2020TIME PERIOD:WW2MARKINGS:Gloster Gladiator Mk.ll, No 247 Squadron RAF, Roborough, August 1940.Gloster Gladiator Mk.ll, flown by Fit Lt M.T.St.J. Pattie, No 80 Squadron RAF, Greece, December 1940.Gloster Gladiator Mk.ll, No 1 Squadron SAAF, East Africa, 1940.Gloster Gladiator Mk.ll, No 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron RAF, St. Inglevert (Northern France), April 1940.MODEL SIZE (LENGTH X WIDTH):262 x 307 mmBOX SIZE:410 x 260 x 55 mmNUMBER OF DETAILS:140