In Bag Review of Frog 1/72nd Scale Gloster Gladiator II Biplane Fighter
Kit no. F206
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
HISTORY:
The Gloster Gladiator (or Gloster SS.37) was 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 WWI it acquitted itself reasonably well in combat.
The Gladiator saw action in almost all theaters 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 defense of Malta, the Middle East, and the brief Anglo-Iraqi War (during 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 Gloster Gladiator (or Gloster SS.37) was 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 WWI it acquitted itself reasonably well in combat.
The Gladiator saw action in almost all theaters 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 defense of Malta, the Middle East, and the brief Anglo-Iraqi War (during 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 KIT:
Frog was a model company based in the UK. They went out of business and most of their molds went to Novo in Russia, who also have gone out of business.
This kit came out in 1973 in a cello bag stapled to a header sheet. I appeared once again the following year.
Frog was a model company based in the UK. They went out of business and most of their molds went to Novo in Russia, who also have gone out of business.
This kit came out in 1973 in a cello bag stapled to a header sheet. I appeared once again the following year.
WHAT'S IN THE BAG:
The cello bag contains 4 medium grey trees of parts, 2 clear trees, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions serve also as the header sheet stapled to the top of the cello bag to hold it shut.
The first medium grey tree holds: a fuselage halve, radiator, wing struts, landing gear legs and a wing panel. (8 parts)
The cello bag contains 4 medium grey trees of parts, 2 clear trees, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions serve also as the header sheet stapled to the top of the cello bag to hold it shut.
The first medium grey tree holds: a fuselage halve, radiator, wing struts, landing gear legs and a wing panel. (8 parts)
The second medium grey tree holds: The other fuselage half, wing panels, more struts. (5 parts)
The third medium grey tree holds: the lower wing, engine cylinders, cowling halve, another wing panel, elevator half and under wing machine gun pods. (7 parts)
The fourth medium grey tree holds: the upper wing, other cowling half, other elevator half, pilot figure, main wheels and the propeller etc. (9 parts)
The first clear tree holds the canopy parts. (3 parts)
The second clear tree holds the two parts of the display stand.
The decal sheet is next. It has a frosted sheet on its face to protect it from scratching.
The instructions is the header sheet as already mentioned. It is a single sheet folded 3 times to fit the top of the cello bag.
It is printed on both sides.
One side has the kits art work. It shows a Gladiator flying along with a 2nd Gladiator in the background It is in a wave pattern of matt dark earth and matt dark green with matt grey under carraige. It has a matt light earth fuselage code of HP (roundel)B. It is a Gladiator II of the 247 Sqdn., Royal Air Force, Roborough (Plymouth) August 1940.
The bottom of this side has two 3-views for painting and marking schemes.
The first one is the kits art work (alread described above)
The second on is overall aluminum with a black nose to the cowling. It has the fuselage number in black of 425 and red, white and black Norwegian Air Force insignia on the wings and rudder. It is with the Norwegian Fighter Wing, Stavanger Airfield, Norway, April 1940.
The other side of the instructions begins with international assembly symbol explanations, followed by a total of 7 assembly steps.
There are no parts trees illustrations provided and the parts trees do have number tabs next to the parts.
This wing flaps and rudder tab are molded solid. Panel lines are of the raised variety. The fabric covered areas have nice rib work though. The cockpit only provides the pilot and his seat.
This kit will make up into a decent display model in the right hands.
I only dread doing the wire bracing needed in its wings. Not something I ever have done on a biplane kit.
I purchased my kit at my local hobby shop back in the 70's for just a couple of bucks.
It is printed on both sides.
One side has the kits art work. It shows a Gladiator flying along with a 2nd Gladiator in the background It is in a wave pattern of matt dark earth and matt dark green with matt grey under carraige. It has a matt light earth fuselage code of HP (roundel)B. It is a Gladiator II of the 247 Sqdn., Royal Air Force, Roborough (Plymouth) August 1940.
The bottom of this side has two 3-views for painting and marking schemes.
The first one is the kits art work (alread described above)
The second on is overall aluminum with a black nose to the cowling. It has the fuselage number in black of 425 and red, white and black Norwegian Air Force insignia on the wings and rudder. It is with the Norwegian Fighter Wing, Stavanger Airfield, Norway, April 1940.
The other side of the instructions begins with international assembly symbol explanations, followed by a total of 7 assembly steps.
There are no parts trees illustrations provided and the parts trees do have number tabs next to the parts.
This wing flaps and rudder tab are molded solid. Panel lines are of the raised variety. The fabric covered areas have nice rib work though. The cockpit only provides the pilot and his seat.
This kit will make up into a decent display model in the right hands.
I only dread doing the wire bracing needed in its wings. Not something I ever have done on a biplane kit.
I purchased my kit at my local hobby shop back in the 70's for just a couple of bucks.
This kit is for sale for a decent offer.