Book Review of
Gloster Gladiator Mk. I & II and Sea Gladiator
Monographs 3D Edition No. 65
Authors: Adam Cotton & Marek Rys
Kagero Publishing
ISBN: 978-83-65437-86-0
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $30.95
Copyright 2019
ISBN: 978-83-65437-86-0
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $30.95
Copyright 2019
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 1930's.
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 the Second World War, 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 USSR 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 with the type.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter
Manufacturer: Gloster Aircraft Company, Ltd.
Designer: Henry Phillip Folland
First flight: 12 September 1934
Introduction to service: 23 February 1937
Retired: 1953 (Portugal)
Primary users: Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm, Chinese Nationalist Air Force, Finnish Air Force, Norwegian Army Air Service
Number built: 747
Developed from: Gloster Gauntlet
THE BOOK:
Kagero Publishing is based in Lublin, Poland.
This book is soft-cover of 216 pages in 8" x 11 3/4" page format.
It comes with a cardboard pair of glasses, with one red lens and one blue one to view the color illustrations that are in 3D.
The box art shows a Gloster Gladiator Mk. II, black serial no. N5517, fuse code black 6 roundel A that was piloted by Charles Linsay Keighly-Peach from HMS Eagle Aircraft Carrier, 813 Naval Air Squadron, July 1940.
It is shooting down an Italian SM-79 tri-motor over the ocean.
Black and white wartime photos include: a portrait of the the Gladiator's designer Henry Philip Folland, the Gloster Gamecock in Finish markings, a SE5A, 3 photos of the Gloster Grebe, 1 shot of the Bulldog and Fairey Fox, 2 shots of the Gloster Gauntlet, 104 shots of the Gloster Gladiator, 2 shots of pilots, a shot of the Gladiator's interior and 1 shot of a Italian SM-79.
There are 49 color 3D illustrations showing the interior frameworks of the Gladiator, 12 3D illustrations of the wheels and landing gear, 6 3D illustrations of the fuel tanks, 5 3D illustrations of the cowling, 1 3D illustration of the radiator, 18 3D illustrations of the engine, 4 3D illustrations of the dashboard, 11 3D illustrations of the cockpit interior, 6 3D illustrations of the seat, 16 3D illustrations of the wings interior frameworks, 1 3D illustration of the rudder and elevators.
There are 4 color 3D walk-around illustrations of a Gloster Gladiator Mk. I, Ser. no. K6130, from RAF 72 Squadron, Church Fenton, 1937-38. Later there is a 4-view of it.
Eight color 3D walk-around illustrations of a Sea Gladiator Mk. I, Ser. no. N5517, piloted by Charles Lindsay Keighly-Peach of HMS Eagle Aircraft Carrier, B13 Naval Air Squadron, July 1940 (the cover art subject).
A 7 3D walk-around illustrations and 2 4-views of a Swordfish variety Gladiator J8A, ser. no. 279, which fought on the Finish side. It has Finish registration marks on bottom of wing areas, Mahatma Gandhi's caricature on the fuselage of a black circle with white squiggly skull on it. It is in battle-green and navy, with silver skis attached and has a large yellow letter G on the rudder.
Two side-views of a Gloster Gladiator Mk. II, fuse code KW roundel T, from 815 RAI Squadron, France, 1940.
A Gloster Gladiator Mk. I, fuselage code NJ + BO, an ex-Latvian aircraft. Flown by Erganzungsgruppe (Training Group) 1942-43, as a side view.
A Gloster Gladiator Mk. I, ser. no. 282 of the Iraq Air Force as a side-view.
A Gloster Gladiator Mk. II, ser. no. 9N5517, fuselage code B6 roundel A.
The first page of the book shows 75 black and white cover arts of other aircraft books that Kagero publishes.
The last page has a color cover art of a P.24 A-G book.
The back cover of the book has two side-views of a Gloster Gladiator Mk. II, fuselage code Y 459, behind a character of a mosquito. It is an aircraft of the Portuguese Escadrilho de Espedicionara No. 2 dos, Azores.
This book tells the complete story. The text covers not only the type's remarkable operational history, but also that of the Gloster's journey to its production.
Also examined are the Glatiator's design and construction, and its subsequent technical development. Second-line duties and service with foreign air forces are also briefly covered.
Supporting lavish artwork and 3D exploded views vividly bring the aircraft to life, making it an ideal reference work for the modeler.
I want to thank Casemate Publishers. Who sent me this review sample and the folks at Kagero.
Casemate is the N.American distributor of Kagero books and all their titles can be seen on Casemate's site at:
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 1930's.
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 the Second World War, 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 USSR 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 with the type.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter
Manufacturer: Gloster Aircraft Company, Ltd.
Designer: Henry Phillip Folland
First flight: 12 September 1934
Introduction to service: 23 February 1937
Retired: 1953 (Portugal)
Primary users: Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm, Chinese Nationalist Air Force, Finnish Air Force, Norwegian Army Air Service
Number built: 747
Developed from: Gloster Gauntlet
THE BOOK:
Kagero Publishing is based in Lublin, Poland.
This book is soft-cover of 216 pages in 8" x 11 3/4" page format.
It comes with a cardboard pair of glasses, with one red lens and one blue one to view the color illustrations that are in 3D.
The box art shows a Gloster Gladiator Mk. II, black serial no. N5517, fuse code black 6 roundel A that was piloted by Charles Linsay Keighly-Peach from HMS Eagle Aircraft Carrier, 813 Naval Air Squadron, July 1940.
It is shooting down an Italian SM-79 tri-motor over the ocean.
Black and white wartime photos include: a portrait of the the Gladiator's designer Henry Philip Folland, the Gloster Gamecock in Finish markings, a SE5A, 3 photos of the Gloster Grebe, 1 shot of the Bulldog and Fairey Fox, 2 shots of the Gloster Gauntlet, 104 shots of the Gloster Gladiator, 2 shots of pilots, a shot of the Gladiator's interior and 1 shot of a Italian SM-79.
There are 49 color 3D illustrations showing the interior frameworks of the Gladiator, 12 3D illustrations of the wheels and landing gear, 6 3D illustrations of the fuel tanks, 5 3D illustrations of the cowling, 1 3D illustration of the radiator, 18 3D illustrations of the engine, 4 3D illustrations of the dashboard, 11 3D illustrations of the cockpit interior, 6 3D illustrations of the seat, 16 3D illustrations of the wings interior frameworks, 1 3D illustration of the rudder and elevators.
There are 4 color 3D walk-around illustrations of a Gloster Gladiator Mk. I, Ser. no. K6130, from RAF 72 Squadron, Church Fenton, 1937-38. Later there is a 4-view of it.
Eight color 3D walk-around illustrations of a Sea Gladiator Mk. I, Ser. no. N5517, piloted by Charles Lindsay Keighly-Peach of HMS Eagle Aircraft Carrier, B13 Naval Air Squadron, July 1940 (the cover art subject).
A 7 3D walk-around illustrations and 2 4-views of a Swordfish variety Gladiator J8A, ser. no. 279, which fought on the Finish side. It has Finish registration marks on bottom of wing areas, Mahatma Gandhi's caricature on the fuselage of a black circle with white squiggly skull on it. It is in battle-green and navy, with silver skis attached and has a large yellow letter G on the rudder.
Two side-views of a Gloster Gladiator Mk. II, fuse code KW roundel T, from 815 RAI Squadron, France, 1940.
A Gloster Gladiator Mk. I, fuselage code NJ + BO, an ex-Latvian aircraft. Flown by Erganzungsgruppe (Training Group) 1942-43, as a side view.
A Gloster Gladiator Mk. I, ser. no. 282 of the Iraq Air Force as a side-view.
A Gloster Gladiator Mk. II, ser. no. 9N5517, fuselage code B6 roundel A.
The first page of the book shows 75 black and white cover arts of other aircraft books that Kagero publishes.
The last page has a color cover art of a P.24 A-G book.
The back cover of the book has two side-views of a Gloster Gladiator Mk. II, fuselage code Y 459, behind a character of a mosquito. It is an aircraft of the Portuguese Escadrilho de Espedicionara No. 2 dos, Azores.
This book tells the complete story. The text covers not only the type's remarkable operational history, but also that of the Gloster's journey to its production.
Also examined are the Glatiator's design and construction, and its subsequent technical development. Second-line duties and service with foreign air forces are also briefly covered.
Supporting lavish artwork and 3D exploded views vividly bring the aircraft to life, making it an ideal reference work for the modeler.
I want to thank Casemate Publishers. Who sent me this review sample and the folks at Kagero.
Casemate is the N.American distributor of Kagero books and all their titles can be seen on Casemate's site at: