In Box Review of Heller 1/72nd Scale Gloster Gladiator II
Kit no. 153
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
My kit has a copyright date of 1978. Heller re-released the kit again in 1980, 1981, 1986 and the 2000's.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
My kit has a copyright date of 1978. Heller re-released the kit again in 1980, 1981, 1986 and the 2000's.
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.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter aircraft
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 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.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter aircraft
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 KIT:
Heller is a prolific model company based in France. They make all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a Gladiator that apparently has just shot down an enemy aircraft. At least that's indicated from a trail of smoke that is running off the bottom of the box art. The Gladiator is in a wave pattern of brown and dark green above one underside of the bottom wings as being aluminum and the other one black. It has a medium blue cowling and rudder fin. It carries the white fuselage code of F (roundel) HE.
It is a Gladiator with the 263 Sqdn. R.A.F. Norway, 1940.
There are 5 color box arts around the side panels of other aircraft kits that Heller markets: a French Caudron 714, a French Mureaux 117 biplane, a French Morane 225 biplane, a Soviet Yak-3 and a French Morane 230 parasol winged aircraft.
No kit numbers are supplied and I assume all 5 are to 1/72nd scale. The length of the model is said to be 11.6 cm.
The bottom of the box lists 33 aircraft models that Heller markets.
Heller is a prolific model company based in France. They make all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a Gladiator that apparently has just shot down an enemy aircraft. At least that's indicated from a trail of smoke that is running off the bottom of the box art. The Gladiator is in a wave pattern of brown and dark green above one underside of the bottom wings as being aluminum and the other one black. It has a medium blue cowling and rudder fin. It carries the white fuselage code of F (roundel) HE.
It is a Gladiator with the 263 Sqdn. R.A.F. Norway, 1940.
There are 5 color box arts around the side panels of other aircraft kits that Heller markets: a French Caudron 714, a French Mureaux 117 biplane, a French Morane 225 biplane, a Soviet Yak-3 and a French Morane 230 parasol winged aircraft.
No kit numbers are supplied and I assume all 5 are to 1/72nd scale. The length of the model is said to be 11.6 cm.
The bottom of the box lists 33 aircraft models that Heller markets.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 4 medium grey trees of parts, a clear tree, the decal sheet and a slip telling how to use a glue ampule that once was in the box. These are all in a sealed cello bag. I took the ampule out of the kit years ago to prevent it accidentally rupturing and ruining things.
The kit holds 4 medium grey trees of parts, a clear tree, the decal sheet and a slip telling how to use a glue ampule that once was in the box. These are all in a sealed cello bag. I took the ampule out of the kit years ago to prevent it accidentally rupturing and ruining things.
The instructions consist of a single sheet printed on both sides in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
The face side of the sheet begins with the history of the Gladiator, followed by a list of names of the parts, color information, one exploded drawing for assembly, over two 2-views for schemes:
1. The box art scheme (already described above)
2. A Gladiator on skis that has a wave pattern of brown and dark green above a blue undercarraige. It has a yellow F on the sides of the rudder. It carries the Finish Air Force swastika marks in the usual positions.
It is a Gladiator I with Flygflotilj 19, Finland, 1940.
The reverse side of the instruction sheet repeats all the same information, minus the exploded drawing and the 2-views in English and German.
The 1st medium grey tree holds: the upper and lower wings (2 parts)
The face side of the sheet begins with the history of the Gladiator, followed by a list of names of the parts, color information, one exploded drawing for assembly, over two 2-views for schemes:
1. The box art scheme (already described above)
2. A Gladiator on skis that has a wave pattern of brown and dark green above a blue undercarraige. It has a yellow F on the sides of the rudder. It carries the Finish Air Force swastika marks in the usual positions.
It is a Gladiator I with Flygflotilj 19, Finland, 1940.
The reverse side of the instruction sheet repeats all the same information, minus the exploded drawing and the 2-views in English and German.
The 1st medium grey tree holds: the upper and lower wings (2 parts)
The 2nd medium grey tree holds: a three-bladed and a two-bladed propeller, cowling halves and front section, pilot seat, cockpit floor and bulkhead, dashboard, tail wheel, gun pods etc. (19 parts)
The 2nd medium grey tree holds: a three-bladed and a two-bladed propeller, cowling halves and front section, pilot seat, cockpit floor and bulkhead, dashboard, tail wheel, gun pods etc. (19 parts)
The 3rd medium grey tree holds: the fuselage halves and elevators (4 parts)
The 4th medium grey tree holds: engine cylinders and push rods, skis, main wheels, gear legs, joy stick, cowling upper panel. wing struts etc. (20 parts)
The clear tree holds the cockpit windows (3 parts)
The decal sheet for the versions listed above.
This is a nicely detailed old kit. The control surfaces are molded solid, but the cockpit is in sections and could be posed open. Panel lines are of the raised variety.
There are no parts trees illustrations in the instructions, but there are number tabs next to the parts on the trees. The trees are not alphabetized.
There are no parts trees illustrations in the instructions, but there are number tabs next to the parts on the trees. The trees are not alphabetized.
I paid the whopping price of .69 cents for my kit in 78. I am willing to sell it for a reasonable offer.