Gloster Gladiator 1/72 Scale Models

British Mk.I - This is a model of a biplane fighter that flew from British Sudan against Italian East Africa in 1940-1941. Gladiators enjoyed some successes during the first year of war against Italian biplanes in the Mediterranean and African theaters. The Gladiator entered service in 1937 and was Britain's last biplane fighter. It was an improved version of the Gloster Gauntlet, with an enclosed cockpit, better landing gear, and a more powerful engine. In 1938 the Mk.II Gladiator was introduced, and was distinguishable by its three-bladed propeller. A few Gladiators, fitted with arrestor hooks and called Sea Gladiators, were used by the Fleet Air Arm as carrier fighters. About 747 Gladiators had been built when production ended in 1939.

More Photos: Left, Right, Top, Front Angle Left, Front Angle Right, Rear Angle Left, Rear Angle Right, Above Left, Above Right

Iraqi Mk.I - This is a model of a fighter that flew against the British in May, 1941. They were obtained from Britain before the war. Ironically, the British flew Gladiators in this conflict too.  The British exported Gladiators to several countries. The first to see action were the Gladiators provided to China in late 1937. They flew against the invading Japanese. Sweden sent some of its Gladiators, flown by Swedish volunteers, to help the Finns resist the Soviet invasion of Finland in 1939-1940. These planes carried Finnish markings and were outfitted with skis instead of wheels. The British also sent some Gladiators to help the Finns in 1940. Norwegian Gladiators flew against the German invasion of April, 1940, and Belgian Gladiators flew against the invading Germans in May. Later in 1940 the British gave Gladiators to its Australian allies to fight the Italians in North Africa, to the South Africans to fight them in East Africa, and to the Greeks to fight them on the Albanian front.

More Photos: Left, Right, Front, Top, Front Angle Left, Front Angle Right, Rear Angle Left, Rear Angle Right, Above Right, Above Left

Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete, Christopher Shores

Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II, David Mondey

Dust Clouds in the Middle East: The Air War for East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Madagascar, 1940-42, Christopher Shores

Fighters Over the Desert: The Air Battles in the Western Desert. June 1940 to December 1942, Christopher Shores

Fighters Over France and the Low Countries, Bartlomiej Belcarz

Finnish Air Force 1939-1945,Kalevi Keskinen

Fledgling Eagles; The Complete Account of Air Operations During the "Phoney War" and Norwegian Campaign, 1940, Christopher Shores

Gloster Gladiator Aces, Andrew Thomas

Gloster Gladiator in Action, W. A. Harrison

Hidden Victory: The Battle of Habbaniya, May 1941, A.G. Dudgeon

Malta; The Hurricane Years 1940-1941, Christopher Shores

The Naval War in the Mediterranean 1940-1943, Jack Greene

On Silver Wings: RAF Biplane Fighters Between the Wars, Alec Lumsden

Twelve Days in May; The Air Battle for Northern France and the Low Countries, May 1940, Brian Cull