Gloster Gladiator (56″) – Short Kit (Set)

British Scale Champion Brian Taylor achieved 2nd place in the 1983 British Nationals and top scale static points with his design of the RAF’s all-metal WWII fighter.

This aeroplane is designed to be powered by two-stroke or four-stroke engines, but experienced modellers should be able to convert it to electric power (details not supplied, so please send us information if you make a successful EP version!) It is not suitable for beginners, either to plan building or model flying. The model is of conventional all-wood construction but a moulded plastic cockpit canopy, engine cowling and metal spinner are available. A laser-cut wood pack and an additional wood pack are also available.

The Full Size: The Gloster Gladiator entered service with the RAF in 1937 and was both the last biplane fighter and the first with an enclosed cockpit. It was almost immediately made obsolete by the much faster monoplane fighters being developed by Britain and Germany but gave valuable service in a number of peripheral actions where the opposition was weaker. It was also sold to a number of overseas air forces, so there are lots of different colour schemes and markings to choose from when painting your Gladiator model!