Matchbox Gladiator Goodness in 1/72

[Brian da Basher]

I pulled another Matchbox kit from the pile. This time, it's the famous Gloster Gladiator.



I've built a few of these over the years and was expecting the sprues to come in silver and dark gray:



However, mine was mono-color:



Apparently, even more colorful versions were once available:





The decals were different than I recall too:



First off, I started by re-working the cockpit fairing:





Next I added a new windscreen:



Your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. That windscreen is from an Me-109! I love doing perverse things like this.



I discovered that the engine from the old Testors/Hawk Spirit of St. Louis seemed made for this kit:





Then I just had to add some spatted landing gear. These were vac-formed for me by Mr Fontaine on his trusty Mattel vacformer!





Oops. It looks like there's some gaps:





Nothing a little putty won't fix!

After two afternoons of work, here's how she looks. The new wings were an almost perfect fit! All I had to do was trim back the tabs a little. They came to me in a bag of miscellaneous parts, but I've got a feeling they're from another Matchbox kit.









Now it's on to some detail painting and then decals. I'm hoping to have more to show you in a couple of days.



Brian da Basher

[The Big Gimper]

That is so cool Brian.

I do wish there was a name-that-plane contest with the contestants being our favourite JMN's. 

[GTX_Admin]

Coming along very nicely!

[Queeg]

This is looking great so far, just love those spats !!!!!

[jcf]

Nice. Although  I'm thinkin' some DH 77 type struts might be in order to keep those
thin wings from folding round the fuselage. 

[Brian da Basher]

It's like you read my mind, Mr JCF. It's hard to see, but I left the holes molded in the wings for struts so I can attach bracing wires once I finish painting and applying the decals. I've got some very nice plastic wire courtesy of Mr Fontaine that should be well-suited for this.

Brian da Basher

[finsrin]

Nice build with extended wings and all.
Agree, something like DH77 struts is advised.  Specially with a Sidewinder or two under each wing.

[apophenia]

Wonderful concept Brian! You mentioned the Spirit of St. Louis' Whirlwind but, somehow, on the Gloster, it reads as a Bristol Jupiter  :)

[arc3371]

Interesting build with an idea that I have often pondered but nevered dared to carryout

[kitnut617]

Interesting build with an idea that I have often pondered but nevered dared to carryout

Why ? 

[Brian da Basher]

In 1931, the British Parliament voted to create the Ministry of Defence. One of the first priorities was to save money by simplifying armaments requirements and provide the various services with the same equipment whenever possible.

This led to Gloster Aircraft building a new prototype single engined pursuit aircraft meant to meet the needs of both the Royal Air Force and Navy in 1932.





Called the Gloster GNR for Government National Research, the new monoplane caused great excitement due to its novel, streamlined design with excellent performance potential and state-of-the-art spatted landing gear that was the envy of air arms world-wide.





With a long wingspan and powered by the Bristol Hoopiter radial engine, the Gloster GNR was capable of great speed and a high ceiling. The new aircraft was indeed on the cutting edge and was soon sent to The Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough for flight testing.





Unfortunately, the Gloster GNR's flight characteristics were far from ideal. Due to a propensity for entering a flat spin at the slightest provocation, the prototype was called the "Gonner" by all who flew it.





The Gloster GNR "Gonner" was not ordered into production but was used as a test bed for aeronautical research and to punish pilots who returned late from leave.









Only one Gloster "Gonner" was ever built and it was stricken off charge and scrapped in 1936.





While forgotten today, for a couple of years in the 1930s the Gloster "Gonner" provided fodder for great hair-raising tales of near-death experiences in the mess of the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough.



I'm glad I was finally able to get this finished. The simple rigging was done with some nice plastic wire courtesy of Jeff Fontaine and the decals are a mix from the decal dungeon. I hope you enjoyed the Gloster "Gonner".

Brian da Basher

[raafif]

Very nice, Brian :)  looks very similar to some of the (better) Bristol designs.

[GTX_Admin]

 :)

[arc3371]

Interesting build with an idea that I have often pondered but nevered dared to carryout

Why ?

Haven´t got the skill to carry it out properly

[finsrin]

Came together all looking correct as a model of the real plane.  Impressive  :)
Different approach to colors and they are fitting for the airplane.
Has me looking forward to whatever you build next.

[Doom!]

I don't know how you consistently do it, but you've got that majic touch.  :)

[Frank3k]

I don't know how I missed this one, but I love the two tone camo. And the engines. And the windscreen! Hell, everything about this model looks great, Brian!

[Daryl J.]

BdB, you're such an original!   :)

[sequoiaranger]

Just wondering what was the source of the extended wings--did you just "cut-and-paste" sections of the original biplane together to make the longer wing?? Or...

[Dr. YoKai]

Spendid little kite, sir!

[Brian da Basher]

Thanks, gents!

Mr Ranger, the wings were from some other kit, goodness knows what. They came to me in a bag of misc. parts a few years back.

Brian da Basher