Gloster Gladiator III

kitbasher · November 11, 2011, 02:54:53 AM

Gloster Gladiator III L3011, GO-D, 94 Sqn RAF, Habbaniya, Iraq 1941
The Gladiator III was the Kestrel-engined version of the last biplane fighter to enter service with the RAF. It saw exclusive use in the Middle East, notably during the Anglo-Iraq war of 1941 and the siege of Habbaniya.

Model built using the Airfix Gladiator I with Airfix Fairey Battle nose fitted to represent the Kestrel and replacement vac-form canopy. Propeller comes from the remains of an Airfix Boulton-Paul Defiant, undercarriage spats is an Aeroclub Gloster Gauntlet spatted undercarriage set and the tail wheel is from a long lost Ventura Spitfire FR.18. Markings from generic Modeldecal sets apart from the serial, which is from the spares box (originally part of the Revell/FROG Skua sheet)

My first attempt at riggng a biplane, by the way.

The Big Gimper · November 11, 2011, 03:55:18 AM

Very nice.

The Rat · November 11, 2011, 04:47:29 AM

Very nice, and with intimidating spats too!

TallEng · November 11, 2011, 08:21:26 AM

Excellent

It would also look really good in pre-war Silver with full colour Sqn markings...

Regards
Keith

James · November 11, 2011, 09:27:17 AM

That's a smart looking kite.

GTX · November 11, 2011, 11:06:20 AM

Ed S · November 11, 2011, 11:22:15 AM

Very plausible and realistic. A well done WHIFF.

Ed

Nick · November 11, 2011, 01:03:24 PM

Rather spiffing what!

tanktastic43 · November 11, 2011, 01:21:50 PM

Great job!

tt43.

Pablo1965 · November 11, 2011, 01:38:14 PM

Thou hast killed, you've hurt me. you´ve showm me that I am not as original as I thought, I had put in the box to my Gladiator, the engine of a Spit. Hehehe. Well, in any way, your plane is a very nice plane, and very well done. It have very nice shape. I surrendered to the charms of this beauty.

redstar72 · November 12, 2011, 12:14:51 AM

Nice work!

Maybe the engine is Merlin, not Kestrel?

Hotte · November 12, 2011, 01:05:48 AM

The logical further development of the Gladiator!
Reminiscent of the Fiat CR. 42 with DB 601.
Very nice!

Hotte

kitbasher · November 12, 2011, 10:55:20 AM

Quote from: redstar72 on November 12, 2011, 12:14:51 AM
Nice work!
Maybe the engine is Merlin, not Kestrel?

The cowling is indeed from the Merlin-powered Fairey Battle, but it has been reprofiled quite a bit. If you look at the Hawker Hart family's Kestrel cowlings, you'll see the shape I was aiming to replicate. Both the Kestrel and the Merlin were, as you'll know, Rolls-Royce products.

And thanks to you all for the very kind comments.

kitnut617 · November 12, 2011, 01:28:48 PM

I like this a lot, I think I know what I'll do with the nose off the Defiant when I upgrade that kit with the DB Products conversion

kitbasher · November 12, 2011, 01:42:23 PM

Quote from: kitnut617 on November 12, 2011, 01:28:48 PM
I like this a lot, I think I know what I'll do with the nose off the Defiant when I upgrade that kit with the DB Products conversion

Yes, that was Plan A. Then I got a Battle + resin replacement nose and decided to sell the Defiant (Hobbes bought it).
There was a point in th ebuild when the u/c and the bottom wing were on when I thought how much it looked like the Hawker Monoplane Fury design that was a precursor of the Hurricane. Tempted to rework my Gloster Guardian (http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,21074.msg299159.html#msg299159) by fitting a Merlin off something and replacing the Kittyhawk wings with Hurricane items.