Gloster “Gladiator” Mk. I – the British/ Lituanian fighter

The “Gloster” company SS.37 project was a major upgrade of the recently entered service “Gauntlet” model. The aircraft was to be equipped with a more powerful “Mercury” engine and its aerodynamics were significantly improved. In early 1936 serial production of the Gloster “Gladiator” began. It became the first Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter with an enclosed cockpit. Deliveries to RAF units began in February 1937. A total of 747 aircraft were produced. The fighter was widely exported, but more of the Mk. II version. Among those, who purchased them, was the Lituanian Air Force, which in 1937 ordered and received 14 Mk. I version "Gladiators". Almost all of them survived to the Soviet occupation and, since they were not used by USSR pilots, most of them were significantly damaged and survived to the German occupation, which completely "finished them off".

A small and compact model of a small aircraft - perfectly designed and quite richly detailed, due to the rather complex shapes and biplane construction, it will suit only medium-experienced and experienced modelers. The model has excellent detailing of the cockpit, landing gear, visible engine and exterior detailing. Almost all the details are printed with silver "Metalic" type paint, there is no color stock, but there are additional details - boarding steps, blocks under the wheels, the textual instruction in Ukrainian, Polish, English and German are considerable, detailed, perfectly illustrating the entire process of assembling the model. The graphical instruction is not the largest, but quite detailed, informative and easy to read. The model recreates the appearance of one of the first RAF divisions, armed with these fighters, the machine in colorful peacetime camouflage.