In 1937 the Royal Air Force's last biplane fighter the Gloster Gladiator did not satisfy the demands of modern air combat - the future belonged to high-speed monoplanes, and the war that approached Europe would become a war of 'next generation' technology.
However, the interests of the British Empire meant a military presence in the most remote parts of the world, including South Africa and the Middle East. That is why the Ministry of Aviation placed an order with the Gloster Aircraft Company for the improved Gloster Gladiator Mk.II modified according to the requirements of specification F.36/37. The most significant innovation was the substitution of the Bristol Mercury IX engine with the Mercury VIIIA: the capacity was still the same, but the gear ratio was 0.572, permitting the installation of the new three-blade Fairey Reed metal airscrew. There were no more external differences, but the designers also paid attention to improving the business of flying the aircraft. The Mk II had an electric engine starter, an improved navigation system, and new equipment for measuring altitude and climb rate. Since the intended operating area was the desert, the aircraft was equipped with a tropical carburetor intake, as well as a special container with water and provisions.
In 1938, just before the Munich Crisis, the Gladiator Mk. II served in the front line of the Royal Air Force. However, after the arrival of the Hawker Hurricane in sufficient quantities, they were gradually transferred to the Auxiliary Air Force. The Gladiator Mk.II was too obsolete for modern air combat, but the shortage of new types led to extensive service during the first years of the war.
Right after the beginning of WWII, Gladiator Mk. IIs were sent to France as part of the Expeditionary Force. Sadly, their career was very short - after one Luftwaffe raid almost all machines were destroyed.
At the time of the Battle of Britain, 247 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was the only unit equipped with the Gladiator Mk.II; pilots flying the type managed to score several victories. The most notable campaigns in which the Gladiator Mk.II took part were the Battle for Norway and the South-African Campaign. Numerous victories over enemy planes proved that when piloted by an experienced pilot, the Mk.II could be a deadly weapon.
Another important part of the Gladiator Mk.II's fighting career was the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union. The Swedish volunteer squadron that arrived in Finland with their own Gladiators (the Swedish export version of the Gladiator was known as the J8) fought on the Finnish side along with the pilots of the Finnish Air Force. The Swedes managed to shoot down at least 10 Soviet planes. The most successful Finnish ace Oiva Tuominenn scored 4 victories flying the Gladiator Mk.II.
To secure take-off and landing in snowy regions most Finnish and Swedish fighters were equipped with skis.
The Finnish Gladiator Mk.II fought on the front line the longest, until the middle of 1943. In North Africa the Gladiator Mk.II served until the end of 1942. Other Mk.IIs were used as messenger and weather reconnaissance planes until 1944.

Thanks to Roden for the historical background.

THE KIT

I

This is the third boxing of the Roden Gladiator and it continues to be probably the best  1/48 Gladiator on the market. As you all know, I tend to look over new kits to see what, if any, molding glitches I can find. Some chastise me for be obsessive about it, but to be honest, these things cause me additional work to repair/remove so I like it when I can't find any! This kit is pretty well free from flash and while there are ejector pin marks on the inside of large parts like the fuselage and cowling, the rest of the kit is, as far as I can see, free from them. I did find a few sink areas on the rear fuselage, which just happen to be opposite some rather large ejector towers!

As is the norm for Roden and others, this kit includes all the bits and pieces to do any of the Gladiators as long as you know the differences and have some aftermarket decals. You get both the two and three bladed prop as well as the arrestor hook and other naval equipment. In addition, this boxing provides skis on a smaller sprue (shown to left). I had always thought that the skis were only as long as the 'boots', but apparently I'm wrong about that and they are actually longer.

Kit instructions are really excellent, providing all the needed differences between the various markings options. Color information is provided as generic names and Humbrol equivalents and any colors needed during the various construction steps are provided. As with nearly all biplanes, rigging is required and a full rigging diagram is provided so that we can get that part of it right.

Decals are crisply printed and quite matte. Markings are provided for no less than seven aircraft, though some are quite similar in markings. You get a choice of two British and five Finnish/Swedish aircraft.

1. Gloster Gladiator Mk.II, B/N5585, No.247 Sqn RAF, Roborough, August 1940, flown by PO N.I.C. Francis.
2. Gloster Gladiator Mk.II, HE-K/serial unknown, No.263 Sqn RAF, Battle of Norway, Spring 1940.
3. Gloster Gladiator Mk.II, GL-255 of LLv 26, Finnish Air Force, Winter War, Finland, Mensunkangas, flown by Sgt Oiva Tuominen (44 victories in total, 6 ? on Gladiator), February 1940.
4. Gloster Gladiator Mk.II, GL-269 of 1/LLv 26, Finnish Air Force, Winter War, Finland, Utti, flown by Capt Paavo Berg (5 victories), February 1940.
5. Gloster Gladiator J-8A, "yellow A"/271 of Flygflottilj F 19 (Royal Swedish Air Force), Winter War, Finland,pilot unknown, winter 1940.
6. Gloster Gladiator J-8A, "yellow F"/284 of Flygflottilj F 19 (Royal Swedish Air Force), Winter War, Finland, Lake Kemi, flown by 2Lt F H I Iacobi, January 1940 (two marking options, one without insignia and with the death's head on the fuselage).

For those who don't like any of the choices, there are some aftermarket decals for the Gladiator available.

 

CONCLUSIONS

Yet another super kit from Ukraine's top model maker. I would bet that this will be the last boxing you'll see as I can't think of any other variants of the Gladiator. If you want the most choices and are planning to use aftermarket decals, then this is the boxing to get.