Oxford Diecast Oxford Aviation AC122
Gloster Gladiator Mk I Diecast Model
RAF No.72 Sqn, K6130, RAF Church Fenton, England, 1937 |
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Gloster Gladiator Mk I | | 4.5" | | 5.25" |
RAF Church Fenton in Yorkshire was opened in April 1937 as a result of the RAF's massive expansion programme and in response to the escalating military activity in Germany under Adolf Hitler. The station was intended as a fighter base to protect the North's industrial cities and was home to both offensive and defensive squadrons as part of No. 13 Group, including No. 72 Squadron, who had been allocated the Gloster Gladiators.
Despite being one of the remaining survivors of a previous aviation era, the Gladiator was also one of the last Allied bi-planes to see service in WWII and its career in the conflict came to an end in May 1940, when it was superseded by the superior and more up to date Hurricane. However, the Gladiator played an ongoing role in home based reconnaissance duties rather than active combat.
This 1:72 scale replica of K6130 Gladiator Mk I is decorated in all over silver with red and blue markings. The RAF roundel features on the upper and lower wings as well as along the fuselage. Intricate detail includes rust brown exhaust pipe and lighter brown cowling edge. The tyres, guns and engine are black and the wheel hubs are finished in bright red.
K6130 was subsequently transferred overseas and on 18th July 1940 while flying over Egypt in cloud, the plane crashed into a hill, killing the RAF pilot and it was totally destroyed.
Designed as an improvement over the Gauntlet, the Gladiator was first flown on September 12th, 1934. The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter, used by the Royal Air Force and Navy and exported to a number of other air forces. Though often pitted against more advanced modern aircraft, it achieved wartime fame in the hands of skilled pilots, fighting some of the most dramatic battles of the early war years. Sea Gladiators were successful as carrier-based aircraft because their slower speed made them suitable for carrier operations, and because they were less likely to be facing modern fighter opposition. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Oxford Diecast "Oxford Aviation" range presents affordable, ready made diecast models of military aircraft.
Oxford Diecast "Oxford Aviation" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal and plastic construction.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Permanently retracted landing gear.
- Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Fixed, non-spinning plastic propellers.
- No pilot figures.
© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
