Roden 1/48 Gloster Gladiator Mk.I | 408

  In the early thirties of XX century the majority of RAF fighter squadrons were equipped with obsolete Bristol Bulldog and Gloster Gauntlet types. At this moment first designs of monoplane fighters appeared, but all of them were unfinished. Gloster's chief designer H.P. Folland conducted a detailed examination of the Gauntlet design with the purpose of improving main performances. Gauntlet's wings with two-bay units were changed into the single-bay units with strengthened main spars, landing gear was also redesigned -- internally-sprung wheel assemblies mounted on cantilever struts. New plane was equipped with more powerful Bristol Mercury VIS engine, armament increased up to four machine guns (two-in fuselage, two-under the lower wings). Prototype of the new fighter with factory designations SS.37 was tested in September 1934 and reached maximum speed of 242 mph (389 km/h). Air Ministry issued Specification F.14/35 and ordered 23 aircrafts of this type which soon received its own nam