Home / Model Kits / Free Flight Rubber Powered Airplane Kits / FF-98LC Gloster Gladiator (LASER CUT)
 
Used primarily by the Royal Air Force and Navy, the Gloster Gladiator was the last British biplane fighter. Introduced in 1937, this single-seat day fighter was used during World War II by Britain and the armed forces in 13 other countries. 756 were produced. The Gladiator was a vital stopgap fighter ahead of the forthcoming Hurricane and Spitfire projects then being designed. It appeared at a time when monoplanes were already eclipsing biplanes and yet the Gladiator achieved wartime fame in the hands of skilled pilots, fighting some of the most dramatic battles of the early war years.

During the siege of Malta in 1940, the entire island of Malta was protected by a small force of Gladiators, giving rise to the myth that only 3 Sea Gladiator aircraft, unofficially named FAITH, HOPE, and GLORY formed the entire air defense of the island. There were actually 18 aircraft from the 802 Squadron Fleet Air Arm (FAA), some of which were being used for spare parts while the other flew in rotation.


Kit FF-98LC Gloster Gladiator is a 1/22 scale, flying model. This kit is based on a wonderful plan and printing plates found in the Easy Built Models' archives, dated 1939. Redrawn by David Niedzielski for reissue as a LASER CUT kit, the plan has been updated to present day construction techniques. Eligible for Society of Antique Modelers (SAM) and Flying Aces Club contests.
 
This free flight rubber powered kit contains a full-size rolled CAD drawn plan, building and flying instructions, LASER CUT balsa parts, hand-picked balsa strip wood, FAI SuperSport rubber motor, Peck nose package, propeller, vacuum-molded canopy, wheels, wire, Easy Built Lite tissue in olive, dark brown, black and white, and TissueCal™ markings, printed tissue like decals but much lighter. You will need a building board, pins, hobby knife, fine sandpaper, and glue.

FF-98LC Gloster Gladiator  
Wingspan: 18"
Class: Scale flyer
Building Skill / Flying Skill: Experienced / Experienced
Price: $27.95 Add to shopping cart


Replacement vacuum-molded canopy. Price: $3.26 Add to shopping cart

Replacement TissueCal™ markings. TissueCal™ markings are much lighter than press-on or water slide decals because they are printed directly on the tissue. Price: $3.46 Add to shopping cart

 
Customer photos:

Kit includes a fixed pitch prop. Variable pitch prop shown in the photos of the protype is not included. The prototype used a single loop of 3/16" FAI SuperSport rubber. Flying weight was 34 grams.


 

 

 
Balsa Model Airplane Kit, Balsa flies better.