Carl_Brisgamer
11-27-2012, 19:05
Hi all,
I originally posted this one in the Painting showcase but thought I would cross post here for ease of reference by forum members looking for examples of this type of aircraft in metal.
WGS - 1/200 scale Air 200 Gloster Gladiator Mk.II's 3 Squadron RAAF
Dave's effort with 'Faith', 'Hope' and 'Charity' prompted me to finish off a couple of Gladiators I've had on the back burner for a couple of years. Aaron (afilter on this forum) picked them up for me from 'Last Square' in March 2010, thanks wingman! I was initially going to complete them as 615 Sqn RAF in France 1940, but decided to make them Australian Gladiators.
67030
3 Squadron RAAF was equipped with Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters from September 1940 to January 1941, seeing heavy combat against the Regia Aeronautica in the skies of North Africa. 3 Squadron’s Gladiators were finished in the four colour ‘counter shading camouflage’ with dark earth/dark green on the top of the upper wing and upper fuselage, and light earth/light green on the top of the lower wing and lower part of the fuselage. The underside was painted black and white divided down the centre-line with no under-wing roundels.
67029
Z NW was a Gloster Gladiator Mk.II received from the Royal Egyptian Air Force and flown on 14 combat sorties by 3 Sqn RAAF. On 19/11/40 F/L Alan Rawlinson damaged a Fiat CR42 Falco whilst flying this aircraft, and on 25/1/41 F/O Peter Turnbull damaged a Fiat G.50. Rawlinson survived the war with 8 kills, leading 78 Fighter Wing RAAF in Borneo in 1945 and finally retiring from the RAF as group Captain in 1961. Turnbull was killed in action as CO of 76 Sqn RAAF flying a P-40E during a ground attack mission at Milne Bay in New Guinea on 27 August 1942. At the time of his death Turnbull had been credited with 10 victories.
67028
G NW was another Gloster Gladiator Mk.II received from 33 Sqn RAF and flown on 13 sorties from 15/11/40. On 19/11/40 flying this aircraft F/O Alan Boyd shot down three Fiat CR42 Falcos and claimed a fourth probably destroyed. Boyd was a true biplane ace scoring 6 kills in six weeks in November and December 1940, all Italian Falcos. This aircraft was shot down in combat with CR42s near Sollum on 13/12/40, with the pilot F/O Wilfred ‘Woof’ Arthur parachuting to safety. ‘Woof’ Arthur ended the war a Group Captain with 8 kills and was party to the so-called ‘Morotai Mutiny’ by senior RAAF fighter pilots in the SW Pacific in 1945. There is a card in 'The Last Biplanes' card set for F/O Boyd's Gladiator (card no. 9/72).
67027
The metal Air200 miniatures were challenging, with the struts not fitting quite right. This was a particular problem with the cabane struts, many of which were far too short. I began yearning for a resin miniature for a while there. The roundel and fin flash decals are Shed Models and the letters are white railroad gothic from Microscale. Despite this I am happy with the overall result, they look fine as gaming pieces. Can't wait to fly them against CR42's in the new year.
I originally posted this one in the Painting showcase but thought I would cross post here for ease of reference by forum members looking for examples of this type of aircraft in metal.
WGS - 1/200 scale Air 200 Gloster Gladiator Mk.II's 3 Squadron RAAF
Dave's effort with 'Faith', 'Hope' and 'Charity' prompted me to finish off a couple of Gladiators I've had on the back burner for a couple of years. Aaron (afilter on this forum) picked them up for me from 'Last Square' in March 2010, thanks wingman! I was initially going to complete them as 615 Sqn RAF in France 1940, but decided to make them Australian Gladiators.
67030
3 Squadron RAAF was equipped with Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters from September 1940 to January 1941, seeing heavy combat against the Regia Aeronautica in the skies of North Africa. 3 Squadron’s Gladiators were finished in the four colour ‘counter shading camouflage’ with dark earth/dark green on the top of the upper wing and upper fuselage, and light earth/light green on the top of the lower wing and lower part of the fuselage. The underside was painted black and white divided down the centre-line with no under-wing roundels.
67029
Z NW was a Gloster Gladiator Mk.II received from the Royal Egyptian Air Force and flown on 14 combat sorties by 3 Sqn RAAF. On 19/11/40 F/L Alan Rawlinson damaged a Fiat CR42 Falco whilst flying this aircraft, and on 25/1/41 F/O Peter Turnbull damaged a Fiat G.50. Rawlinson survived the war with 8 kills, leading 78 Fighter Wing RAAF in Borneo in 1945 and finally retiring from the RAF as group Captain in 1961. Turnbull was killed in action as CO of 76 Sqn RAAF flying a P-40E during a ground attack mission at Milne Bay in New Guinea on 27 August 1942. At the time of his death Turnbull had been credited with 10 victories.
67028
G NW was another Gloster Gladiator Mk.II received from 33 Sqn RAF and flown on 13 sorties from 15/11/40. On 19/11/40 flying this aircraft F/O Alan Boyd shot down three Fiat CR42 Falcos and claimed a fourth probably destroyed. Boyd was a true biplane ace scoring 6 kills in six weeks in November and December 1940, all Italian Falcos. This aircraft was shot down in combat with CR42s near Sollum on 13/12/40, with the pilot F/O Wilfred ‘Woof’ Arthur parachuting to safety. ‘Woof’ Arthur ended the war a Group Captain with 8 kills and was party to the so-called ‘Morotai Mutiny’ by senior RAAF fighter pilots in the SW Pacific in 1945. There is a card in 'The Last Biplanes' card set for F/O Boyd's Gladiator (card no. 9/72).
67027
The metal Air200 miniatures were challenging, with the struts not fitting quite right. This was a particular problem with the cabane struts, many of which were far too short. I began yearning for a resin miniature for a while there. The roundel and fin flash decals are Shed Models and the letters are white railroad gothic from Microscale. Despite this I am happy with the overall result, they look fine as gaming pieces. Can't wait to fly them against CR42's in the new year.