Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA36211
Gloster Sea Gladiator Diecast Model
RNFAA No.802 NAS, N5519, HMS Glorious, 1939 | Limited Edition
1000
Pieces Worldwide |
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| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Gloster Sea Gladiator | | 4.5" | | 5.25" |
The beautiful Gloster Gladiator represented the absolute pinnacle of biplane fighter design, but entered service just as the first of the fast monoplane fighters were already dictating the future of aerial warfare. A thoroughbred aircraft in every sense of the word, the Gladiator was the last biplane fighter to enter RAF service and the first to feature a fully enclosed cockpit. Highly manoeuvrable and extremely fast by biplane standards, the Gladiator also served with the Royal Navy, with aircraft modified for operations at sea by the inclusion of a strengthened fuselage, arrester hook and catapult spools, as well as provision for the stowage of an inflatable dinghy. Sea Gladiator N5519 wears the attractive pre-war colours of No.802 NAS, serving on board HMS Glorious, with the black fin marking this aircraft as the Squadron Commander's mount. All twelve of the 802 NAS Sea Gladiators based on HMS Glorious were lost during operations in the defence of Norway in June 1940, when the carrier was sunk by the German Battleship Scharnhorst. Former 802 NAS Gloster Sea Gladiator N5519 was not on board HMS Glorious when the ship tragically went down in the Norwegian Sea and was actually one of the most famous of all the 747 Gloster Gladiators produced. Left behind on the Island of Malta when the rest of No.802 NAS returned to the UK, N5519 was one of the celebrated "Defenders of Malta" - a handful of Gladiators who provided air cover for the Island against significantly superior numbers of Italian Air Force aircraft. Based at RAF Hal Far, these Gladiators fought valiantly and took on almost mythical status when they were later christened "Faith, Hope and Charity" by a Maltese newspaper - N5519 was the aircraft referred to as "Charity". This famous Sea Gladiator claimed a number of aerial victories during the battles that raged in the skies over Malta, but was to eventually fall victim to a fighter of the Regia Aeronautica. In late July 1940, N5519 "Charity" was being flown by F/O Peter Hartley during heavy fighting above Grand Harbour when his aircraft was hit in the fuel tank by an Italian Fiat CR.42 Falco. The Gladiator burst into flames and crashed into the sea just off the south-east coast of the Island - although badly burned, the pilot parachuted into the sea and following a lengthy period of treatment and recuperation, returned to flying duties. Gloster Sea Gladiator N5519 "Charity" was the only Malta Sea Gladiator to be shot down during aerial combat over the Island. 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 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc. Corgi's 1:72 scale Gladiator series includes the early two bladed propeller Mk I, the three bladed propeller Mk II and a Sea Gladiator (an Mk II fitted with an arrester hook). The models in this series faithfully recreate this aircraft, the last RAF biplane fighter. Features include fine gauge wire to simulate the structural bracing wires found between the wings the rear control surfaces, two machine gun pods under the lower wing and two almost hidden synchronized guns mounted on the sides of the fuselage. The radial engine is nicely detailed and clearly visible through the cowling. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc. The Corgi "Aviation Archive" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The vast Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight, and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. Famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation are all honored. Corgi "Aviation Archive" diecast airplanes feature: - Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
- Poseable presention stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
- Detailed, hand-painted pilot and crew member figures.
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Selected interchangeable features such as speed-brakes, opened canopies and access panels.
- Selected moving parts such as gun turrets, control surfaces and swing-wings.
© Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc. |
