Roden 405 Gloster Sea Gladiator 1:48

In the mid 1930s the Royal Navy required an urgent replacement for obsolete fighters like the Hawker Nimrod and Hawker Osprey. A truly modern aircraft (the future Fairey Fulmar) was being developed to the specification P.4/34; however, at the time of the Munich Crisis the Royal Navy was dangerously unprotected. The Gloster Company suggested a re-design of the Gladiator fighter according to Naval requirements.

The first 38 planes were modified Gladiator Mk.IIs. A new brake lever was installed, and TR.9 marine radio equipment, as well as air speed indicators calibrated in knots. In December 1938, the first 13 interim Sea Gladiators were transferred to the Worsey Down base for training. Other machines were shared between Hetston, Eastlate and Doneybristle, and several more planes were delivered to Adena for further transfer to aircraft carriers in the Indian Ocean.

At the beginning of 1939 the Sea Gladiator still did not have an adequate replacement, and the Navy signed a contract with the Gloster Company for the production of an additional 60 aircraft. In accordance with specification F. 36/37 this had to be properly marinised; apart from the brake lever, catapult clips and a ventral container with the rubber lifeboat were installed.

At the 1st of September 1939 when WWII started, the Navy was equipped with 12 Sea Gladiators (Interim) and 42 late Sea Gladiators (sometimes this type is called Sea Gladiator Mk.II, however the name has never been official).