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S.B.S. Model 1/72 Gloster Gladiator (J8, J8A) in Swedish Service

By Matt Bittner

As I’ve previously mentioned the Airfix 1/72 Gloster Gladiator is a top-notch model with plenty of built-up examples shown on-line. If you want to finish your Gladiator in other than British markings you do have Finnish examples by S.B.S. Model but now you also have Swedish birds to build as well. S.B.S. Model has released two sets of markings for the Gladiator. The first set, D72005, contains four separate aircraft:

J 8A (Gladiator Mk.II) nr. 48 (Air Force nr. 278), Fighter Wing F 8, Barkarby 1939, Olive Green upperside and bright blue-gray underside J 8 (Gladiator Mk.I) nr. 1 (Air Force nr. 231), Fighter Wing F 8, Barkarby 1938, aluminum dope overall J 8 (Gladiator Mk.I) nr. 5 (Air Force nr. 235), Fighter Wing F 8, Barkarby 1937-1938, aluminum dope overall J 8 (Gladiator Mk.I) ‘25’, Fighter Wing F 9, Go(umlaut)teborg 1940, Olive green upperside and bright blue-gray underside

The second sheet, D72006, also contains four Gladiators:

J 8A (Gladiator Mk.II) no. 284, Yellow ‘F’, Swedish Voluntary Wing F 19, pilot Ian Iacobi, Finland 1940, Olive green upperside and bright blue-gray underside with aluminum dope strips over paint (aircraft depicted with skis) J 8A (Gladiator Mk.II) no. 278, Yellow ‘H’, Swedish Voluntary Wing F 19, pilot Martin Wennerstro(umlaut)m, Finland 1940, Olive green upperside with bright blue-gray underside with aluminum dope strips over paint (aircraft depicted with skis) J 8A (Gladiator Mk.II) no. 279, Yellow ‘G’ (Mahatma Gandhi), Swedish Voluntary Wing F 19, pilot Arne Frykholm, Kauhava, Finland, March 1940, Olive green upperside and bright blue-gray underside with aluminum dope strips over paint (if wanting to depict the same aircraft during the conflict then follow the instructions for Yellow ‘F’ and do no use the “skull and cross bone” insignia – aircraft depicted with skis) J 8 (Gladiator Mk.I) ‘nr 10’, Fighter Wing F 8, 2nd division Bulltofta 1939 autumn, Olive green upperside and bright blue-gray underside

All decals are really well done and appear to be in register.

So, if you’re looking for Swedish markings to finish your Airfix (or any other) 1/72 Gloster Gladiator in, S.B.S. Model has you covered with these two releases.

Many, many thanks to S.B.S. Model for sending these sheets in to review. Now where did I put my Airfix Gladiator?