Gloster Gladiator Mk.II with Skis F19 Swedish voluntary squadron Finland, Pilot: Fanrik Karlsson, Rovaniemi 1940

Our latest release on the 1:72 Gloster Gladiator bi-plane fighter commemorates an aircraft that was part of the Swedish Volunteer reserve force that joined the Finnish Air Force in November 1939 following an attack on the country by the Soviet Union. Although Sweden was a neutral country, its government were aware that if the Russians overtook Finland, Sweden was next in line. Between November 1939 and March 1940, the Swedish Air Force reserve regiment known as F19, flew alongside the Finns in this Winter War and successfully resisted the Russian attack, leading to a ceasefire on 13th March 1940. Swedish volunteer F?nrik (Pilot Officer) Josef Gideon Karlsson was part of the defending force against a Russian attack on the town of Rovaniemi, Lapland on 10th March 1940. Whilst on combat patrol over the town, he surprised six enemy aircraft and attacked, downing one before returning to base with a damaged propeller. He survived the war and died in Stockholm in 1972. For this release, the Gloster Gladiator comes for the first time with skis, as would have been used on the real-life aircraft. There are two silver coloured skis on each underside of the front fuselage and one under the tail. The aircraft is decorated in a dark green and pale grey camouflage scheme with pale blue underside with white, blue and yellow printed graphics. One of the many fine details on the model sees the two blade propeller being given a wooden effect with yellow propeller cap.