The Gloster Gladiator was the final biplane fighter to enter serve with the Royal Air Force. It entered service in 1937 and was still flying late during the war in secondary roles. It also flew with a number of other air forces.

While the first monoplane fighters were being designed for the Royal Air Force Gloster designers studied ways of making the most efficient biplane fighter possible, based on the Gloster Gauntlet.

The prototype first flew in November 1934, the RAF ordered the Gladiator in June 1935 and the first production fighters began entering service in February and March 1937.

By this time Britain was rearming and the RAF took delivery of 231 Gladiators Is and 252 upgraded Gladiator IIs.

By the time World War II began most Gladiators had been replaced in front line service but they continued in a number of secondary roles until 1944.

This model represent a RAF production aircraft, K7984.

Matchbox 1/72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in 1975.