Greek interwar donation aircraft
An interesting sidelight of the interwar Royal Hellenic Air Force (RHAF) was the existence of donation aircraft presented by expat Greeks living in Cairo. There were two such donations and both were modern biplane fighters - the Avia B.534 and the Gloster Gladiator. Some time ago I bought a Eduard 1/72 Avia B.534 dual combo but found the experience of building one of the kits so dispiriting that I left the second. Stumbling across the Greek Avia B.534 my interest was revised and I was able to find decals to build one of the Greek aircraft. The Gladiator followed later - it's the modern Airfix kit.
History
The Avia B.534 first entered service with the Czech Air Force in 1935. Problems were encountered with the first series wing mounted armament and as a result, the fuselage was redesigned to house 4 instead of two guns. About this time the RHAF was very interested in the B.534 as its replacement fighter. A delegation visited the Avia factory in 1936 but didn't order any. However, a Cairo based Greek millionaire Georgios Koutarellis also happened to visit the factory and was so impressed that he placed an order for two B.534 Series II aircraft. He might have been part of the delegation but I haven't been able to ascertain if that was so but he was able to purchase the planes and donate them to the RHAF. These aircraft were the first two production Series II planes and were allocated the production numbers B.534.1001 and 1002 by the Czechs which also became the initial RHAF serial nos. The RHAF later allocated the serial nos. ΔK.1 and ΔK.2 to the aircraft. The aircraft were successfully used as tactical trainers but were re-armed and prepared for combat during WW2. ΔK.1 was damaged in a forced landing on 24th January 1941 and disappears from the record after being transferred to the KEA for repair. The other aircraft, ΔK.2 was destroyed at Amfikleia Airfield, during a German strafing raid (Bf 109s).
The second donation was two Gloster Gladiators. Once again it was a gift from a Cairo based Greek businessman - Stylianos Sarpakis - who had a successful lithography factory in Cairo printing cigarette papers among other things. Like the earlier donation, the Hellenic Air Force was interested in buying Gladiators but they ended up with PZL P.24s instead as these were cheaper. Sarpakis was able to purchase two Gladiator Mk.1s for £9,200 and like Koutarellis donated them to the Royal Hellenic Air Force. This time the aircraft were both named. Aircraft ΔΣ 1 was named Στυλιανός Σαρπάκης (Stylianos Sarpakis) and aircraft ΔΣ 2 Σαντορίνη Θήρα (Santorini Thira) after his birthplace. Like the two B.534s they were used as tactical trainers. With the Italian and German invasions they were armed and used on active service in conjunction with the ex-RAF Gladiators the RHAF received but no information exists on their eventual fates.
Decals
I was interested in making models of both aircraft - as I mentioned the Eduard B.534 series II came first but I needed to find the decals first. HR Models did a series of 1/72 Avia B.534s and had done a Greek boxing so I was pleased to find that they also did a separate decals sheet for the Greek aircraft. This is quite comprehensive covering the entire history of both aircraft from beginning to end with variations clearly explained. Availability is patchy but I was able to get one of the reprints and chose to do the initial colour scheme without fuselage roundels. The decals themselves are fragile but colour saturation is nice. For the Gladiator I found that LM Decals of Greece do a sheet for aircraft ΔΣ 1 which is printed to order but in any scale the modeller desires (LMX 0097). These decals are printed on a continuous film so one cuts round the markings before applying. They go down well and are a very high quality sheet. Neither set comes with stencils but if one has the Airfix Gladiator one gets the superb Cartograph printed sheet with every possible Gladiator stencil one can wish for. Everything is legible (even if you need magnification). Stencils for the B.534 were much more limited and one can get away with the mediocre Eduard decals to finish off the model.
The models
I didn't enjoy the Eduard B.534 at all but it is accurate and well detailed. It includes an extensive etched brass set which is very useful. One has to be careful with the fit though - even a little paint on the mating surfaces can throw alignment off. The build is straightforward and one ends up with a nice looking replica. Paint was the Eduard Mr Color recommendations with very few of the stencils being used. The Airfix Gladiator is a much more pleasant affair and a fun build but I did go to town on the aftermarket. I used an Eduard cockpit set, SBS replacement Mercury engine, external details and rigging set. The rigging set is not very good but can be used. Also necessary was the Greek improvised windscreen guard plate which was a piece of plasticard cut to size. Paint was Tamiya enamels and the LM decals settled down nicely. One other thing to watch out for using the Eduard cockpit set is that they have managed to get the replacement cockpit floor wrong way round in the instructions. Rotate it round 180 degrees to get the correct set up.
Conclusion
I'm very happy with both models. The HR decals enabled me to finish the Eduard kit and produce something that looks good. The Airfix kit with LM decals stands out as something different and is the best Gladiator on the market. It's interplane strut solution is innovatory and effective and it builds easily and well.
Very beautiful build, Christopher @christopher. The greek scheme is very nice. I built the Airfix Gladiator recently and enjoyed it very much, the SBS rigging set surely helped!
Thanks ever so much Felix - much appreciated
Great builds and narrative Christopher. I do like the Avia, very neat lines. Nice one 👍
Thanks Guy - the Avia is a very neat looking aircraft. It has a similar appeal to the Hawker Fury and Fairey Firefly IIM, both also very nice looking.
Great job on two interesting planes.
Thanks ever so much John - very much appreciated
What a superb result, Christopher!
Congratulations!
Thanks for the very kind comments, Spiros
Both do look superb, Christopher @christopher
Thanks a lot for the article.
My pleasure and thanks for your kind comments.
Both very nice builds - well done!
Many, many thanks Greg - you're very kind.
An interesting narrative to go with 2 very nice builds, have to agree that the Airfix Gladiator is a great model.
Thanks ever so kindly Ian. This is my second Airfix Gladiator and I enjoyed it as much as the first one.