The Gloster Gauntlet came into RAF service in 1935 at Duxford with 19 Squadron (later to be the first to be equipped with Spitfires). The Gauntlet was the apotheosis of the WW1 open cockpit fighter plane, having a top speed of 230mph, outstripping the beautifully streamlined Hawker Fury by 15mph. Sublime performance combined with superlative handling qualities gave the RAF a wonderful aerobatic aircraft as well as a very stable gun platform. Whilst it was soon to be replaced by the Gladiator, the latter’s enclosed cockpit never quite gave it the same appeal to many pilots, losing the “wind in your hair” romance.

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I want to do a two-blade Watts prop Gauntlet, so I was able to get hold of an AIMS one that was intended for the Gladiator, though I believe that John has now done one specifically for the Gauntlet. I'm also using the AIMS Gladiator Mk 1 PE sheet to enhance the cockpit area, not that it's 100% accurate I think but near enough:

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By Silver Wings' standards, the cockpit structure fitted together incredibly easily and is now ready to be painted. I'm not certain what colour it should all be, but going by contemporary aircraft such as the Bulldog and Fury I intend doing the framework black and the internal cockpit sides dull silver. I intend adding a few levers and "black boxes" to the fuselage sides to give a better idea of a busy cockpit!

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Yes it is easy George, once you know how! I very much like the format as I've said previously especially with the ease of uploading photographs. Thank you for your help to date.

Mainly a day of gathering information today, three key points learned. Firstly about the only (certainly flying) Gauntlet in the world in Finland, albeit not with the "proper" Mercury engine. I watched 28 minutes of an in cockpit flying display of this aircraft, and right at the end as the pilot got out of the plane I managed to grab this screen-shot of the seat etc.

So much information in this picture, with the obvious caveat of course that this is a machine flying 80 years after the RAF ones, but the AIMS seat design is confirmed and that interesting apparently leather "handle?" on the port side of the seat. Also the "handbrake" on the starboard side. (I have since been informed that the leather “handle” is in fact a patch designed to prevent chaffing from the parachute metalwork (short for more technical terms). You can also see it on many British planes of the period like the Gladiator and the Hurricane. The “handbrake” on the starboard side is a seat-adjusting lever.) Other cockpit shots which include quite a bit of modern equipment, I need to sort out what is and what isn't!

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Having this drawing I thought I'd see how the Silver Wings kit measured against it, pretty much spot on...hats off to Simon and his team!

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You are certainly into a very deep and thorough research, my friend @maxw! Indeed, you cannot assume that restored planes are always hundred percent authentic looking, for the exact reasons you mentioned. Nice that the kit measures well. I really loved your "spy" pictures from the restored Gauntlet's cockpit!
Looking forward to this superb project 's progress!

Incredible research, Max @maxw
Amazing pictures of the past and the current Gauntlet.
Your work on the cockpit looks amazing.