Durafly (PNF) Gloster Gladiator Mk1 Biplane Fighter EPO 1100mm (43") - Flight Review

[@ThreenaddiesRexMegistus]

What a great subject for this size. I’m interested and waiting for the reveal. OK , watched now and very impressed with this model. It is nice to see unusual but visually stunning planes like this represented, and maybe there will be more Golden Age offerings. I priced it from the HK warehouse but shipping is a killer now that AU warehouse has closed. I would have pulled the trigger as the base price was AU$261.48 , but shipping boosted it to AU$504.04 and it simply doesn't make sense to pay $242.56 for delivery.

[@sputniksam]

The UK lost their regional warehouse a year ago, and we aren't allowed to order from the European warehouse. Shipping this model to the UK from the Global warehouse is $470 AUS

[@ThreenaddiesRexMegistus]

Ouch! And I thought we were hard done by. Shipping from HK Global never cost anything like this previously. But they only offered DHL on my checkout page.

[@iansummers6945]

Looks like many of us won’t be purchasing HK aircraft anymore, shipping from the other side of the world is just not worth it!

[@smallfieldflying4677]

I thought I was doing something wrong, this is a real shame.

[@bobdavis2698]

Very excited. My flying buddy and I each just ordered one. He suggested this model some time ago when you asked for recommendations. Glad you listened. I will comment again once I get it and fly it.

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Good choice!

[@andycraig8610]

Once the shipping cost from Hong Kong dropped to 30 pounds I pulled the trigger on this. It arrived very well packaged and I flew it this morning. Very impressed, great fun and looks great. Glad I got it at last. Andy in UK.

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Good stuff!

[@snoriverrc3842]

Great design, fantastic price point. Hard to believe no one else has done this model before in EPO with that sexy P-40 Razorback styling. This is every bit as sporty looking as a Pitts or Waco, and you can just tell its a fun plane to fly.

[@bobi2582]

How can I get one in the UK with only global warehouse stock and over £300 in shipping and taxes?

[@TastierBackInThe80s]

It's a great modelling subject. Something out of left field. Good job Durafly and Stu.

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Junglist3345]

I love these small Durafly models. I keep waiting for the Skyraider to be re-released......hopefully.

[@Noaxe_Tegrinde]

Beautifully designed and manufactured! NoAxe

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Yes indeed!

[@awood12345]

This looks great! Great subject choice.

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@awood12345]

@@HobbyKingOfficial Just tried to order and shipping is £300 to the UK. Looks like I won't be getting one of these them. :(

[@avipatable]

Lovely model, nice one Stuart and Durafly :)

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Glad you like it

[@hansleatherby1032]

Lovely model - well done Stuart Get the UK branch back open please By the way, I noticed you were flying the Yak at Shuttleworth in May - interesting venue

[@vespizzari]

Very nice Stuart. You know I live a biplane!

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Hey Matt, yes for sure you'd enjoy this one, flies like that old DF Se5A we kicked around back in CA ;) Stuart.

[@sanexup1038]

I always enjoy your flight reviews and demonstrations! This one is gem!

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Many thanks!

[@alfabeta22]

Nice Stuart!, little scale EPO jewel.

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Thanks!

[@DadsRCHangar]

Great Demo Stuart, love the scale features on her. Was surprised how aerobatic she was. Another great warbird 👍🏻

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Thanks 👍

[@rcdc9917]

This is a plane I would have definitely bought, but as mentioned above , the shipping is ridiculous, hobbyking we’re my go to , but I won’t buy anything from them now. Such a shame.

[@GUILLERMO.NESPOlO]

STUART ITS BACK !!!!

[@sigee32]

Nice plane. Shame I wont be buying anything from HK now the UK warehouse has closed :(

[@Kwak46]

Thanks for the great review Stuart. Ordered mine yesterday with shipping to the UK for the total of £264:00...Not too bad i think..👍🇬🇧

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Glad I could help

[@chris-jones]

this is fantastic but I question the sanity of modelling a British model that can't be bought in the UK. Any news on this Stuart? Youd have my money today if this could be sorted. surely we are a big enough market to make it worthwhile?

[@johnatkinson6759]

Global AU$261+AU$504 shipping EU AU$326+AU$645 shipping Thats a lot of money for an 1100mm Plane........that used to be in the AU$200 price range not so long ago. and FREE shipping

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

You can order from the Global warehouse with improved shipping methods

[@BreatheRC]

I would have loved one ,unfortunately postage to the UK is just putting these models way out of my reach.

[@bradrock7731]

Order now. I bet they sell out before we are done watching Stuart!

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Lets hope so, thanks for the kind words.

[@WarbirdFan66]

damn that thing looks nice, good job guys :)

[@NeedSpeedRC]

Beautiful model and great price.

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Yes indeed!

[@artesanrc]

Very nice subject but, why oh why is there no pilot in the cockpit? Surely it wouldn't add anything significant to the cost and would make it look so much better when flying.

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Actually the molded pilots we had available were a little too heavy for my liking. Still its a cockpit ready and waiting for a nice light 3Dprinted pilot. Stuart.

[@MrBlompod]

Not coming to the Australian warehouses 😭 HK why..? 😢

[@JohnVHRC]

So awesome!!

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@zeno6111753]

Love it! Always wanted a Gloster Gladiator, and this size is perfect for it. Now if it only was made in balsa... ;)

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Looks nice buddy 👊🏼

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Thanks 👍

[@Ozzienuck]

I love the biplane fighters of the 30s. Does Durafly have any plans for more aircraft in this series? I'd love to see them do an Avia 534B, Fiat CR42 Falco, Heinkel He51, and maybe a Hawker Fury. That would be a nice collection and probably prompt customers to purchase all of these. Could be a good marketing plan.

[@airhammer6203]

VERY nice Stuart!! Well done HK and Durafly. Finally a new/old BIPLANE!! At a reasonable price to. One question....does it use washers to get the downward/right motor pitch?? Good stuff HK. AirHammer out!!

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

No, its all built into the firewall as it should be ;)

[@kittonsplodge]

I can’t see why hobbyking bother these days. Their shipping costs are ridiculous.

[@300bhpton]

But has Hobbyking solved shipping to the UK yet?? I image quite a few Brits would be interested in this model. But shipping is utterly bonkers or not even available to the UK!

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Yes we have updated shipping methods from the HK warehouse to the UK, including DG. However, the Gladiator is sold out at the moment.

[@trevorgale1176]

Great job.

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Volksplane1]

Good flying

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Thanks!

[@dutchloveRC]

That is a GREAT looking Bipe!!!

[@sputniksam]

Oh come on, Stuart/Hobbyking!!!£268 to ship a few foam pieces to the UK?? Other Chinese and Hong Kong based companies can ship similar items to the UK at close to 95% less than this.

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

its being urgently looked into I am assured. These comments are making it all the way to the top, so thanks for the feedback. Stuart.

[@sputniksam]

@@HobbyKingOfficial Thank you for replying, Stuart. It wasn’t only the competitive prices that Hobbyking were renowned for but also the unique models they produced, such as the Retro-Pioneer, which I won in a HK competition and still enjoy flying today. I know the dreaded B word has a lot to do with shipping to the UK along with the new compliance regulations that the UK Government are wanting to enact, but when you look at HK’s shipping prices to the UK they are still grossly unacceptable, which leads one to think that either DHL are trying to profiteer from a bad situation or HK themselves are.

[@notbadgerbutrich]

The postage must be under £100 & more spare parts

[@henryharvey6609]

Nice airplane! Where's the Grumman Avenger???

[@smallfieldflying4677]

Hi Stuart, would love to buy this model but the cheapest shipping to the UK is £72! What's going on?

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

We're working on improving the shipping rates right now. Apologies for the current options

[@The_Pub_]

Fantastic looking plane, would love to own one, too bad Hobby king is NO Longer in Australia.. Shipping cost from overseas is just not worth it!!!! Good Bye HobbyKing...Good Bye Stuart...

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Sorry to hear that

[@coldude2559]

Nice 👍

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@jeffmaxwell7041]

Should have modeled the Fairey Swordfish with torpedo drop!….OK….Nice Gladiator though!

[@leepering6824]

Nice looking model but yet again shipping to the UK makes it a none starter!!!! £268.03 Tracking : YES Delivery 3~10 days

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

You can order from the Global warehouse with improved shipping methods

[@jjs3287]

Well done Stuart, looks and flies great but.....I cant afford to get it shipped to the UK for £72! Thats crazy!

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Sorry to hear that

[@jjs3287]

@@HobbyKingOfficial Is there a reason for this? Why cant we order from the EU warehouse?

[@andysmith4394]

Is hobby king still in the uk Stuart 🤙🏻🇬🇧

[@ChaileyLeavers11]

Nope can't buy any HK stuff in UK now

[@andysmith4394]

@@ChaileyLeavers11 thanks

[@salvatorealessandrino945]

Hallo i shoot place a plasticbox With velcro and i put on the battery a piece of plastic with also vecro and the piece of plastic with two plastic bands i dont no if that is a goog idea I see that put o a other plane and he dont can be loose greetings

[@chopperharly]

ALL warehouses ??????

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

You can order from the Global warehouse with improved shipping methods

[@chopperharly]

@@HobbyKingOfficial HK Post Speedpost Service 3501g - 4000g £73.28 cheers but NO

[@mrvoyagerm]

Looks like you have once again done your homework Stuart. I am sure people are looking for an interesting scale subject that incidentally fits in the car in one piece.

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

The Durafly Gloster Gladiator Painting and Weathering Part 1 Blog Article: bit.ly/3yxZpfd

[@kevelliott]

A Pitts in Gladiator's clothing! Never was a prettier biplane.....

[@kittonsplodge]

And only £826 shipping to the U.K.!

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

You can order from the Global warehouse with improved shipping methods

[@bearsyandwee]

Not many will be coming to the UK following a £568 delivery estimate for one and some spare parts

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

You can order from the Global warehouse with improved shipping methods

[@darrinbunston5932]

Your wife probably thinks you work for a toy store😁🤭👍🏻

[@darrinbunston5932]

But we are all big kids when it comes to the Hobby

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

You got that right!

[@CyberChrist]

Having crashed a P38 in trees, these power lines make me nervous :P

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

They are MUCH further away than they look. Stuart.

[@CyberChrist]

@@HobbyKingOfficial Of course, and you're a far better pilot than I am, which doesn't hurt ^^ But every time, I'm nervous nonetheless like I'm watching Top Gun Maverick ^^

[@williamb.9110]

Stuart, you could fly a turd with wings and make it look good. Good job!

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

lol, better yet give me two wings ;) but honestly the Gladiator is a very sweet flier. Stuart.

[@gazza4230]

Stu you’re the man but another one I can’t buy it’s not your fault like I say I like watching your reviews please open new warehouse in uk or sort eu one out unfortunately it’s all politics and money nowadays nice review of plane stu 🤘

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Thanks for the feedback, it is being passed on. Stuart.

[@bearsyandwee]

Quick follow up to my last post total was £975 for one and spares. EU warehouse wont post to UK though every other retailer does!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

You can order from the Global warehouse with improved shipping methods

[@ethantreat3548]

Idc what my bank account looks like the moment I see this baby in the store she’s mine

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Go ahead 'treat' yourself ;)

[@looneytunes47]

For a Biplane the Gladiator was actually pretty fast at 257 mph the only biplane that was faster was the Fiat CR42 coming in at 272 mph So for Bipes they were pretty fast at the time

[@allanknights136]

Stuart,....I notice that you/HK never reply to complaints about shipping costs to the UK It's costs £268 to ship, that's twice the cost of the model...then add the model....£402 total. I know all shipping costs in the world have gone up but this is ridiculous. I know you are are going to say ...its nothing to do with us at HK. Rubbish, a company your size can negotiate with your shippers. Does the UK market not matter to you? Why are we not on your European list ( and don't try and blame Brexit). If you can't answer these questions then get your bosses to ... We in the UK demand so answers.

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

You can order from the Global warehouse with improved shipping methods

[@mariuskah3969]

Après près de deux mois, d’attente, le problème a enfin été solutionné ; par conséquent, je retire mon avis négatif.

[@lysander301]

Very nice but HoobyKing never have any stock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

in stock now in the US and next week in the EU

[@lysander301]

But not in the UK???????????@@HobbyKingOfficial

[@scottwells7797]

More comments on the shipping of this great looking plane rather than how it flies... LOOK AT THIS GREAT PLANE.... OH BY THE WAY, YOU CAN'T BUY IT UNLESS YOUR FILTHY RICH.... Stuart I know u doing all u can but as u can see there are a lot of frustrated people all ready to give HK there money for the right price.

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

You can order from the Global warehouse with improved shipping methods