1/200 Grumman B-1b Gladiolus

Gumman's B-1 Gladius could have been a superb light bomber if they hadn't equipped it with Feldman V8s. Feldman may be a leading light in oval track racing but the consequences of an engine glitch are a lot more severe when you're hundreds of miles over enemy territory than when you are half a lap away from the pits.

Some unknown crew chief, exasperated with having to rebuild the same engine for the fifth time in one week, managed to persuade the de Havilland design team to come up with an installation for their (air) race proven Gypsy Six. It's not the neatest of jobs as the SIx is much longer than the Feldman and had to be slung under the wing spar so that the undercarriage now sticks out behind the trailing edge of the wing in a crude faring. It does, however, get you to the target and back without fail.

The name Gladiolus (lit. little sword) is used affectionately by the crews and also gives rise to comments such as "I'd rather be flying a flower than a broken sword".

Design from "Zeppelins and Bombers" by Patrick Koepke, used with permission. Scaled to have the same wingspan as the Bristol Blenheim light bomber.

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