Special Hobby's Whirlwind in 1/32nd.
I've always had a soft spot for the Westland Whirlwind: whether it's because of the unusual design with its high set tail, or just reading about it in various aircraft recognition books, I don't know. My modelling experience with the type started with the Classic Airframes kit, which I completed years ago, along with a metal mainspar & lots of filler around the engine nacelles; but, it looked the part, except for a vac form canopy which went yellow with age & ultimately led to its demise. Nothing further until Trumpeter, which I didn't bother with.
Special Hobby has been a mixed blessing for me: some good kits & some not, but they reached a very high mark with their excellent Hawker Tempest, which I enjoyed immensely. The subject of today's post however; not so much.
Good in parts. Proportions seemed OK & general feel & appearance also very good. I found that there was an over supply of incredibly small parts which I felt were needlessly complicated & poorly designed (flare chutes, undercarriage oleos & struts & u/c door retraction links as well as cockpit console construction). The instructions weren't included in the box either, which led me to think that I had received a test shot, although they were easy enough to download.
However, my griping is over; the kit completed, to my satisfaction (sort of) and on the plus side, fit was good, cockpit transparencies excellent, as were the decals. In other areas a bit of creative thinking was called for. All up it took me around five months to build as my enthusiasm waxed & waned. My first build for 2024 though & I'm happy to have a new model of one of my favourite aircraft at last!
Hope you like it.
Awesome result on the challenging SH kit, Tony! The finished model definitely captures the particular and very charming looks of the Whirlwind.
Congratulations!
Wishing you a Happy, Prosperous 2024!
Thanks for your comments Spiros; much appreciated. Best wishes for 2024!
Excellent all over, Tony @tony-prince
Nice details and great paint work.
Glad you like it John. Thanks.
Many thanks John & happy New Year!
Glad you finished it. My experience of the kit was 180 out from yours (there's a review I wrote on it over at Modeling Madness).
Nice work on it and a nice result therefrom.
Thanks Tom. I read your review & I guess I might be a bit picky. Lots of birthdays & poor eyesight don't help either. Now that it's finished & I can sit back & look at it. I do feel happy with the result.
It turned out for well… looks excellent.
A very unique looking aircraft.
Thank you Jay.
Beautiful build, Toni! Fantastic paintjob, love it!
Glad you like it Felix. Paints are Tamiya (thinned) & Valejo Air.
Great looking model of a good looking plane.
Thanks George; much appreciated!
I'll call that a winner, great job.
Thanks Bill. Appreciate your comments!
Looks great! I also like the Whirlwind - those big Merlins hanging on such slender-looking wings, that T-tail, and all those guns poking out of the nose - what's not to like?!
Thanks Greg. Exactly! There are some interesting photos of an experimental proposal for 4 cannon + 3 machine guns & another for 12 x .303 Machine guns. Didn't happen, although photos are in the 4+ book on the Whirlwind. Wonder what the recoil would do to the speed if they were all fired at once?
Turned out very well. @tony-prince
Thanks John; glad you like it.