Profile Photo
Rafi Ben-Shahar
377 articles

Airfix 1/48 Bulldog Mk.II

August 27, 2024 · in Aviation · · 32 · 352

A well designed and highly detailed kit. Yet, it is a build challenge. It seems that the intricate detailing of parts is beyond the styrene material molding abilities. For example, propeller and engine parts leave gaps in connection points. The trailing edges of the wings are thick. In addition, rigging is difficult with the cramped space between the wing halves and the parallel wires across the wings.
In all, the 1/32nd scale would be more appropriate for this model aircraft type.

Reader reactions:
26  Awesome 3  3  2 

10 additional images. Click to enlarge.


32 responses

  1. Excellent work, Rafi. I bought this kit last month but havenโ€™t started it because the rigging attachment points seem counter intuitive to me. Thanks for blazing the trail!

  2. Great looking Bulldog,Rafi. Even in 1/48th scale, your detail and craftsmanship show through. Does anyone make a 1/32nd scale Bulldog? I've never looked for one.

  3. Interestingly, the 60-year old Inpact/Pyro/Lifelike/Lindberg 1/48 Bulldog has none of those problems, having built several. You do have to scratch a cockpit, but that's hardly a problem.

    It's surprising to hear your list of shortcomings for a 2024 kit.

    You still managed your old trick of outwitting the plastic and turning out a great model.

  4. Great result, Rafi, it looks like you won that battle. I've always liked the Bulldog, I built the Life Like kit a few years ago, stil one of my favorites,

  5. It's a nice first biplane - well done. I particularly like the way you've done the wheel covers though they should be red to match the propeller boss. Bristol rigging is never easy (they always did like double flying wires) so nicely done there as well. What did you use for rigging?

    • Thank you Christopher.
      Instructions insist that the wheel covers are green.
      I used copper wires.
      There is a new PE set for rigging that can ease the build work.

      • RAF wheel covers either followed the flight colours red, yellow or blue, or were silver (before they were painted in flight colours). Airfix have made a mistake here. That doesn't detract from the excellent finish you managed.

  6. An excellent result with the Bulldog Rafi, well done.

  7. Superb result out of this challenging kit, Rafi!
    Congratulations!

  8. Despite the shortcomings of this kit, you build it beautifully, Rafi @blackmopane
    A fine looking Bulldog.

  9. Very beautiful, Rafi @blackmopane. I am currently going insane with the rigging on the Walrus, you seem to be a master of this! The green looks great by the way.

  10. Great painting! What is over wings in center?

  11. Top work on a great between the wars bi-plane, Rafi! ๐Ÿ‘ She does look very handsome, obviously a lot of craftsmanship went into this build. ๐Ÿ‘ I love the warbirds of this period and have a nice collection of unbuilt subjects...all are too intimidating to my old eyes and hands with all the rigging work required. The Lindberg Bulldog is among that group; I wager it will never get built now.

  12. Excellent build. I still want to buy this kit (because I like a lot of the interwar planes) but the enthusiasm is lower thanks to some of the issues.

  13. An excellent build of a difficult subject for the scale. A gem!

Leave a Reply