1/32 Westland Whirlwind with exposed engines, guns and everything else.

[jeroenpeters]

I have three models on the go. A glass nose Me262, Hawker Tempest en this...

 

My idea is to build a Special Hobby Whirlwind with both engines and nose guns open and exposed.

Problem: the whirlwind had Rolls Royce Peregrine engines and data on them is hard to find. Very hard to find…

Special Hobby knows this and thats the reason they don’t offer an engine.

i looked for weeks and then stumbled on someone who drew up a 3d engine. By coincidence this was a fellow dutch guy. Turned out he drew it for the UK Westland Whirlwind Fighter Project. They gave him all the technical data and drawings. Took him a few years. I visited him and saw his work. He’s willing to sell it to Special Hobby and have me exclusive rights to print it for my build.

At the moment I’m drawing up the engine bearers and firewall.

 

These prints are just testshots I will not be using, since they are still missing a lot of detail.

Currently working on the engine bearers and firewall.

 

I am getting a lot of help from Gunnar Olssen who does a lot of 3d work and research for the Westland Whirlwind Fighter project in the UK.

 

 

 

 

[jeroenpeters]

More...

 

I keep making a lot of mistakes. This is a complicated plane. But Gunnar keeps steering me to the right path.

 

 

 

I'm separating the one piece flaps from the wing. This is tricky and very complicated.

 

 

[Iain]

Absolutely fabulous Jeroen - a fascinating aeroplane - look forward to seeing it come together!

 

Have a great Christmas,

 

Iain

[vvwse4]

Hi Jeroen,

 

Great subject of a great plane!!!

 

Check out the Wingleader book, it has a lot of info, but you know that already I guess.

 

Dit wordt weer een geweldig model! Fijne feestdagen!!

 

Rick.

[jeroenpeters]

Also separating the slats. Most production Whirlwinds had these fastened since they caused accidents. 

To make life easier I'm 3D drawing and printing new slats.

 

 

New 3D printed inner slat:

 

Outer slats:

 

 

 

 

 

[jeroenpeters]

Also opening up the radio hatch. This means 3D drawing a few ribs and stringers, the platform and cross beams the radio is mounted on:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jeroenpeters]

On the kit the antenna wire inlet is missing:

 

 

 

 

[jeroenpeters]

First work on the nose guns:

 

 

 

 

[jeroenpeters]

More work on the wings. Navigation lights and slats mounted.

 

 

Freshly 3d printed upper firewalls:

 

 

 

[jeroenpeters]

The 3d printed aileron. These are very thin and delicate.

Trim tabs will be added later:

[jeroenpeters]

A few pilots lived many years after the war (Like Wing Commander J.E. McClure and Group Captain L.H. Bartlett).

I managed to find a signed photo of the latter. He mainly flew Hurricanes, but also a Whirlwind (P7111) in which he damaged a Ju-88.

This means I'm making the SF-E.

 

 

 

 

 

[jeroenpeters]

28 minutes ago, vvwse4 said:

Hi Jeroen,

 

Great subject of a great plane!!!

 

Check out the Wingleader book, it has a lot of info, but you know that already I guess.

 

Dit wordt weer een geweldig model! Fijne feestdagen!!

 

Rick.

Hi Rick,

And best wishes to you too! 

Yes, I have the Wingleader book. It's a need to have, pointing out lots of small details otherwise missed.

 

Edited December 24, 2024 by jeroenpeters

[mozart]

Brilliant work Jeroen, love the way the 3D stuff augments plastic. 

[paul fisher]

What a great project! Can't wait to see this unfold....

[dennismcc]

Looks fantastic, one of my favourite aircraft.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis