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Special Hobby Westland Whirlwind Mk 1


Iain

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I was really bored this evening and I went over to that "other site". to look at what's new.  (HS).  I'm really interested in that NEW Gaspath Me 163.  There is a video of what in the box for the Me 163 kit but at the end of the video Brett Green picks up his in progress 1:32 Whirlwind and shows off the c/p and built up aircraft pictures.  Wow.  I thought it was so much larger of and actual a/c but its not a large aircraft IMHO.  Looking forward to picking this one up someday soon.  WWII British aircraft are always welcome in the collection.  

 

sigh.......so would a nice P-51B/C!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Troy 

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  • 1 month later...

As the Airfix Whirlwind was the first kit I ever made, over 50 years ago, I couldn't resist; never thought I would see one in 1/32.  Only disappointment so far is that although the kit includes the early cockpit arrangement, including an instrument panel decal, the aircraft covered by the decal sheet would (according to the kit instructions) all have had the later cockpit layout.  Shame as I want to build one of the earlier batch that lasted until the Whirlwind was withdrawn and scrapped in 1944.   

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On 5/19/2021 at 8:37 PM, Troy Molitor said:

I was really bored this evening and I went over to that "other site". to look at what's new.  (HS).  I'm really interested in that NEW Gaspath Me 163.  There is a video of what in the box for the Me 163 kit but at the end of the video Brett Green picks up his in progress 1:32 Whirlwind and shows off the c/p and built up aircraft pictures.  Wow.  I thought it was so much larger of and actual a/c but its not a large aircraft IMHO.  Looking forward to picking this one up someday soon.  WWII British aircraft are always welcome in the collection.  

 

sigh.......so would a nice P-51B/C!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Troy 

Hey Troy.   

 

For a twin engine aircraft, no it isn't as large as you might think. Here are some pics from my 07 Whirlwind sratchbuild in comparison with a Beaufighter, Tbolt and 109.   

 

The comparison is interesting, especially with the Beaufighter and T Bolt.  Of course this all assumes I got the Whirlwind dimensions correct at the time!

 

Cheers

 

Dave/Ironman1945

 

post-562-1191474360

 

 

post-562-1191474636

 

post-562-1191474816

 

Edited by ironman1945
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I have my first kit half way together. You need to be careful of the cockpit, assemble bits into each side and mate them up to the wing with the internals installed there. Some trimming will be needed to get it to fit, mainly on the diagonal panels which go down to the rear spar. Do it before gluing the halves together so you can see where cuts need to be made. 

The fuselage around the trailing edge of the wing needs some serious filler to correct the sections, there being no concave sections there (on the sides). I do like the way the expanded fuel tanks are done underneath, even the very subtle fillets from outer wing to centre section. The top fuel tank is nice but I think it might be a little exaggerated, but if so they have gone to an awful lot of trouble to get it wrong.

Overall, highly recommended so far.

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“The basic feature of the Whirlwind was its concentration of firepower: its four closely-grouped heavy cannon in the nose had a rate of fire of 600 lbs/ minute–which, until the introduction of the Beaufighter, placed it ahead of any fighter in the world. Hand in hand with this dense firepower went a first-rate speed and climb performance, excellent manoeuvrability and a fighting view hitherto unsurpassed. The Whirlwind was, in its day, faster than the Spitfire down low and, with lighter lateral control, was considered to be one of the nicest “twins” ever built... From the flying viewpoint, the Whirlwind was considered magnificent.” Philip J. R. Moyes, Aircraft Profile No. 191: The Westland Whirlwind (1967).

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  • 2 weeks later...

I am confused about the correct position of the lap strap fixing to the seat.  The Eduard instructions for the 1/48 model I am using, as the Kitsworld 3d set has none, show it on the side towards the rear of the seat pan, which is where I would have expected it to be.  However, the pilot notes show what looks like the fixing much further forward (less than a foot from the front of the seat pan).  Anyone able to clarify which is correct?  

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On 6/26/2021 at 9:21 PM, Uncarina said:

..........

Wish the Valiant Wings Whirlwind reference was still in print!

 

Cheers,  Tom

Hi

    I wouldnt worry much, to many errors in it for me 

 

  best reference is the whirlwind fighter project website

 

  they are building a 1:1 scale replica 

   cheers

    jerry 

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