FROG F165 Bristol 138A

MODEL TALK
W. R. MATTHEWS
Famous or Merely Familiar

ANOTHER "TRAIL BLAZER"

Frequently we have criticised the kit manufacturers for the sheep-like fashion in which their new releases follow one behind the other down the more well-trodden paths of aviation history, but Frog's "Trail Blazers" series continues to bring a draught of fresh air into the stuffiness of unoriginality, and its latest number, while never likely to achieve the "Top Ten" or spin money for its enterprising producer, will certainly delight the collector of the off-beat. This, the Bristol High Altitude Monoplane Type 138A, captured the world altitude record for Britain by attaining 49,967 ft. (15 230 m) on September 28, 1936, and then, on June 30, 1937, a few weeks after Italy had taken the record, recaptured it with an altitude of 53,937 ft. (16 440 m).

This is a very good model of a most unusual subject. It is accurate and the component parts fit together well. The transfer sheet is good, and should anyone feel that four shillings and sixpence is somewhat expensive for a 1/72nd scale kit of a fairly simple, single-engined monoplane, we hasten to point out that the Type 138A spanned no less than 66 feet, and the kit is not, in our view, highly priced. Our only criticism is the streakiness of the silver plastic. Incidentally, for readers who are not conversant with the Type 138A, an excellent coverage of the development and history of this aircraft is included in Bristol Aircraft Since 1910 by C. H. Barnes which was published by Putnam and Company at three guineas on November 9th.

We have recently criticised Frog's boxes, and we are glad to be able to report that this company has now introduced a new and ingenious box design which opens out to form a working tray. The artwork on these boxes is much improved, and it only remains now for Frog to give closer attention to their standards of kit production, for all three kits from this company reviewed this month displayed severe shrinkage, this resulting in unattractive dimples and hollows above locating pins and other thick parts.

RAF Flying Review December, 1964, Vol. XX, No. 4

>RAF Flying Review December, 1964, Vol. XX, No. 4

AeroModeller DECEMBER 1964 Vol.XXIX No.347

Trade Notes

New plastics of the month are unusual subjects. Frog released the Bristol 138A in their "Trail Blazers" series and this builds up into a great little model of the famous World Altitude record breaker of 1936/7. Its achieved altitude of 53,937 ft. established on June 30, 1937, by Flt. Lt. M. J. Adam was a tremendous effort of that time and the model is very impressive for its unusual shape and black and silver colouring. The kit could well do with a little more explanation concerning the colouring, especially the attractive shape of the black upper wing surface decoration as it laps over on to the fuselage at the leading edge. Only the engine cowl, supercharger cover and front of the nose section should be bright polished silver. The main body of the fuselage, tail surfaces and wing undersides have semi-matt silver finish and the undercarriage should be black, not silver. Ardent scale enthusiasts will soon detect that the pilot is approximately half size but apart from these criticisms, we very much enjoyed making up the model and know that for a modest 4/6d it will remind many younger modellers of British aviation achievements in the past.

Below it, the Frog Bristol 138A showing marking details we mention in text—an unusual and attractive model.

AeroModeller 1964-12