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NEW AND IN VIEW NEW AIRCRAFT KITS
FROG TRI-ANG LTD. Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mks. V/VII. 1/72 scale. 17/6d. (U.K.)
One of the most eagerly awaited plastic kits is this new one from FROG of the Whitley and its quality will more than compensate for some of the lesser products that have been released of late. As the Whitley was quite a large aeroplane the price of 17/6d. is not unreasonable. Moulded in white polystyrene, the surface panel and line detail is superb. The assembly is quite straightforward and the fit of parts is highly commendable particularly that of the wings and engine nacelles. The latter are very simple consisting of the 'body' of the engine nacelle being formed integrally with the wing halves and the front 'cowlings' of the in-line engines moulded in two halves which fit very neatly on to the nacelle front, the join line being in the same position as on the real machine thereby ensuring the correct ridge effect.
Decals which are also very good are for a Mk. V in the markings of (then) Flying Officer G. Leonard Cheshire in which he won an immediate D.S.O. in November 1940 while the alternative markings are for a Mk.VII A.S.V. radar equipped machine of 502 Squadron Coastal Command — the A.S.V. radar aerial arrays being provided as alternative optional parts.
The undercarriage is sturdy and most realistic and the accuracy of this kit is beyond doubt as it was drawn and produced from original sets of full size drawings which came to light some two years ago, thus proving that if the manufacturer is able to get accurate drawings there is little reason why all his kits should not be to a minimal standard of accuracy — it costs as much to draw and cut tools and dies from accurate as inaccurate drawings, bearing in mind certain technical or commercial limitations.
Of all the FROG kits we seriously rate this as one of their finest to date.
Also on release about the same time as the Whitley are the following 1/72 scale kits:
N.A. F-100D SUPER SABRE: 8/6d., HAWKER HARRIER: 8/6d., CONVAIR F-102 DELTA DAGGER: 10/6d. and RF 101 VOODOO: 10/6d; these being similar to the HASEGAWA product but with new boxes and different decals, the Harrier in RAF Squadron markings, the F.100D in French or alternative Danish markings, the DELTA DAGGER in 32 F.I.S. or Turkish AF insignia and the VOODOO in 66th or 45th TR Units. Each kit is up to the new accepted high standard associated with Hasegawa-Frog products with fine surface detail and an excellent fit of parts.
The IPMS magazine, MARCH 1970. VOL. 7 No. 3
Мир моделизма
ДЖЕЙМС ГОЛДИНГ
"Летающая дверь сарая" от Frog
Несмотря на то, что Armstrong Whitworth Whitley был важным самолетом в начале Второй мировой войны, он, по какой-то непонятной причине, до сих пор полностью игнорировался всеми производителями наборов. К счастью, компания Frog исправила ситуацию, выпустив набор в 1/72, который восхитительно соответствует полноразмерному объекту. Из набора можно собрать либо стандартный Mk V, использовавшийся в ранних наступательных операциях Бомбардировочного командования, либо морской разведчик Mk VII, который выполнял столь важную работу по поиску подводных лодок. Обе версии, разумеется, оснащались двумя двигателями Rolls-Royce Merlins, и обе были в основном похожи, за исключением оборудования. Whitley V был «чистым» самолетом с небольшим количеством внешних излишеств, в то время как Mk VII может понравиться многим моделистам благодаря огромному количеству радарных антенн и монтажных мачт. Электронная оснастка, предусмотренная в наборе для Mk VII, включает верхние мачты на задней части фюзеляжа, кронштейн под носом и два кронштейна под крылом, которые должны быть наклонены под углом 20 градусов к линии полета. К сожалению, диполи были отлиты только на верхних мачтах, что очень жаль, поскольку они являются заметной особенностью этих антенн. В таком виде моделисту предстоит много часов утомительной работы по добавлению этих маленьких стержней. Мне кажется, что было бы лучше отлить носовую и подкрыльевую штанги и диполи как целые, плоские, отдельные детали, а вертикальные опоры - как отдельные детали. Это, возможно, немного увеличило бы стоимость набора, но я уверен, что моделисты с этим смирились бы. Боковые антенны, установленные на задней части фюзеляжа, были забыты, что опять же жаль. Использовались две различные версии этих антенн: одна состояла из восьми одностержневых креплений с каждой стороны фюзеляжа, а другая - из непрерывной проволочной антенны, установленной в виде прямоугольника вблизи бортов фюзеляжа. Только первый вариант мог был бы быть отлит.
На основных деталях набора отверстия для крепления антенн Mk VII были просверлены лишь частично, так что для бомбардировщика их зашпаклёвывть не требуется. Переводная маркировка для морского варианта предназначена для самолета 502-й эскадрильи Берегового командования, базировавшейся в Олдергроуве, графство Антрим, Северная Ирландия. Этот конкретный Whitley был окрашен в стандартные цвета схемы Temperate Sea: Extra Dark Sea Grey и Dark Slate Grey на верхних поверхностях, и полностью белый на нижних поверхностях. Моделисты должны обратить внимание на то, что в таблице цветов на обратной стороне коробки с набором названия цветов поменялись местами. Dark Slate Grey - это «зеленый» оттенок, а не указанный сине-серый. Начиная со 2 февраля 1943 года, было принято официальное постановление о том, что Dark Slate Grey должен быть удален из схемы Temperate Sea, оставив все верхние поверхности Extra Dark Sea Grey. Глянцевая отделка была нанесена на все белые нижние поверхности, но борта фюзеляжа остались матово-белыми. Хотя эта схема, несомненно, применялась на Whitley VII, 502-я эскадрилья перевооружалась на Halifax'ы примерно во время смены цветовой схемы, поэтому маловероятно, что ее Whitley были перекрашены по новой схеме.
Объектом для переводной маркировки для Whitley V стал P5005 DY-N из 102-й эскадрильи, Линтон-на-Узе, самолет, которым управлял Командир группы Леонард Чешир (Grp Capt Leonard Cheshire VC, DSO, DFC, как он сейчас называется) 12/13 ноября 1940 года, когда он получил свой DSO. (Историю и фотографию P5005 см. в апрельском номере.) На переводном листе для этого «Уитли» код эскадрильи и буквы самолета напечатаны белым цветом, но я считаю, что они должны были быть окрашены в серый цвет, возможно, в цвет MAP, известный как Sky Grey. На вышеупомянутой фотографии P5005 видны очень светлые буквы, которые можно принять за белые. Однако при оценке цветов на черно-белых фотографиях следует соблюдать осторожность, поскольку отпечатки, сделанные на «жесткой» бумаге, могут давать преувеличенный контраст, и тон, который кажется белым, на самом деле может таковым не являться. С 1938 года до середины мая 1942 года кодовые буквы бомбардировщиков и истребителей обычно были серыми. Серая краска, использовавшаяся в 1938 и 1939 годах, была определена Министерством авиации и фактически имела тот же номер спецификации, что и Medium Sea Grey, когда этот цвет был впервые применен на нижних поверхностях истребителей. (Хотя этот цвет использовался эскадрильями в течение нескольких лет, название Medium Sea Grey, похоже, не применялось к этому серому цвету до тех пор, пока он не стал стандартным оттенком для окраски поверхности. И хотя оттенок оставался неизменным, на протяжении своей жизни этот серый имел несколько номеров спецификации краски). Начиная с 1940 года и вплоть до введения букв Dull Red, есть свидетельства того, что Sky Grey также использовался для кодовых букв, и, вероятно, именно по этой причине многие люди и публикации в прошлом указывали «светло-голубой» как используемый для этих букв. Sky Grey был бледнее, чем Medium Sea Grey, и при определенном освещении мог быть принят за бледно-голубой.
As night raids by Bomber Command increased during 1940, opinion was gaining ground that the grey letters and the Type A1 fuselage roundels then in use were too visible and bright during searchlight illumination. Consequently, many squadrons increasingly applied a dark wash over these markings in order to dull them. Eventually, in May 1942, the new standard Type С and C1 roundels and fin flash, using narrow yellow and white rings, were introduced throughout the RAF. With these new markings came a new colour, Dull Red, which was used for the red in the national markings and for code letters in place of grey on all bombers, except the Mosquito. (The Mosquito, because of its incredible performance, was painted in day fighter colours to hide its bomber role.) In view of the concern over the brightness of existing letters and roundels, I cannot believe that white code letters were ever used on bombers operating over enemy territory during the war years.
Concerning the model generally, the fit of parts is excellent, but one word of warning should be given. The component wall thicknesses seem thinner than usual on a model of this size, and the modeller must ensure that excessive cement is not allowed to run inside as the walls could easily melt and collapse.
The "down" version of the undercarriage is mounted on a base which has the doors integrally moulded. I am much in favour of this system, which has been used on several Airfix models with success. It works splendidly and the doors are much stronger than in the old method of attaching each door individually. A moulding of the closed doors and slightly protruding wheel is also included in the kit for those modellers who like to display the model with wheels retracted.
The turrets are not movable, but this is not likely to offend many serious modellers—although it may disappoint younger enthusiasts. A small correction is required to the frcnt turret. This is mounted with a protruding lip over the bomb-aimer's look-out, whereas in fact it was beautifully faired flush. The correction is quite simply effected by cutting back the turret recess in the fuselage nose and filing away the lip. This also sets the turret back closer to the side glazing aft of the turret, which is again more correct. For some reason the bomb-aimer's look-out is offset on the model but it certainly wasn't on the real Whitley.
Two items on this model which could have been improved are the radiator intakes and the propellers. The radiator intakes are rather shallow, whereas on the real aircraft they were deeply recessed. The deeper intakes would surely not have posed any moulding problems, and would have enhanced the appearance of the engines.
The propeller blades are rather flimsy (a similar fault was seen in the Frog Tomahawk), and some improved form of producing these would be welcome. The spinners are also rather too small. The propellers and spinners on the Whitley V and VII were the Rotol rounded type. The all-wood blades of these were quite thick compared to contemporary de Havilland types. The Rotol propeller designed for Merlin engines appeared to have a standardised spinner diameter, designed for one specific type of aircraft and adapted for use on other types. It faired beautifully into the Spitfire's nose contours, probably being designed for that type, and it was quite a good match to the contours of the Fulmar. But it was oversize for both the Whitley and the Hurricane, which resulted in the spinner being too large for the existing fuselage or nacelle contours. But the step-down in the contour did not apparently have any undue effect on performance, and the production advantages made up for any aesthetic considerations. The Merlin Whitley prototype had de Havilland propellers, around which the nacelle contours were designed, but when the Rotol propeller was adopted for production aircraft no redesign of the nacelle was undertaken.
The Frog Whitley has very light surface detailing. Many times in the past I have criticised models for having excessively heavy surface details, but in this case I would have liked heavier engraving, particularly on the wing. It is so fine that it tends to become obscured when painted. The wing surface aft of the massive box spar was fabric-covered and the appearance of the model would have been enhanced if the fabric areas could have been simulated.
Frog's Whitley lends itself to many interesting conversions. The Mk IV is simple, only the fins and rear fuselage requiring alteration. The Mks II and III are more ambitious, with conversion also involving the installation of Tiger radial engines, an Armstrong Whitworth type rear turret, and, in the case of the Mk II an AW nose turret also. The most difficult would be the original Mk I, which was generally similar to the II and III but lacked dihedral on the outer wings. Marks I, II and III also had ventral "dustbin" turrets. An interesting civil conversion would be the turretless BOAC versions, finished in Dark Green and Dark Earth, with Aluminium under surfaces, but a problem here might be the apparent lack of paint scheme references; very few photographs exist and the BOAC Whitleys may have had a very different camouflage pattern to the Bomber Command machines, as indeed was the case with the BOAC Mosquitoes. Still further options of course are the parachute training Mk Ills and glider-towing versions. There are many from which to choose.
All the points of criticism I have made do not detract from a very fine basic model, which has, above all things, the one essential quality—an accurate outline.
The price of this kit is 17s 6d.—J.G.
AIRCRAFT Illustrated, June 1970
Cover subject
It was with considerable anticipation that we opened the box recently received from ROVEX TRI-ANG LIMITED (FROG) contain ing their new 1 / 72 scale kit of the ARMSTRONG WH1TWORTH WHITLEY MKS. V&VII. Having enthused over the models exhibited at their Trade Fair we could hardly wait to see what the production kit looked like.
We need not have worried. This kit must be one of the best that this company have produced to date. Moulded in white polystyrene, the surface detail can only be described as excellent and the fit of component parts is such that the wings and tailplane, if need be, could be simply plugged into position rather than cemented in place, a feature which certainly will be popular with those who like to store their models away or transport them around as do, for example, members of I.P.M.S. to various competitions and exhibitions.
Assembly follows the usual practice and the now familiar illustrated step by step instruction sheet leaves no doubts as to what parts go where on which variant.
The kit may be assembled either to represent a Mk. V bomber in the markings of the machine in which then P/O Leonard Cheshire | won an immediate DSO when with 102 Squadron, 1940, or alternatively as a Mk. VII Radar equipped machine of 502 Squadron Coastal Command. The bomber version can be built straight from the box, no modifications being required to complete the kit as this version. However, that of the Coastal Command variant will need the pre-part-drilled inserts on the inside of the wings and fuselage halves to be opened out so that the radar aerials can be inserted and cemented in place. The only alteration required on the model also applies to the Coastal version. The wing mounted radar array should be angled outwards and not pointing straight forward as they would be if one followed the instruction sheet and box art. To rectify this very minor error open up only one of the part drilled holes on the inside of the lower wing halves and remove the locating pin from the rear of the radar stem; then, having checked that the remaining pin fits correctly into the front locating hole, gently turn the whole aerial so that it is angled outward to about 70 deg. to the main spar of the wing. . . reference to any photographs of Coastal Command Whit-ley's will illustrate this point.
Also, although the small oblong fuselage windows are represented in the kit by slightly raised surface detail, check very carefully before painting your model to ascertain whether these windows had been painted over on the Squadron. This was frequently done, particularly on Coastal Command Mk. VII's when they often left the cluster of four windows just aft of the fuselage entry door unpainted.
Interior detailing is made up of a pilot seat and crew compartment floor which also includes the moulding for the navigator's table and the second pilot's seat ... the bomb aimer is moulded integrally with his piece of 'floor' but those who wish to omit crew figures can easily make up a new 'floor' from scrap card, etc.
The undercarriage is moulded with the main doors attached to inserts which slip inside the nacelles, this in turn taking the entire undercarriage oleo leg and supporting struts; however, if one wishes to mount the model on the stand provided then one has alternative solid inserts with the 'tyres' protruding as on the real machine, which one uses instead of the 'open' unit.
The transparencies are of an excellent clarity and fit and the rear gun turret detail includes the separate gun mount/breech blocks for the four machine guns.
One rather strange error occurs on the box art presentation as that on the front of the box shows the Coastal Command Whitley with two machine guns in the nose turret, this is artistic licence as Whitleys only carried one nose gun as is provided in the kit!
Decals are also very good, being flat matt finish with very near to accurate shades of roundel blue and roundel red.
The guide to camouflage and painting on the back of the box is also drawn to a very high standard but the printers have made an error in that on the Coastal Command machine the area indicated as being dark slate grey should be painted extra dark sea grey while that marked as extra dark sea grey should be dark slate grey . . . the actual colours on the box are correctly drawn, it is just that the captions to the colours have somehow got switched.
Scale Models No.10 1970 JULY Vol.1 No.10
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