1/48 Classic Airframes Westland Whirlwind

by Colin Gomez

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Here is my Classic Airframes Westland Whirlwind Mk 1.  This is a multi-media kit with resin cockpit and photo-etch as well as metal landing gear OOB.  A friend supplied the vacuum form canopy (thank you again, Sean at Air Support Hobbies) from an earlier release of the same kit.  It took time and great care to finish this kit but it was well worth the effort.  I made extensive use of the 4+ Publication on the Whirlwind to get the details right. 

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The markings are from the kit (excellent quality decals) and represent an aircraft of No 263 Squadron flying air support for the Dieppe landings, August 1942.  I scratchbuilt sliding rails for the canopy which actually work, although I don't open and close the canopy much to put them to the test!  I did some additional scratch-building to open the radiator cooling flaps which were made from sheet styrene with paper inserts for the bellows-like seal along the inside of each flap.

The model was airbrushed with a Gunze, Tamiya and Model Master Acrylics.  Weathering was accomplished with an oil-wash technique.  This is really a wonderful kit of a beautiful airplane.  The only real challenges, apart from the usual drilling and trimming of an short run kit, are to blend the engine nacelles with the upper wing and some careful fitting of the metal undercarriage.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did building it.

Colin 

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Photos and text © by Colin Gomez