Airfix 1/72 S.A. (Scottish Aviation) Bulldog

AIRFIX 1:72 S.A. BULLDOG

Reviewer: Richard Stracey (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 7 September 2001

Aircraft:
The Bulldog was developed from the Beagle Pup and when Beagle Aircraft went into liquidation in 1970 the project was taken over by Scottish Aviation which later became the Scottish division of British Aerospace. The first order was for fifty eight aircraft for the Swedish Air Force and twenty for the Army. The RAF ordered 130 for the University Air Squadrons. Other users are Malaysia, Kenya, Hong Kong, Jordan, Lebanon, Nigeria and Botswana. The Bulldog is powered by a Lycoming 200 HP flat four, air cooled engine and has a span of 33’ and a length of 23’ 3”.

The Kit:
Airfix 1/72 S.A. Bulldog (Scottish Aviation), kit number 0061/01061. This Airfix kit was first produced in 1975 and consists of forty parts including two pilots. The detail is very nice and the large canopy, very clear.

Instructions:
The older instructions are a bit confusing as to the options. The later instructions spell out the differences in word form but fail to identify the blade ariel options. They are large (24) for the RAF and small (25) for Swedish. I wonder why the RAF don’t have the steps (33/34)?

Construction:
All parts fit well and with a minimum of filler. The lower wing is in one piece and this method of construction can cause problems at the wing/fuselage joint but in this case the fit is perfect, nearly a “snap fit”. The interior detail is adequate but due to the large clear canopy it could do with more, at least seatbelts. The instructions suggest four grams of nose weight. I used nine flattened air gun pellets but should have used ten! Balanced on the undercarriage legs and without the nose leg fitted the model seemed more than necessarily nose heavy but due to the tail down “sit” when completed, alas, that extra pellet was required.

Versions & Decals:
This kit has recently been re released (01061) and the new decal option sold me even though I already had an earlier release in stock. The original decal option was for a T Mk.1 aircraft of the Central Flying School (CFS), Little Rissington in red/white/light grey colours or a Bulldog 101 of the Swedish Air Force of F5 Wing at Ljungbyhed in camouflage/dayglow red.

Nice as these were the new options were even more attractive. They are for the CFS at Cranwell in 1997 in gloss black with golden yellow sunburst on the wings and rudder and yellow trim or the same Swedish wing in 1987 in olive and dark blue over grey with dayglow orange patches and a blue fin and rudder. In hindsight my advice is stick with the original colour/decal options as the new decals proved to be a big letdown! The artwork is first class but both decals, having to go over dark paint, are just not dense enough resulting in a “faded” effect, especially the yellow of the RAF and the dayglow patches and yellow detail of the Swedish aircraft. A great pity as the decals spoil what is a very good model.

Final details:
The canopy, windows and landing light cover, being a very good fit, can be added last after all painting, decaling and varnishing is completed. Airfix have not attempted to supply a decal for the yellow over black spiral on the RAF spinner…have fun!

Scale Models of July 1976 have good details of a Swedish Army machine in the “Viggen” type splinter camouflage.

Overall:
Good model, pity about the decals.

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