Special Hobby 1/32 Westland Whirlwind FB MK.I €˜Fighter-Bomber€™ Hi-tech kit Plastic Model Kit

Westland Whirlwind FB Mk.I 'Fighter-Bomber' Hi-Tech 1/32 Not long before the outbreak of WW2, the British Air Ministry issued a requirement calling for two types of fighter aircraft, one light weight with machine gun armament and the other one with heavy cannon armament. To these requirements, the machine gun armed Hurricanes and Spitfires were designed, while to fit the second category, the Westland offered their Whirlwind twin engined 'Cannon Fighter'. This type was eventually produced in more than a hundred examples and further production was ceased only by the shortage of the Peregrine power units. The Whirlwinds were deployed over the English Channel in fighter and ground attack missions. For the latter ones, the Whirlwinds were fitted with bomb racks and were designated FB Mk.I. This modification proved very successful and it became more than clear that the Whirlwinds suit these types of missions very well indeed. Our model of the Whirlwind now comes in the Hi-Tech format and contans ten styrene sprues, one with clear parts, a fret of photo etched details, set of 3D-printed parts and also resin parts. These details improve the cockpit area substantially and also make it possible to leave the nose section open to show the four Hispano cannon armament to good advantage. The decal sheet offers markings for four green and grey RAF machines, two of XX. and the other two of 137 Sqn. One of the schemes has a title under the canopy and another one sports the striking black and white wing undersurfaces, the markings carried for the Operation Stalker. Scheme A Westland Whirlwind FB Mk.I, P7094, HE-T, "Bellows", No.263 Sq., RAF Warmwell, early 1943. With the name on the port side fuselage as well as its pilot's name F/Lt Blackshaw in a rectangle of the original Dark Earth colour. However, a photo of this machine is known with Canadian pilot F/O JP Coyne in the cockpit. The top scheme consists of three colours, the regulation Dark Green and Dark Sea Grey and the makeshift shade known at the time as the Mixed Grey. The spinners wore small national insignias at their very front. P7094 most likely took part in the 28 March 1943 Roadstead 60 attack on the German shipping in the English Channel, the Whirlybombers were escorted by Spitfires of No.310 (Czechoslovak) and 313(Czechoslovak) squadrons. P7094 was destroyed on 16 May 1943 when its flying career totaled 166 hours with No.263, 137 and again No.263 squadrons. Scheme B Westland Whirlwind FB Mk.I, P6974, HE-Z, No.263 Sq., RAF Angle, June or August 1942. In the standard Day Fighter Scheme on the top surfaces, albeit in unusual Black on the wing lower surfaces with white ID bands as well as with white forward fuselage worn for the Dieppe operation. However, these colours might as well be associated with either the Starkey operation or Rutter exercise. With No.263 Sqn RAF from September 1940 to 19 September 1943 when P6974 was lost in action. On 28 March 1942 this machine was flown from RAF Colerne to