aircraft history,

After the Armistice and the surrender and the signing of the Treaty of Versaillie most the major world powers wanted to forget the lessons learned and hurried toward pacifism and disarming even themselves. But the future was clearer to the men who knew human nature and fortunately they saw the conflicts just out of site and beyond the horizon of the coming days.

As Roden has rightly recorded, ". . .The most important modernization of the type was the rebuild to the Mk IV specification. The main difference was a new mechanical wing which was now equipped with Handley Page slots. The vertical tail had a much changed outline and the undercarriage was improved. It was visibly different to the original Bristol F.2B Fighter which by now looked like its military grandfather.

In the 1927-28 period when the resources to finance development of new aircraft types were completely lacking, 50 machines of the Mk IV type were produced. And from the outset some of them were built with dual controls and exchanged cockpits specifically for training purposes. Their service was relatively brief, up until 1931. Nevertheless, it was with some irony that the active service of the dedicated warrior, the Bristol F.2B Fighter, lasted less than two years during WWI, but then for 14 more years more it was nothing so much as a policeman for the Mother country in the distant colonies. . ."

Between the wars the RAF was reborn and along with it a newer version of the Bristol Fighter F.2b. In service to Queen and country it soldiered on at home, on the continent and in the far flung colonies of the British Empire. Now Roden steps in with a between the wars, fourth generation fighter, a son of a Bristol. Packed with the innovations and improvements of the time this power house led the way historically and now Roden follows the path of this icon and brings us a valuable kit marking the Bristol's rightful place on your shelves.

the kit,

Previously the 1/48 Bristol Fighter was only produced by Aurora and Aeroclub smf Blue Max in 1:48. Roden’s 1st all-plastic kit of the Bristol was released in late September 2004. In my opinion they have really captured the lines of this great aircraft even down to the various exhaust fittings. The overall packaging of this kit and the effort that went into its casting are very apparent. Begin with washing the sprues in warm water and detergent then rinse clean and let dry. Predrill all rigging line pilot holes. Read through the instructions before beginning the build. Choose from the various plastic and decal options. Also decide now if your going to offset the control surfaces to imply their actuation.

box contents,

Plastic parts =160 pcs.
Shaded not for use with this build on the parts map = 19 pcs.

Instructions are 8 pages in length. History, parts map,18 step exploded views, decals for two schemes.

I. Bristol Fighter F.2b Mk. IV 4542 Cambridge University Air Squadron 1931. By the way, rudder stripes are reversed to the sequence of WWI aircraft. It is not a flaw.

II. Bristol Fighter F.2b Mk. IV 4587 Army Cooperation Squadron RAF 1930.

references,

Bristol Fighter by J.M. Bruce, Datafile Special #1 & 2 , Windsock Publications 1992.
Bristol Fighter by J.M. Bruce, Datafile #115 , Windsock Publications
Color Profiles of World War I Combat Planes by Apostolo & Bignozzi, Cresent books 1977 Pp. 201-8.
The Bristol Fighter J.M. Bruce , Profile Publications # 21 1965.
The Bristol Fighter J.M. Bruce, Vintage Warbirds # 4, Arm & Armour Press 1985.

comments,

Modelers have been waiting for a very long time for someone to do this kit. Roden has come through with flying colours. With a high level of detail, this kit will not soon be eclipsed. Modelers now have a kit that replicates the lines and profile of this bird of prey. Born in battle, tested under fire the Bristol 2F.B should never have been forgotten. Roden has done a great job of rectifying that omission from the builder’s shelf.

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