Background

Bristol Bulldog Mk IIA
The Bristol Bulldog was a single seat biplane fighter of the inter-war period and one of the most famous aircraft used by the RAF during that time. The prototype Bristol Bulldog first flew on 17 May 1927, and the Bulldog Mk II entered service with the Royal Air Force with No. 3 Squadron in May 1929, replacing the Gloster Gamecock and Armstrong Whitworth Siskin fighters then in frontline use. The Bulldog served with virtually all RAF squadrons, and carried a wide variety of colorful markings. Often remembered for spectacular aerial formation displays at the annual Hendon RAF competition, the Bulldog finally disappeared from front line service in July 1937 when No.3 Squadron traded in their Bulldogs for Gloster Gladiators.

Powered by a Bristol Jupiter VIIF radial piston engine producing 490 hp, the Bulldog IIA had a maximum speed of 178 mph. The Bulldog’s superb maneuverability and ease of handling made it very popular with its pilots.

A total of 441 Bulldogs of all marks were produced for the RAF. The Bulldog never saw combat with the RAF but due to its cheap sales price, several foreign customers ordered Bulldogs, including Sweden, Siam, Latvia, Japan, Denmark and Finland, with one Bulldog tested by the US Navy. The Finnish Bulldogs fought the Soviets during the Winter War, while the Spanish aircraft served at the outset of the Spanish Civil War on the Republican side.
The Bristol Bulldog was replaced in RAF service by the Gloster Gauntlet.

TECHNICAL DATA

Crew: 1 Length: 7,67 m Wing span: 10,3 m Height: 2,67 m Empty Weight: 1000 kg Engine: 1 × Bristol Jupiter VII radial piston engine 490 hp (370 kW) Max Speed: 287 km/h (178 mph) Service Ceiling: 8930 m Armament: 2 x 7,7 mm Vickers machine guns Bomb-load: 4 x 9 kg bombs
Operators:
Australia - Royal Australian Air Force
Denmark - Royal Danish Air Force
Estonia - Estonian Air Force
Finland - Finnish Air Force
Japan - Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Latvia - Latvian Air Force
Siam - Royal Siamese Air Force
Spanish Republic - Spanish Republican Air Force
Sweden - Royal Swedish Air Force
United Kingdom - Royal Air Force
United States - United States Navy
Information from Silver Wings excellent model instruction book.

The Kit

The parts arrive in a strong top opening box with the kit box inside padded with foam peanuts.
Kit box is 11 1/2" X 7 1/2" X 2"
Inside you will find parts in 11 Ziplock type bags and two decal sheet.
Parts total:-
160 Resin parts ( wire reinforced where required).
24 PE parts
4 Film sheet(instrument dials)

Cockpit

45 resin parts, 3 fine wires for controls(user to supply), 4 film parts and 18 PE parts make up the cockpit assembly.

Canopy

A clear resin canopy is packed in its own bag and looks nice and clear

Fuselage

The two fuselage have arrive taper together.
The two halves fit together very nicely with no war page or flash.
Fuselage interior has shelfs for guns and some ribbing moulded onto it.
Lower wing route is part of the fuselage halves.

Engine

21 finely cast resin parts will build a nicely detailed Bristol Jupiter Vll radial piston engine.

Wings

15 resin parts make up the wing assembly's:- Ailerons (poseable),Horizontal Stabilizer and Elevators(poseable) and Vertical Stabilizer with poseable Rudder.

Undercarriage

5 wire reinforced resin part are included to make the frame and 2 resin wheels with tires moulded on.

Armament

6 resin parts are supplied to build two 7.7mm Vickers machine guns.
Aircraft is listed as being able to carry 4 x 9kg bombs,only two bomb racks are supplied as far as I can see.
Inclusion of bombs would have been the finishing touch.

Decals

Two large sheets printed on thin film ,good sold colour and in register.

Instructions

16 pages.
Silver Wings in my opinion have some of the best assembly instruction illustrations.
A PDF of the instructions can be found HERE

Accuracy

I don't compare models to drawings or published measurements. When assembled it will look like a Bristol Bulldog.