discussion Hawker Woodcock 1/72

[Steve-the-Duck]

Still catching up with all the stuff I haven't been able to post inn the last year-and-a-half

At the end of WWI, the RAF had something like 22,000 'planes in service and nearly a quarter of a million service personnel. That was drastically cut back almost immediately after the Armistice, only a few months into the existence of the RAF. It was five years before any new types entered squadron service, one being the Avro Aldershot bomber which I recently posted here
The first three new fighters to come in were the Gloster Grebe, Armstrong-Whitworth Siskin, and the Hawker Woodcock. The Woodcock was actually designed to follow the spec. as a dedicated night-fighter, rather than 'that's another role the day fighters can fill'. The next 'proper' dedicated night-fighter was the Blenheim IF. In 1938!
Woodcock's only equipped two squadrons, No.3 and No.17, both operating out of Upavon. They were replaced in service in 1928 by Gloster Gamecocks

This is a resin kit got off eBay, and a few parts were missing or deformed. The only kits I'm aware of are one from Merlin, and an injection from Aeroclub. This isn't either, but it's correct in dimension and shape. Oddly, the maker went for inscribed rib detail. Which I had to correct.
Figure is from Scale-Model-Shop on eBay, who do a range of individual 3D print figures, in multiple scales, some of whom are recognizeable personalities. The externally mounted Brownings are CMK, because the kit doesn't have any. Tail and wing lights are, once again, Airfix Ju.88 bomb cradle pieces
Markings are Xtradecal Roundels, Ventura individual codes, and squadron zig-zags out of the old Airfix Bristol Bulldog. And I had to peel the tissue paper off them very carefully!
This particular aircraft, J8295, was loaned to Charles Lindbergh to return to Paris, after his visit to England following his transatlantic flight


'Ugly little spud.'
'I think he can hear you, Ray.'

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

And to think, this is the grandad of the Fury I and II, and great-grandad of the Hurricane

Couple of parts and build pics, for perusal

The parts, with some of the wing scribed un-ribs filled, and the break in the main wing repaired. Only one wheel came in the kit, but it was bought as seen. Yeah, I've got spares. But are they ever the right size? Top right is what remained of the cabane struts, which seem to have been in a Matchbox style, on a plate that fitted under the coaming. I eventually replaced all the struts with Aeroclub stuff.
Interesting that the separate coaming and cockpit detail are reminiscent of the CMK Grebe I have

Some side rib detail added, as per my Silver Wings book, a pseudo-joystick, though I I could have used one of my Hurricane spares I remembered I had afterwards. I had to dig out the prominent vents around the rear of the cowling. Surface detail on the kit was very nice, despite the engraving

Bit of wire and plastic strip for the tail-skid, also not present in the kit

The two Brownings armament are mounted on little shelves outside the fuselage. Why? I have no idea, and nor does any other source seem to. Was the cowling just too short to mount them in front of the cockpit? Both guns and shelves are missing from ther kit, which seems a major oversight. You can also see how scratchy the zig-zags were

 

[flyjoe180]

Another little beauty Chris.

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Many thanks. Eventually, if I live long enough, I went to do all the in service silver biplanes of the RAF between the wars. Plus the Bristol 138 and the Fairey Long-Range monoplane. Maybe not a Miles Magister tho'
Last count I'm only short about eight out of the sixty-odd, five of which aren't even kitted