Bulldog T.1

Tarangus, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Valom's 1/48 scale An-2 Colt is available online from Squadron.com

The Scottish Aviation Bulldog is a British two-seat side-by-side (with optional third seat) training aircraft designed by Beagle Aircraft as the B.125 Bulldog.

The prototype Bulldog flew on 19 May 1969 at Shoreham Airport. The first order for the type was for 78 from the Swedish Air Board. Before any production aircraft were built, Beagle Aircraft ceased trading and the production rights for the aircraft, with the Swedish order, were taken over by Scottish Aviation (Bulldog) Limited. All subsequent aircraft were built at Prestwick Airport by Scottish Aviation, and later by British Aerospace.

The first 58 aircraft (known as the SK 61A and SK 61B) were delivered to the Swedish Air Force in 1971. Twenty more aircraft were delivered to the Swedish Army as FPL 61C in 1972, although these were transferred to the Air Force in 1989 as SK 61C. By 2001 all the Swedish aircraft had been withdrawn from military service. 26 were bought in 2004 by the Hungarian company AVIA-Rent.

The largest customer was the Royal Air Force, which placed an order for 130 Bulldogs in 1972, entering service as the Bulldog T.1. It was used by the Royal Air Force as a basic trainer, in particular as the standard aircraft of the University Air Squadrons and, later, Air Experience Flights, providing flying training.

The RAF sold off its remaining Bulldog trainers in 2001 as general aviation light aircraft for a very low price. They were replaced by the Grob Tutor.

Of the Swedish aircraft, 26 were bought in 2004 by the Hungarian company AVIA-Rent. When the RAF aircraft were sold on the civilian market in the early 2000s, the type's excellent visibility, robustness and aerobatic capability meant that they were enthusiastically taken up. Many examples are operated by private pilots in the United Kingdom, States and elsewhere.*

As far as I know, the Bulldog T.1 has never been available as a 1/48 scale injection moulded model kit.

Tarangus' 1/48 scale Bulldog T.1 comprises just 60 parts in grey plastic and seven parts in clear plus decals for four subjects. There is no photo-etch or resin offered.

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Thumbnail panels:

The kit has been moulded using limited run technology, but the parts are clean with quite fine sprue connection points and almost no evidence of flash. You don't have the luxury of locating pins but any moderately experienced modeller should have no trouble with the simple parts breakdown. The most important parts of the project will be parts preparation - removing the raised ejector circles on the insides of some of the major parts - and careful alignment during assembly.

Also keep in mind when assembling a limited run kit, there is no such thing as too much test fitting!

The model is broken down conventionally with the fuselage being moulded in two full-length halves, the wings having upper and lower left and right halves, and the horizontal tailplanes being presented in one piece each.

The ailerons and flaps are moulded as part of the upper wings, so the trailing edges are nice and sharp.

Surface textures are really well done, with fine, crisply recessed panel lines and nice raised "pressed metal" texture on the ailerons, flaps and elevators.

The simple cockpit is adequately depicted. The instrument panel features plain recessed circles and some raised shapes. The addition of a set of Airscale or MDC instrument dials plus some after market harness straps (they're not included in the kit either) will lift the front office greatly.

Basic engine cylinder detail is offered inside the forward fuselage.

The canopy is a single clear part with the windscreen and sliding section moulded as one. This is a bit of a shame, as the large open canopy would really help showcase the interior. The clear parts look a bit cloudy on the sprues but a dip in Future floor polish should help them shine.

The landing light cover, small rear windows, wingtip nav lights and beacon are also supplied as clear parts. Avionics are either small plastic parts or added from wire, as noted in the instructions.

Colours & Markings

Four marking options are included, reflecting the varied use of the type:

• Bulldog T.1 701 - Kenya Air Force

• Bulldog T.1 XX621 - Yorkshire University Air Squadron

• Bulldog T.1 AS0023 - Armed Forces of Malta

• Bulldog T.1 XX537 - RAF East Lowlands Universities Air Squadron

The decals are well printed, in register and feature good colour registration.

This is a simple kit of an important trainer that has never before been available as a 1/48 scale injection moulded plastic kit.

Detail reflects the simple layout of the real aircraft, and surface textures are very good considering the kit's limited run origins.

I have found that value is very much in the eye (or the wallet) of the beholder. At £35.00, you'll have to make up your own mind. However, if you have always wanted an injection moulded 1/48 scale Bulldog, this will probably be your only chance!

I hope that Tarangus continue the logical sequence of RAF trainers. I'd love to see the aircraft that I completed my ab initio training in - the Grob G 115 T-Bird (G 115E Tutor T.1 in RAF service) - in 1/48 scale. I can only hope...

Recommended.

*Historical summary courtesy of Wikipedia.

Thanks to Tarangus for the review sample.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2016 by Brett Green
Page Created 29 August, 2016
Last updated 29 August, 2016

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