The Westland Whirlwind
A Detailed Guide to the
RAF’s Twin-Engined Fighter

Second Edition

by Richard A. Franks

Valiant Wings Publishing
Airframe Album 4

Reviewed by Graham Carter

This is a slightly expanded second edition of a book first released in 2014. In the familiar format of a stiff card-covered A4 case-bound 98 page glossy printed book, we find information up-dated with some newer reference information and photos and a modellers section devoted to the newly released Special Hobby kit of this aircraft. The cover has a nice rendition of an early variant, P6984 HE-H, while the back has the colour scheme for one of the last versions from ‘Operation Starkey’ in 1943.

A Preface and Introduction includes a list of abbreviations and a six page outline of the development and service use of the aircraft. There then follows 5 sections:-

Section 1 covers the Technical Description of the structure, equipment and armament used with reference to a myriad of historical photos and technical drawings. All major and minor items are covered with good descriptions and annotations. All photos are reproduced to a high standard and are large enough to be useful.

Section 2 consists of a  series of annotated isometric views by Wojciech Sankowski showing the development of the type and the variations in such things as exhausts, fuselage and wings as the plane was developed. Some variation are illustrated with photos as well.

Section 3 contains the development of different camouflage schemes, illustrated with a variety of colour profiles showing these changes by Richard A Caruana.

Section 4 gives a concise history of each and every one of the aircraft produced, with a few photos as well.

Section 5 is a single build by Steve A. Evans of the 1/32 Special Hobby kit over seven detailed pages with ample photo coverage to inspire the modeller. The modellers of kits in 1/72 and 1/48 will benefit from studying these steps as well.

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Thumbnail panels:

The printed section of the book is rounded off with three appendices :

• a single page of kits available in all the major scales from 1/72 to 1/32,

• another page of accessories in resin, PE, masks, and decals, and

• a full page bibliography of official documents, publications, and periodicals.

Finally there are six pages of 1/48 drawings to show the different variations of the airframe and how fortunate we are that the plane fits perfectly onto an A4 page!

Valiant Wings has again produced an excellent book for the  RAF modeller and one that will appeal to those working on any of the scale kits that are available, and it comes highly recommended.

There is plenty of inspiration to super-detail one’s model and to answer questions about aircraft features and different variants.

Thanks to Valiant Wings Publishing for the sample.

Review Copyright © 2021 by Graham Carter
This Page Created on 11 October, 2021
Last updated 11 October, 2021

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