1/72 Airfix RMAF BAe Bulldog 102

by Simon Beck

--------------------

  Malaysia National Day 2004 

 

BACKGROUND

The Scottish Aviation (BAe after 1977) Bulldog 102 first flew in 1969 and as well as being a basic trainer could be fitted to carry offensive weapons like bombs or rockets.  The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) put the Bulldog into service in 1971 replacing the Percival Piston Provost and proved to be an excellent trainer up to its retirement in 1998.  15 aircraft were ordered with s/n: FM1220 / FM1234. Two airframes, 1220 and 1225 were written off in 1979 and 1981 respectively. Then in the mid eighties the RMAF changed its numbering system making the Bulldogs M25-01 / M25-13. M25-08 is currently preserved at the RMAF Museum in Kuala Lumpur where I took the photo below in July of 2003 and is the aircraft the kitset is modelled after.
Any further questions I can be contacted at my
website: 
www.uswarplanes.net

KITSET

As is often the case with small scale kitsets, the 1:72 Airfix looked an easy build but turned out to be quite difficult due to the very small parts and fixed undercarriage design.  It was a standard built throughout but instead of the boxed Dutch decals and paint scheme I opted for the Malaysian version scratch painted myself based on the one photo I took last year in Malaysia.  I used some leftover RMAF Caribou decals that I had mail ordered.  The stand came from a ready made die-cast 747 that wasn't that well made to start with and was glued to the bottom of the Bulldog.  The only problem encountered was the lack of any space for a good counter weight, hence I had to put it in the cockpit and paint out the windows black.

Simon

Photos and text © by Simon Beck