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• Model Airplane International 11/2005 • 2010-02-19
• www.cocardes.org • 2010-02-19
• SAFO Vol. 29 No 3 January 2006 • 2010-02-19
• Hyperscale.com • 2010-02-19
• Internet Modeler • 2010-02-19
• Modeling Madness • 2010-02-19
• Cybermodeler • 2010-02-19

• Model Airplane International 11/2005 • 2010-02-19
  
• www.cocardes.org • 2010-02-19
  Le Bristol Bulldog est assurément un des avions les plus représentatifs de l'aviation de chasse britannique de l'entre-deux-guerres. Bristol a construit le prototype du Bulldog sur ses fonds propres, sur le principe de la structure tubulaire recouverte de feuilles d'acier à haute résistance. Le nouvel avion se rapprochant de l'appel d'offre F.9/26, il est évalué peu après son premier vol en 1927. Le Bulldog s'avérant très performant, en tous cas supérieurs à tous ses concurrents sauf 1, une version améliorée est commandée pour la mettre en concurrence avec le Hawker Hawfinch. Le Bristoll Bullbog est ainsi né et se révèle meilleur que l'avion Hawker. La version de série s'exporte bien et le constructeur planche en 1931 sur ses fonds propres à de nouvelles évolutions qui ne peuvent plus concurrencer les nouveaux concurrents dans les appels d'offres ultérieurs. Tandis que le successeurs s'appelle Gloster Gladiator en Grande-Bretagne, seuls les Finlandais commandent quelques Bulldog IV. Le Gloster Gauntlet répond pour sa part à une demande du ministère de l'air britannique de chasseur monoplace en duralumin/acier émise en 1927. Effectuant son premier vol en 1929, l'avion est amélioré progressivement avec des moteurs plus puissants et sa fabrication en série est ordonnée en 1934. Près de 230 avions furent produits en Angleterre, 17 au Danemark sous licence. Lors de son retrait de première ligne, le Gauntlet fut exporté à raison de quelques exemplaires vers des membres du Commonwealth comme la Rhodésie, l'Afrique du Sud ou l'Australie. La Finlande en acheta mais les reçut trop tard pourqu'ils puissent prendre part à son conflit contre l'URSS. Ces deux avions, purs produits britanniques de l'entre-deux-guerre caractérisés par des fuselages métalliques polishés et de superbes décorations hautes en couleur, ont rarement fait l'objet de publications de qualité pour maquettistes. C'est bien dommage, tant ces avions sont visuellement attractifs. Mushroom répare cette lacune avec ces monographies réunies au sein d'un même ouvrage donnant dès le premier coup d'oeil envie de se plonger dans sa lecture. Les textes en anglais sont bien construits et complets, les photographies nombreuses et intéressantes ; enfin des photoscopes détaillés
• SAFO Vol. 29 No 3 January 2006 • 2010-02-19
  
• Hyperscale.com • 2010-02-19
  Reviewed by Steven Eisenman Two of the Royal Air Force’s last open cockpit, biplane fighters are given excellent treatment in this new offering in the Mushroom Model Magazine Yellow Series. While neither aircraft saw extensive front line action, both achieved “kills”: the Bulldog with the Finnish Air Force and the Gauntlet with the RAF in East Africa. The Bulldog alone is to be remembered for what it did to the flying legend Douglas Bader. This relatively small volume is probably not the most detailed history of either the Bristol Bulldog or the Gloster Gauntlet. Yet, Alex Crawford has provides us with a very well written overview of both aircraft, which will more than satisfy most aircraft enthusiasts and modelers. This volume follows the usual Yellow Series of being comprised of three main sections. The first is the development and operational use of the aircraft. The second is the “walk around” which has pictures of a restored aircraft. Finally, the third section presents numerous profiles of the aircraft. The author clearly and succinctly describes the development and operational use of both aircraft with the RAF and with the air forces of other nations that received them. There are accompanying line drawings of each Mark of these aircraft as well as well chosen photographs of the various Marks in the service of the various air forces. At the end of each sub-section dealing with the operational use of the aircraft with the various air forces, the author briefly describes the applicable camouflage and markings. This includes a listing of each RAF squadron that used the aircraft and the marking on the wing top unique to each squadron. In the “walk around” section, the author has given the background of the restored aircraft that are pictured. In the case of the Gloster Gauntlet in the Finnish Air Force Museum, we are made aware that the original engine was not used, thus the aircraft has a longer nose. This information adds to our understanding, but does not diminish the pictures presented. In the case of the Gauntlet, the pictures of the restored aircraft are supplemented with pictures from the original technical manual. Finally there are the profiles. These are well presented on a gray background to give full effect to the illustrations of aluminum / aluminium doped aircraft. The profile section also includes color illustrations of the wing-top marking of the various RAF squadrons that used the aircraft. Conclusion This Yellow Series volume on the Bulldog and Gauntlet is truly well done. I recommend it to every enthusiast and modeler with an interest in the inter-war period of aviation or the RAF. It is a shame, however, that the Bulldog and Gauntlet are not better represented in 1/48 scale mainstream modeling. Highly Recommended
• Internet Modeler • 2010-02-19
  Reviewed by Chris Banyai-Riepl The latest from Mushroom Model Publications provides a look at two of the best British biplane fighters, the Bristol Bulldog and the Gloster Gauntlet. Like others in the Mushroom Yellow Series, this book is more of a type description, rather than a comprehensive operational history. To that end, the book starts with the Bulldog and presents drawings and text on the various variants and developmental aircraft. These are accompanied by photos, which really capture the lines of this classic Bristol fighter. Following the Bulldog comes similar treatment to the Gauntlet. Both of these aircraft saw foreign service, and the text provides comprehensive information on the foreign usage of both types. In addition to the text, there are plenty of photos showing just how these planes looked in foreign garb. Interestingly, the only surviving Gauntlet is in a foreign country, with the plane restored to flying condition. Bulldogs did not fare much better, with only two of those surviving. One is again in Finland, in the Finnish Air Force Museum, and it is the only surviving Bulldog Mk. IVA. The other Bulldog is the only surviving Mk. II and is preserved at the RAF Museum at Hendon. All of these aircraft are extensively photographed in the detail photo section. Rounding out the book, of course, are the color profiles. There are 25 pages of profiles here, with two to three profiles on most pages. Top views are also included for several aircraft, and a page of top wings showing the various RAF squadron markings is also included. I believe every nation that operated the Bulldog or Gauntlet is portrayed in the profiles as well, so there are plenty of opportunities for you small air force modelers out there! Overall, this is a great book on these two aircraft, and it will make for an excellent companion book to Mushroom's earlier release on the Gloster Gladiator. With the addition of that book, you could have a complete reference on the last great British biplane fighters.
• Modeling Madness • 2010-02-19
  By Scott Van Aken The newest release from Mushroom Models Publications is a nice double issue covering two important British mid-war fighters, the Bulldog and the Gauntlet. Both of these types served during a period which many say was the most colorful in British aviation, with aircraft sporting large unit markings on the sides of the fuselages and on the upper wings. It was also a time of thrilling aerobatic displays; one crowd-pleaser being when three aircraft would perform while tied together by ropes attached to their wing struts. The book fully covers their technical development as well as their service with the RAF and with foreign countries. A goodly number of quality period photographs are used to illustrate these sections. Both types, while obsolete by the time the war started in 1939, were able to successfully shoot down enemy aircraft, though their moments of glory were short-lived and brief. In concert with other MMP books, this one includes nicely done drawings showing the different variants as well as extensive walk-around photo essays of extant museum aircraft. This is highlighted by outstanding color profile and three view drawings by artist Krzysztof Wolowski, making for a superb all around book on these types. It is a book that is superbly done and most highly recommended as an excellent primer on the types and something that will be most useful to modelers, thanks to the depth of detail provided.
• Cybermodeler • 2010-02-19
  By Ray Mehlberger This latest book from Mushroom Model Publications ( MMD) covers two of the RAF’s classic between-the-wars biplane fighters, the Bulldog and Gauntlet. It is in MMP’s usual 6 ½” x 9 ¼” soft-cover format. Each month, at least one, sometimes two of books in the series is released. Mushroom Model Publications also publishes a magazine for modelers called Mushroom Model Magazine. The technical development of these 2 aircraft is described and illustrated, and their service with the RAF and other air forces is covered. There is particular emphasis on colors and markings. Both types of aircraft wore very colorful pre-war RAF squadron markings, and both graduated to somber wartime camouflage. They even saw active WWII service despite their obsolescence. Finish bulldog pilots claimed 6 victories, and 2 Italian aircraft were downed by Gauntlets of the 430 Flight in East Africa. The book is 144 pages long. To my knowledge, this is the most pages seen to date in one of MMP’s aircraft books. It is illustrated with 61 period black and white photos. There are 75 full color photos of three surviving airframes: two Bulldogs and one Gauntlet that are in museums. The latter also seen in flight. There are 44 black and white 1/72 nd scale line drawings of the aircraft in profile and an additional 15 as 2-view drawings. There are (counting the back cover) 25 full color side profiles paintings, 6 more of these as 3-views, and 16 color drawings of upper wing squadron markings. Included, also, are 7 information charts, a bibliography and 13 illustrations out of tech manuals. The author, Alex Crawford, previously wrote the “Gloster Gladiator” book for MMP, this was one their best selling books ever. This new book will appeal to modelers, aircraft enthusiasts, and students of 30’s and 40’s aircraft and operations. An invaluable addition to the shelves of RAF and small air forces enthusiasts