Hi All

This is a model of the Roland C.IIa or Walfisch [whale] I first encountered the whale 40 odd years ago and built the 1/72 Airfix kit that is long out of production but you can still pick up the odd kit on Flea-bay. What attracted me too this aircraft was the shape of the fuselage and later found out that it was produced by laying thin plywood strips over a former to get two halves which were then joined together over the internal structure. Lockhead in the thirty's used a similar way of construction as did De Havilland with the Mozzy. Because this aircraft was built with aerodynamics in mind it was revealed on its first flights that it had a top speed of 160 mph, 30 miles quicker than the fastest fighter in 1915 so would have no trouble escaping from unwanted attention from an allied fighter.

The kit

The box comes with wingnuts signature artwork showing a couple of whales flying together but on opening the box the first thing you notice is its packed with sprues that are almost falling out of the box its that tightly packed. The first sprue has the wings each moulded with lots of detail like the aileron bars in the upper wing and the rigging attachments. The second sprue has the merc engine again lots of detail but I decided to take it a little higher on the detail level but more on that later.

The next sprue is one of two that has the tail parts,cabanes and bombs all very nicely moulded. The gun sprue is next it gives a choice of pre moulded or the attach etch jackets ,one nice touch is that two different machine guns were used on the aircraft but they provide a jacket forming tool for each gun. You get two sprues of clear glass then next comes the tailfin sprue with nicely detailed fuselage internals.

The next one out of the box has the outer fuselage sides on it and more internal detail again lots of pre-moulded detail on all the parts. The last sprue has the fuselage internal frame on it which is a work of art on its own being moulded so thinly. The last sprue has the steps, camera's, pidgen container, first aid kit various flare guns and last of all the teddy bear mascot.

Next its the instructions, decals and etch. The etch is the usual two gun jackets and seat belts so on to the decals, the decals give a choice of 5 aircraft including curtains for the side windows, the first aircraft with the sharks teeth has two black stripes in the monochrome photo but it could also be red so they give you both.

The instructions are of the usual high standard with photo's of the real aircraft as well as line drawings and the five aircraft colour detail in the back. Because the engine is in full view I opted for the Taurus Models rocker and priming cups upgrades.

Another cracker from Wingnuts that will build into a fine model and will grace my display cabinet beside the Sopwith Snipe.

Andy

Looks a very nice kit Andy looking forward to your build regards Phil

Looks another great kit from the Wingnuts range, look forward to seeing it take shape

Al

Thanks for looking in and your comments everyone

Those plastic parts look very crisp from your pics. Money well spent me thinks.

Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)