Bristol F2B Fighter

Pegasus

Reviewed by Robert Baumgartner

Pegasus's 1/72 scale Bristol F2B Fighter is available online from Squadron.com

An up to date kit of this famous two-seater has been long overdue but finally the gap is filled.

The new Pegasus kit represents the later version of the F2B with the single long intake above the exhaust manifolds, radiator shutters, and the teardrop shaped blisters that covered the water pipe.

Contents

The contents contain the familiar selection of plastic, white metal and steel rod as well as a decal sheet for one subject. As the kit points out, this is for experienced modelers and extra reference material is recommended. The instructions give an exploded view and the colours are referenced to Xtracolor, Methuen, and Federal standards.

Pegasus kits just get better and better and this is immediately obvious with the main components. The detail on the fuselage halves is the best yet with all details being crisp. The representation of the stitching is particularly well done, this being delicate and precise. As expected, the outlines match Ian Stair’s plans in Volume 1 of the Datafile Special precisely. Only the cleaning up of the air intakes is necessary. The detailing of the fuselage walls is left to the modeller, but Pegasus does provide the floor, seat and instrument panel. A quick going over with “wet and dry” paper will smooth out the interior sidewalls.

The moldings of the wings show evidence that Chris Gannon is listening to the consumer. Previous Pegasus kits have had their detail compromised by having the sprue gates on the leading edge of the wing. The result was loss of detail during the cleanup process and the necessary filling of the moulding blemishes. This time, the sprue gates are actually on the wing roots! Thus all the lovely rib detail is preserved and not a hint of “ripple”. The wings also have very thin trailing edges and the ailerons are moulded as separate items. Again, they are a perfect match to the Datafile Special plans. Those with Ian Stair’s plans from the earlier Datafile No.4 will notice a difference in such things as the aileron length and under carriage shape. Thankfully Pegasus has used the later plans as a guide for this kit.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The white metal parts are very nicely done with little flash and good detail. Items in this medium are the wheels, radiator, exhausts, tailskid, seat, scarf mount, seat and rear Lewis gun. This latter item is quite usable and requires only minimal cleanup. The white metal propeller and undercarriage may raise an eyebrow though. Both are shorter than what is represented on the plans but the final test will be a comparison between the finished model and photographs.

Struts come in the form of extruded plastic and the instructions give the correct lengths for cutting this material. The same applies to the spreader bar and axle which come in the form of steel rod.

Decals are provided for D7966, a machine from 139 Squadron R.F.C. The aircraft was only seven days old when it was brought down by Obit. Friedrich Navratil of 3J on the 23rd August 1918. While flying Albatros D.III (Oef) 253.06, he fired sufficient bullets into the engine to force the crew to land where they were captured and made POWs.

Photos of this “Brisfit” before delivery and after capture show that it was fitted with the extended exhaust pipes that continued diagonally down to the bottom of the fuselage. The short versions of the exhausts that the kit contains can be easily modified with some this tubing.

The decals have good colour density and were printed in perfect register. Their thinness means that any carrier film will “disappear” and decal-softening agents are not recommended or needed.

This is a most welcome release from Pegasus. Finally the Brisfit gets the treatment it deserves. With their new molding technique and detail that is sharper than ever, this is easily Pegasus’s best yet.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Squadron.com for the review sample.

Review and Images Copyright © 2002 by Robert Baumgartner
Page Created 27 August, 2002
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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