1/48 Bristol Bulldog Mk.II Airfix A05141

Airfix Bristol Bulldog Mk.II A05141 is a 1:48 plastic kit of a British fighter biplane from the interwar years. The box contains 120 parts, and the finished model measures 159 mm in length and 214 mm in width.

The aircraft behind the kit

The Bulldog began as a private venture by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, designed by Frank Barnwell. It was a light all-metal fighter with fabric covering, powered by a 440 hp Bristol Jupiter engine and armed with a pair of forward-firing .303 Vickers machine guns mounted beside the cockpit.

Place in RAF history

The type belonged to the last mature generation of RAF fighter biplanes, just before sleek monoplanes took over. During roughly seven years with RAF fighter units, the Bulldog did not see combat in British service; it is remembered instead for close formation flying and aerobatic displays at air pageants. The aircraft is also closely associated with Douglas Bader’s pre-war crash in Berkshire.

Kit difficulty

Airfix lists difficulty level 3.