Cooper Details 1/48 Whirlwind - by Lee Coll - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

At a time when most vacuum-formed aircraft kit manufacturers left a lot to the modeler to provide to complete one of their kits, Cooper Details emerged with a complete and comprehensive product that could be completed with everything provided in the box. It was as complete as the best injection molded kits of the time.

Construction was easily completed by following the detailed instructions, and there were no alignment or symmetry issues. Aside from replacing the white metal nose cannons with scratchbuilt items, most everything else came from what the kit provided. I chose the Dieppe Raid scheme with the wing bands and black/white opposing wing bottoms. Aeromaster enamels were used throughout, with specific codes from Xtradecal or Microscale. Topcoat was a matt/satin blend of Golden MSA (Mineral Spirit Acrylic) varnish.

The Cooper Details Westland Whirlwind kit was completed in 1996. A detailed construction article can be found in an IPMS Journal printed that year. We're still waiting on the Welkin follow-up kit.