AIRFIX BRISTOL BLOODHOUND - history and what's in the box?

[@garyburton9447]

Yesterday I was cleaning out an old bag of mine and in the bottom was the RAF policeman from this set. I made this kit in the late 1960’s no idea where the rest is.

[@uingaeoc3905]

On the scale - if the Policeman measures 1 inch then it is 1/72.

[@jaws848]

I never understood the reason for 1/76....i have two Alvis Scorpion cvr(t)s.....1 is 1/76 and the other is 1/72 and to the naked eye they are the same size.....if there is an actual difference in size i would need a micrometer to see it.

[@garys_stuff]

Or 0.95 inches if it's 1/76? Presumably minus the hat and assuming said snowdrop was exactly 6ft tall.

[@garys_stuff]

From what I understand 1/76 is the OO scale used for model railways. I guess it is SO close to 1/72 (6ft = 1 inch) that it is interchangeable, especially in the early days of model making when very precise dimensions were the least of the worries!

[@jaws848]

@@garys_stuff i understand its a railway scale but strictly speaking from a kit modellers perspective i always found it odd that they (Airfix) did 2 dofferent scales which were so close to each other that its piontless......unless you want to include some of the armour vechilles on a railway layput

[@garys_stuff]

@@jaws848 I strongly suspect that (whisper it softly) they may have been less than strictly accurate about scales back then and just adjusted what it said on the box to suit the market at the time!

[@johnmarley6695]

Humbrol 96 “RAF blue” is a great colour for uniforms.

[@garys_stuff]

Thanks John. Odd that they didn't suggest it themselves!!!

[@Reactordrone]

It's pretty good for the RAF landrovers as well.

[@julianmhall]

Thanks for the video Gary! The early 70s 00 and 1:76 scales seem like /very/ early on Airfix recognised the popularity of model trains so made their kits to match those.

[@PurplEWolFGaminG]

What a cool s.a.m rocket plus the model could go in a period diorama

[@BobbyG-bp9xr]

Great video Gary, looking forward to seeing you build this, because I'm going to need some inspiration to build mine! Thanks for the shout out, made my day ! 👍😁 Take care mate and happy modelling. Bobby 👊

[@bugler75]

I’m looking forward to getting mine. There’s scope for a bit of detailing and to make a nice diorama 😊

[@anthonylichfield3540]

Hello there Gary I have just finished this kit and I was very happy how it turned out I really like the airfix vintage classic range I can remember making some of them in the 1960s as a boy I think your channel is great and look forward to your next build happy modelling old boy and all the best 👍

[@garys_stuff]

Thanks man, glad you enjoyed the Bloodhound!

[@AndrewMcColl]

I'm looking forward to getting my hands on this kit... just as soon as my local stores actually get in the releases from late last year. As for displaying the kit, I'm tempted to go the Aussie route and have it stationed in a field that's been overrun with ship, much to the dismay of the crew and the delight of their dog.

[@MacMcCaskill]

Roast lamb for dinner after launch!?😋

[@AndrewMcColl]

@@MacMcCaskillIf they get close enough, maybe even BBQ.

[@PanzermansBunker]

Built this a year ago. Nice kit, but needed extra work and detailing. Took 3 Evilbay purchases to get a complete kit. Aaaaaaah. Bill

[@gavinblackburn3105]

About time we got a new tool of this kit .

[@garys_stuff]

Sadly the Airfix philosophy seems to be that the Vintage Classics release is intended instead of a new tooling, because they don't think the investment in new plastic is worthwhile in terms of potential sales. This is why I'm sad about seeing the Hampden coming out later this year in the VC series, it means they won't be making a new mould kit of it for some years yet...

[@emmabird9745]

Hi Gary, nice one. I'm sold on it. Looks like a bit of simple fun. Something for a Belvedere to lift? I wonder if the 1971 mould revision was adding the part numbers because I can't remember 1960s Airfix having numbers. The Poly bag can be recycled through the "soft plastics" collection at many major supermarkets.

[@mc2594]

Hornby need to employ or consult an archivist, 11 years out on a mould date is sending out the wrong message about how much they know about these old tools and the original company that made them.

[@emmabird9745]

@@mc2594 You might be right. I expect many of the original records have been lost and many have become partial in the many changes of ownership. That the original tools were 1959/60 is beyond question since as Gary says, it first came out in 1960/1. That they say 1971 the tool was updated begs the question of what was updated? From my experience of 1960s Airfix, the only thing I can suggest is that the part numbers were added to the sprues etc because it was not standard practice, indeed I never saw a part number on any Airfix kit part or sprue in those years and I made absolutely hundreds of them. At least they call it a "Vintage Classic" so we all know its old so no harm done. Now we need the control tower.

[@mc2594]

​@@emmabird9745- I don't really see why we need work out what they meant, they can be forgiven for blundering a date, it's not the first time, guessing why isn't really relevant, hopefully they'll amend the box and in 50 years the 'error box' will have collectors going dizzy.

[@lxtechmangood9503]

If your doing the model / diorama in the 60s the landy would be blue. If in the 80s (assuming still using the series 2 short wheel base landrover by then it would have been in green with possibly a yellow stripe! Looking forward to your diorama of this one Gary.

[@garys_stuff]

From what I can tell this is a Mark 1 Bloodhound therefore it will be in the 1960s.

[@nigelpickett2471]

Speaking of Airfix vintage kits, I managed to track down the 1/72 scale Grumman Gosling/Widgeon, the very first kit I ever made, I think I was about 8 at the time and still remember the mess I made of it. It arrived today and I've spent 3 hours putting it together - I still haven't finished the construction! No wonder I had trouble at 8 years of age, I'm kicking the arse of 70 and only restarted model making at Christmas courtesy of 2 Airfix starter kits. I am now 12 kits in with 8 in my 'stash' but this little bugger is really challenging due to the sheer poor quality of the kit, its a 1973 release in a blister pack and the cockpit transparency is missing! Still, onwards and upwards. I had the Bloodhound kit back in the day and the Corgi diecast version, happy daze.

[@MikeG-xy7yt]

Oh dear! The windscreen was missing from my kit as well. Managed to make a passable substitute. Ok kit with a bit of modelling. But that’s the fun of the game.

[@jaws848]

Not a bad little set considering the age but a shame there are no clear parts for the landrover (windscreen and door windows) and also no steering wheel.

[@michaelharding2614]

Ideal for a bit of scratch building 😅

[@jaws848]

@@michaelharding2614 yep.👍👍

[@AndrewMcColl]

You could say the Land Rover was parked a little too close the last time the rocket fired and its windows were blown out. ;)

[@jaws848]

@@AndrewMcColl 🤣🤣🤣

[@mc2594]

thinking about it the Landrover probably had the firing signal equipment in the back, the one photo I've seen had a hard top with a side window.

[@melanierhianna]

I'm pretty sure I made the missile in the launcher but it came with a truck not a landrover. I was little at the time and helping my Dad.

[@barrywalker8790]

What an awesome weapon l say we did invent and develop some very effective ground too air missiles in our time, l actually built this as a kid so it will be nice to see it built properly and painted nice touch putting in the stills and video footage 👍

[@garys_stuff]

In its early days it especially impressed the US as its resistance to jamming was very advanced and done by a clever method - if you look at the Wikipedia entry it explains it very well. And it is impressive when launched - insanely loud, one of those "what was that and where has it gone?" jobs!

[@alantoon5708]

I built one of those back in the 1960's!

[@arthurduncan5999]

Stationed with 25sqn Bloodhound at RAF North Coates. in 1968/70

[@randalscott7224]

Good review of the parts Gary. On the subject of the paint guide, its layout is an improvement on the older issues in that you actually get one! My first encounter with the Bloodhound was when it came as cargo for the C-130 Hercules, and I still have the Landrover after almost 50 years. For some reason I painted the Landy black with a camouflaged canvas cover. I also squeezed in a couple of passenger seats from the Shorts Skyvan minus the legs and armrests to make up for the total lack of interior detail.

[@garys_stuff]

I may just have to venture into the dark world of 3D printing for the first time and try to make some seats.

[@mc2594]

compared with the Emergency and Refueller sets ect the Bloodhound Landrover does seem a bit over simplified, a healthy spares box is worth it's weight in plastic, maybe some pilots seats?

[@hueyJoe135]

Another great video 👍 I built mine back in 2009 but with moving around it got damaged and binned 😢. I have got another and I'm looking forward to seeing this one built up 👍

[@paulellis-m6v]

If someone in the aftermarket field is watching is how about roundels and good a good set of figures that would make this kit great just a thought

[@richardvernon317]

Operational Missiles didn't have Roundels.

[@michaelharding2614]

Nice review Gary. Mine is order, amazingly my “local” internet shop has it in stock. I built this back in the day, hope to make a better job of it this time around.

[@iannicholls7476]

Great review Gary and good to have a bit of history/background. Odd that there are no decals- in my imagination Bloodhounds had tiny RAF roundels on the winglets. Or am I thinking of Rapier missiles? I quite fancy this one but a I do hope the dog is actually a bloodhound!

[@garys_stuff]

I’ve seen RAF rounders on the fuselage just behind the warhead. Rapier only had the double yellow live round lines plus some stencils from what I recall .

[@tonybourke8212]

Wonderful video Gary , very nice explanation of the how it “ worked” and its history, and review of kit plus order of rank etc with the figures and canine, I had this kit back Christmas 1970 it came with the magnificent C-130 , I built the Hercules but not the Bloodhound , and subsequently lost the parts for the missile , Great watch as usual Gary thank you 😎👍👍👍

[@MacMcCaskill]

Thanks for this info. I recall I built a Bloodhound decades ago, but I thought it an odd kit to have bought, given my interests. The info that it came with the Hercules probably explains it. My memory is that the Hercules kit was one of the first annual blockbuster kits that was top of every modeller's Christmas list. 19/11d springs to mind. Then they moved to the 1/32 scale range for the showpiece kits.

[@ianturvey3894]

Just about to build this kit. Shame there aren’t any decals, like number plates for the Land Rover and carrier trolley. I’ve got some clear plastic for the windows in the Landy. I managed to get Humbrol RAF blue number 96 in acrylic. I’m looking forward to seeing your build of this and comparing notes 😂.

[@MacMcCaskill]

It's a Vintage Classic.

[@garys_stuff]

Also needs a yellow disc with a '2' on it as a weight class indication. Seen a photo of this.

[@garys_stuff]

I've used old CD clear cases before for windows (on the Teracruzer, for example) but they will be too thick at this scale I suspect. I'll find some acetate sheet.

[@allanrichards3752]

I made this kit as a kid back in the 60's. I suspect it was the same kit whether 72 or 76 scale. I looked up the overall length of the Bloodhound missile and it was quoted as 27ft 9in so in 1/76 that equates to 4.38in and 1/72 4.62in - getting on for 1/4in difference. I am not sure if that measurement pertains to the missile with boosters or just the core missile. It would be interesting if you could measure the model and let us know what scale you actually think it is.

[@richardvernon317]

Mark 2 missile is 27.75 ft with boost motors. Missile alone was 25.46 ft. Mark 1 missile was 25.01ft with boosts and 22.2 feet without. Note part of the missile tailbody fitted with the length of the boost yoke (the x bit).

[@allanrichards3752]

@@richardvernon317 That's great info. I hope Gary does confirm which scale the model is when its built. Given that OO scale at 1/76 was around before Airfix started production I always wondered why they didn't go for 1/76 scale instead of 1/72.

[@uingaeoc3905]

Can anyone explain the odd scale for this? If it was to form part of a diorama it would be as defence of a V Bomber base those kits would be 1/72 models of those.

[@nedlooby7419]

To sit alongside 00 gauge railways plenty of other stuff is the same AT guns, tanks, etc

[@Reactordrone]

The missile and land rover scale out to 1/72. I guess in the past they just marketed it as 1/76 to match their other vehicle range.

[@richardvernon317]

Only RAF airfield that had Bloodhound 1 and V-bombers on it was RAF Marham. All of the other Bloodhound sites were on disused airfields to the north or east of the base that they defended.

[@Slycockney]

Worth buying just to get the dog

[@MikeG-xy7yt]

Loved the dog!

[@uingaeoc3905]

I have never seen the procedure whereby the transporter slid-tipped the missile onto the launcher.

[@garys_stuff]

Might be the Swedish way, they had different transporters to make the system more mobile.

[@richardvernon317]

@@garys_stuff Bloodhound Mk 1 used the Trolley in as in the kit. The Mark 2 used a beam fitted to a Sideloading Fork Lift Truck or Hiab crane as used by the Swedish.

[@WendyHodgkinson]

Where's the Herky Bird at 1/72 that goes with it 🤔

[@garys_stuff]

Don't know if they have the tooling, either they don't own it or it is lost/damaged.

[@richardvernon317]

@@garys_stuffModified into an AC-130 a long time ago. RAF never moved the Bloodhound Mk 1 with the C-130 as they Binned Bloodhound Mk 1 three years before the RAF Hercules became operational. The RAAF did move Bloodhound Mk 1 with the C-130 between 1965 and 1968

[@johntranmer]

I agree with you on the blue 25 it should be Humbrol Matt 96 RAF blue surely

[@ChristianSchroter]

Hello mr. Gary.very nice.with sticky greetings. Christian

[@goforitpainting]

Thank you for this review.

[@XC70n05]

Wikipedia says the BB is 8,54 m long (MK II) If the model is 0.18 m the the scale is 1/47 hmmm Mk 1 7,7m = 7,7/0,18 1/42 What mesuring tape did Airfix use ? if scale 1/76 it wil be 11 cm.

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

Good video thanks lee

[@mc2594]

Isn't the Dog a Bloodhound? I think under the apparent single ear is a pair of floppy ears, I put the pointed ear down to a minor mould defect or flash. One further point is as far as I can tell the Landrover used was a hardtop with side windows, or at least a long search on google images recently provided one original photo of one, firing a Rocket with those stats next to a canvas covered Land Rover probably not wise ... just sayin. There was also a 1960's Airfix Ad of the 'just like the real thing' variety with a real photo next to the kit image, the Land Rover there has some detailing on the side but it's hard to make out exactly what, the detail level is similar to the Jeep in the Buffalo kit, you could always use the JBM Land Rover Airfix released instead. I've got 3 original white moulded kits and the Type 2 Header, one with the C130 Hercules you forgot to mention, one boxed type 4 and a built one, the SAM II is harder to find and afford, I have one of those too 😛

[@garys_stuff]

There's a picture here showing a soft top Landy, but as it is apparently a press day it may not reflect actual service configurations. It does however suggest some of the detail in the Landy and the trailer. bit.ly/49vWJQJ

[@mc2594]

​@@garys_stuff - thanks Gary, that image matches the kit well, could even have been the reference Airfix used in fact and or they were present at a press day. Also noticed there was a tracking station trailer with Antenna's on top probably the firing room, built like fort knox so the Landrovers must have been kept well clear anyway, also SWB unlike the LWB ex JBM Land Rover, my bad but being positive it's good to see these old kits get an outing again.

[@michaelalder8346]

Land Rover colour. RAF blue 1960s changing to green 1970s +

[@jaws848]

For those who are lazy oxford minatures also do a premade diecast set of this in 1/76 but their version doesnt have any figures

[@kenstevens5065]

With a blunt nose cone, health and safety or to avoid breach of copyright?

[@rustywarrior5288]

Who’d have thunk it? A flashy snowdrop….

[@martryan2060]

Funny the weapon could be very effective today with minor upgrade. Considering the age of the Lima9 . Will not feel its 70 birthday creeping up on it .