The early Mk I/Ia versions
were powered by Bristol Pegasus
9-cylinder radial engines and
carried two twin-gun Frazer-
Nash FN-5 turrets for self
defence. Later versions switched
to Bristol Hercules power.KIT
Airfix’s new issue of the Wellington
continues its assault on the British
aviation history book, sitting neatly
alongside contemporaries like
the Whitley, Blenheim I, Fortress
III, Beaufighter, and Lancaster.
The kit is moulded in a now-
characteristic light blue plastic;
the 141 parts have excellent detail
and finesse but display a tendency
towards over-engineering and
the use of multiple components
where one might suffice.
The breakdown of the kitsuggests further variants to
follow, with the presence of the
side windows for a Mk III, and
indications around the nose and
wing underside that a radar-
equipped Coastal Command version
might be in the offing. Despite the
apparent complexity, however,
Airfix’s new-style instructions
are crystal-clear, set out over 101
steps; the multi-coloured indication
of the parts fitted in the previous
step is particularly useful.
For the first time that I can
recall, the kit instructions
explicitly suggest that one might
leave out certain internal detail
parts if a quicker build is required.
These parts are noted in green
and are mostly those which
would be nearly invisible in the
finished model. I have to say that
I understand the concept, and I
admire Airfix’s boldness, but it
begs the question of who is theintended audience for the model:
the builder or the external observer.
Amateur philosophy aside,
the internal detail offered is
terrific. It’s all there; rest bunk,
flares and launcher tube, toilet,
bomb bay, radios, and navigator’s
station. No doubt the aftermarket
manufacturers will come forward
with brass and resin improvements,
but for now, the only thing
missing is a set of seat belts.
However, the representation
of the internal geodetic structure
is perhaps a bit heavy-handed
when compared with historical
photographs, and there are a
number of knockout pin marks
on the inner surface (though
most if not all will be invisible
in the finished article).
The engineering may appear
complex, but fit looks to be
excellent, and there are some well
thought-out touches, like the up
stand moulded on the clear landing
light part, which allows it to behandled and prevents it falling into
the wing, and the fuselage seam
locations which have very positive
tabs rather than feeble pins.
The external texture is intended
to replicate the fabric outer
covering over the aluminium and
wood geodetic structure. In the
raw plastic, it appears to achieve
this pretty well, but the proof is in
the final painted result. As usual
with modern Airfix kits, there are
no parts or sprue maps, which
I personally find irritating.
Neither airframe has the
waist guns associated with the
-1C, and both are in the standard
early-war bomber scheme of
night undersides and fin with a
high demarcation line, and dark
green/dark earth upper surfaces.
The schemes are illustrated in
the now standard Airfix approach
of full-colour four-views on a
separate A3 sheet. Colour callouts
are for Humbrol colours with
no cross-referencing, and with
rather sketchy colour references,
especially to the interior.Box art represents the heroic actions of Sergeant Pilot James
Allen Ward.MARKINGS ARE PROVIDED FOR TWO AIRCRAFT:
- Wellington Mk1C AA-R No 75 Squadron (New Zealand) Feltwell, Norfolk,
July 1941. In this aircraft Sergeant Pilot James Allen Ward climbed out onto
the wing to attempt to smother an engine fire. His actions awarded him the
Victoria Cross. - Wellington Mk1A “R”-Robert, No 20 OTU, Lossiemouth, 1940,
currently preserved at the Brooklands Museum of Motor
Racing and Aviation.
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