Scale Aviation Modeller International 08.2018

Vickers Wellington Mk.1A/C

First look at Airfix 1/72 Vickers Wellington Mk.1A/C

W

e have been following

the development of

this kit since it was

announced so most of you will

know what to expect when you

open the box, but there were still a

few things to surprise me starting

with the instruction manual.

This is pretty typical of the

CAD style books that we have seen

from Airfix for a number of years

and clearly show where everything

goes but there has been a major

change as Airfix state on Page One.

“There are many detailed parts

within this kit which fit inside the

fuselage, but which are not easily

visible on the finished model and

therefore can be left out of the

construction if preferred. These

parts are highlighted in green

throughout these instructions”

and they are not kidding over 20

parts can be left out if you want to

simplify the build and you will still

be left with one of the most complete

fuselages I have seen on a 1/72 kit.

Now on to the plastic, as we had

seen on the CADS and Test shots and

in my opinion the portrayal of the

Geodetic construction is very well

done with a special mention to the

internal bulkheads I is just a shame

that most of it will be invisible after

completion but this level of detail on

the inside means there is a price to

pay in the shape of quite a few pin

marks in hard to get at places. Filling

these with Perfect Plastic putty

then removing any excess with a

dampened cotton bud may work. I

think my preferred method would be

to use the thinnest plastic card I can

find cut into squares to fill the inside

of the geodetic framework thus

hiding the pin mark. Externally the

fabric over geodetic structure looks

just right compared to pictures,

though a sand with wet and dry will

make it even more subtle if you wish.

The clear parts are perfect, and

a nice touch is that you get two

cockpit canopies - one is supplied

closed up while the second has

both the pilots and co-pilots

windows slid back. This feature

combined with the position able

control surfaces can really make

your model look more lifelike.

The decals are well produced

and as well as some details for the

cockpit also supply two significant

schemes. Wellington AA-R in

which Sergeant Pilot James Allen

Ward won a Victoria Cross for

climbing out of the aircraft in

flight to smother an engine fire

and R from 20th Operational

Training Unit which crashed into

Loch Ness and is now on display at

Brooklands Museum as the only

100% surviving Mk.1 in the world.

CONCLUSION

In my view this is the best 1/72

scale kit Airfix have released to

date and I am sure we will ss many

more variations on this boxing over

the next few years and until then

aftermarket manufacturers are

already producing a wide range of

alternative markings. Anyone else

for a B.O.A.C operated example?

By the time you read this the Airfix

Wellington will be widely available but

remember do not delay your purchase

as it is rare that Airfix are producing

second runs meaning that previous

kits like the Avro Lancaster Mk.II are

attracting premium prices on auction

sites. And surely it cannot be too long

before we get an all new Handley Page

Halifax or Douglas Hudson to replace

the 1960s vintage kits that have been

reissued so many times over the years.

My thanks to Airfix for supplying

the review sample and a full build

will feature in SAMi later this year.

WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM • AUGUST 2018 • 41

FIRST LOOK!

040-45-FirstLooks-0818.indd 41 12/07/2018 11:42