AIRFIX (144)

The Supermarine Spitfire is arguably the most famous and beautiful fighter aircraft ever to grace the skies. First flying in 1936, R.J. Mitchell’s masterpiece was the interceptor of choice for Fighter Command by 1940, and the envy of many of the world’s air arms. Powered by the equally famous Rolls Royce Merlin V12, the Spitfire was capable of speeds of over 360mph and had exceptional manoeuvrability. The Spitfire was an excellent dog-fighter, able to turn on the inside of an opponent to great effect during the struggles over southern England and the English Channel during the Battle of Britain. The Spitfire Mark I has come to be seen as a symbol of ‘The Few’, vital to the defence of the United Kingdom against the previously all-conquering Luftwaffe. Along with the Hurricane, it cemented its place in history during the Battle of Britain and continues to be a hugely desirable ‘warbird' at airshows.

Arguably the only German aircraft of the Second World War that could rival the Messerschmitt Bf 109 for notoriety, the Heinkel He-111 may have started its development masquerading as a civilian airliner, but it became one of the most feared bombers of the conflict. With its fully glazed nose and large, elliptical wings, the H-6 was the most produced variant of this famous bomber, serving in every theatre of war during the Second World War in the bombing, torpedo-bombing, mine-laying and reconnaissance roles. The lack of an effective replacement meant that these aircraft were forced to soldier on until the end of the war.

The Bristol Blenheim was conceived as a privately funded high-speed civilian aircraft, intended to wrestle the record for the fastest civilian aircraft in Europe away from the Germans. Successfully achieving this, it immediately attracted the attention of the RAF. At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Blenheim was available in more numbers than any other RAF aircraft.

With so many airworthy two-seat Spitfires currently offering members of the public once-in-a-lifetime flight experience opportunities around the country, it’s interesting that every Spitfire T.9 started as a single-seat fighter, either a Mk.VIII or more commonly, a Mk.IX. Also, despite the Spitfire being arguably the most famous fighting aeroplane in history, with over 20,000 aircraft eventually produced, no official two-seat training variants were produced during the Second World War. A post-war phenomenon, the current fleet of Spitfire T.9s is helping to preserve the legacy of this magnificent aircraft.

The Westland Wessex HC.2 was a licence-built turbine-powered development of the classic American Sikorski S-58 ‘Choctaw’ helicopter, one of the world’s first truly capable helicopters which established these aircraft as essential for a host of military and civilian applications. The continuation of an existing arrangement between Sikorsky and Westland, the Wessex was initially developed for the Royal Navy in the anti-submarine and utility roles but was further developed as the HC.2 for the Royal Air Force, entering service in 1962, a year later than the Navy machines. In RAF service, these powerful helicopters performed several roles, including troop and supply transportation, ground support and air evacuation duties. However, it was their use as Air Sea Rescue helicopters which made these some of the highest-profile aircraft in service at that time. The Wessex represented the pinnacle of rotary technology when introduced and could operate from, and into places that other aircraft couldn’t.

Representing one of the most glamorous aircraft types to ever take to the skies, the Boeing 314 Clipper was produced to allow passengers and cargo to travel across the vast expanses of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, in levels of style and comfort which rivalled those on the great ocean liners. Twelve aircraft were produced for Pan American World Airways and BOAC, however, the start of the Second World War resulted in these opulent flying boats being used mainly for military purposes, with aircraft serving as transport for Franklin D Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.

While it is the pilots that often receive the most acclaim for their role in defending the United Kingdom from the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain in the late summer of 1940, they could never have completed this job alone. Supporting the pilots were many more men and women from across the UK who served as ground crew, performing the vital tasks of refuelling, rearming and maintaining fighter aircraft in between sorties. This was a particularly hazardous task during the Luftwaffe attacks and hit-and-run raids upon RAF airfields. In addition to refuelling and re-arming Spitfires and Hurricanes with thousands of .303 rounds, these hard-working people also patched up damaged fighters, started the engines before sorties, and assisted pilots despite the hectic pace of the battle. The bombing raids and strafing attacks claimed many lives and many more ground crew members were injured, but they carried on, both through the battle and throughout the remainder of the war, often working both in the blazing sun and freezing cold, ensuring that the RAF had the means to defend the skies of Great Britain. Includes 8 Ground Crew Figures 2 Pilot Figures 1 Trolley Accumulator 1 Oil Bowser 1 Ammunition Trolley Wheel Chock Miscellaneous Support Equipment

Quickly outclassed as a day fighter during the Battle of Britain, the Boulton Paul Defiant was tasked with protecting Britain from night bombing raids by the Luftwaffe. Not trained to fight at night, Defiant crews had to develop interception techniques as they fought but found the aircraft much more suited to this nocturnal fighting environment. After enjoying initial success against Luftwaffe pilots unfamiliar with Britain's turret fighter, Defiant crews soon discovered the limitations of their aircraft. The significant weight of the gun turret, combined with a relatively poor arc of defensive fire, meant that German Messerschmitts soon learned how to attack these unusual aircraft. As combat losses began to mount, RAF Defiants were relegated to night fighting duties, where the aircraft was much less vulnerable and could make better use of its offensive firepower. As the night Blitz against London raged, Defiant crews had to develop their own interception techniques, as many were not trained in this type of fighting. They soon began to score victories against the Luftwaffe raiders, helping to establish a cohesive night defence system and rebuilding the reputation of the Defiant. These all-black nocturnal hunters became some of the most distinctive RAF aircraft of the Second World War.

The PR.XIX was the final photo reconnaissance version of the Spitfire to see active RAF service. Produced by mating features of the Mk.XI Spitfire to the powerful Griffon engine of the XIV, the PR.XIX was one of the fastest and, some say, best-looking of all Spitfire variants. Due to its role as a reconnaissance machine, it featured no armament, relying upon its high top speed to evade potential enemies. After the war, the PR.CIC served in the Far East, operating over Hainan Island and performing the RAF’s last ever operational sortie by a Spitfire over Malaya on 10th June 1957.

The Folland Gnat was a small, swept-wing British subsonic jet trainer and light fighter developed by Folland for the RAF, and flown extensively by the Indian Air Force. Its design allowed construction without specialised tools by countries that were not highly industrialised. Although never used as a fighter by the RAF, the Gnat T.1 trainer was widely used.

Born out of Germany’s apparent obsession with the heavy fighter concept, the Messerschmitt Me 410 was an excellent multi-role successor to the Messerschmitt Bf 110 but entered service too late due to the protracted development of its immediate predecessor, the Me 210. The A-1 variant was described as a high-performance light bomber. Specifications Item Length - Without Packaging (cm): 17.5 Item Width - Without Packaging (cm): 22.6 How many pieces will be found in the box opened by the customer?: 149 Item Scale: 1:72 Scale Contents (what's in the box) sets: Plastic model kit, instruction sheet, paint layout sheet and decals. Finish: Plastic Number of Scheme options: 2 Skill Level: 2 Flying Hours: 2 Wingspan (mm): 226 Schemes A04069 - Messerschmitt Me410A-1, WNr.10185, U5+KG, 16./Kampfgeschwader 2, Amsterdam-Schipol, Netherlands, October 1943. (A) A04069 - Messerschmitt Me410A-1, U5+CX, 13./Kampfgeschwader 2, Coulommiers, France, August 1943. (B)

Satisfying a Royal Air Force requirement for an effective medium support helicopter, when the Westland Puma HC.1 entered service with No.33 Squadron in 1971, it was the first Anglo-French aircraft collaboration of its kind. Possessing exceptional speed and agility, the Puma was capable of carrying 16 passengers, 12 fully equipped troops, or two tonnes of cargo, either carried internally, as an underslung load, or via a combination of the two. An incredibly versatile and reliable helicopter, the latest variant of this magnificent aircraft remains in service with the RAF, some 53 years since those first machines arrived at RAF Odiham.

Built around the legendary attributes of the rugged Land Rover series, the 1 Tonne Forward Control vehicle was designed to meet a British Army requirement for an effective light gun tractor, one which was also capable of transporting 1 tonne of ammunition and other equipment in its load compartment. These vehicles were also required to be carried by air transport, and repositioning the Rover V8 engine to a position behind the cab removed the bonnet and gave these vehicles their distinctive flat front profile. These small, yet powerful 4x4 vehicles continued the legacy of the highly successful Land Rover in military service.

With the nickname “pneumonia wagon” due to its collapsible windscreen, the Bedford MWD truck was used throughout the Second World War by the RAF. Seen here with both early and late war options, this vehicle that transported the RAF ground crew was considered to be just as important as the aircraft they flew and maintained.

In November 1934, the Air Ministry was trialling several manufacturers’ chassis to fulfil roles within the RAF. Albion won the contract with a specially modified version of the mid-sized 463 with the prefix AM (Air Ministry). It performed many roles, most commonly used as a refueller.

With its reputation for being a rugged, dependable, no-frills, go-where-other-vehicles-can’t-go type of machine, the Land Rover attracted the attention of the British military, who wanted to buy large numbers of these utility vehicles. First ordered by the British Army in 1949, they quickly established themselves as an invaluable military asset, adaptable enough to take on a multitude of different roles. Perhaps its most important feature was its simplicity, and if one broke down, it was usually possible for the Land Rover to be fixed in the field without too much trouble.

Modern warfare requires the support of a robust supply infrastructure and a fleet of effective vehicles to keep troops on the move and well-supplied. For almost 40 years and throughout the Cold War era, the British Army relied on the 4-ton 4x4 General Service Truck to fulfil this role. The undisputed load-lugging champion of the Army and a true workhorse of Britain’s armed forces, these incredibly rugged and reliable vehicles initially used multifuel engines but these were later replaced with more economical diesel units. With more than 50,000 produced, they were adapted to perform a multitude of different roles. Always in the background, these vehicles were unquestionably the backbone of the British Army.

A light, yet robust modern field gun, this impressive weapon was flexible enough for troops fighting in the most inhospitable of terrain and could be towed by Army Land Rovers, or carried as an underslung load beneath the larger British helicopter types. In service with the British Army from 1976, this new weapon was designed to possess greater range and lethality than its predecessor, whilst retaining the portability of that unit, however, this did make it a heavy gun. Produced in large numbers, these guns were exported widely and served with distinction during the Falklands War.

The aviation hero of the Battle of Britain, the Hawker Hurricane is one of the most significant aircraft in British aviation history - the RAF’s first production aircraft to exceed 300mph and the first multi-gun monoplane fighter in RAF service. Thirty-two Squadrons of Hurricanes saw action during the Battle of Britain.

Significant in the history of aerial warfare, the Fokker Eindecker was the first purpose-built First World War German fighter aircraft and the first to be fitted with gun synchronisation gear. This gear allowed the pilot to shoot through the arc of the propeller and in his line of sight. Once introduced, it took a withering toll on Allied aircraft.

The stable flight characteristics of the government-designed Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c made it an ideal home-defence night-fighter aircraft. It famously claimed the destruction of the first German airship over Britain on 3rd September 1916, earning pilot Lt. William Leefe Robinson a Victoria Cross. This Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c plastic model kit comes with two paint scheme options, bringing variety to a popular design. With 54 well-engineered parts, this 1:72 scale kit is a joy to build. Specification Item Length - Without Packaging (cm): 11.5 Item Width - Without Packaging (cm): 15.6 How many pieces will be found in the box opened by the customer?: 54 Item Scale: 1:72 Scale Contents (what's in the box) sets: Plastic model kit, instruction sheet, paint layout sheet and decals. Finish: Plastic Number of Scheme options: 2 Skill Level: 2 Flying Hours: 1 Wingspan (mm): 156

First flying in 1939, the Focke-Wulf FW190 was an immediate threat to RAF fighters when introduced in late 1941, being faster and more manoeuvrable than the Spitfire V then in service. The F-8 was the ground-attack version and differed primarily in its lack of outboard cannons. Various combinations of underwing weapons were fitted, but the most common was one centreline bomb and four small bombs on the wings. The A-8 version was the most numerous, heavily armed variant and entered service in 1944 in an attempt to stop Allied daylight raids. By then, however, the new Allied fighters had begun to outclass it.

A specialist variant of the Westland Sea King, the HC.4 was the Royal Navy's Commando troop carrying and resupply helicopter replacement for their Wessex HU.5 helicopters and a development of similar aircraft produced for the Egyptian and Qatari Air Forces. 42 newly built helicopters were eventually produced in this configuration, which by their nature, were never too far from any action hotspots.Deployed to combat zones right across the world during their 36-year service career, the Junglie as it was affectionately known, served with distinction from the Falklands War, through to the UK's campaign in Afghanistan. King of the Junglies Known as ‘King of the Junglies’, ZA298 was the longest serving Sea King HC.4. For over 30 years it was active in wars in the Falklands, Bosnia, Iraq and most recently Afghanistan. This latest iteration of our 1:48 scale Westland Sea King 2023 tooling includes new parts, not included in the first release. These include: Folding rotor blades and tail Undercarriage without sponsons unique to HC.4 variant New interior parts including lengthened cabin and extra seats Open/closed door option GPMG machine gun mount New cockpit detail parts Extra antenna and countermeasures detail parts to suit the HC.4’s front-line role

Packed full of detail, this brand-new mould includes closed or open canopy options, to reveal the detailed internal fuselage structure. The wings can be built with open or closed leading edge slats and dropped flaps. The undercarriage features covered or uncovered wheels, with optional bomb racks and full bomb load. One of the more unusual aircraft to see action during the Second World War, the Lysander was designed to provide the British Army with a modern aircraft for reconnaissance, observation and artillery spotting. Possessing exceptional short take-off and landing capabilities, the Lysander was just what the Army were looking for. Unfortunately, many of the design requirements incorporated into the aircraft were the result of outdated thinking. Of 175 Lysanders sent to France with the British Expeditionary Force, 118 would be lost, the aircraft unable to defend itself against Luftwaffe fighters.