AIRFIX (329)

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 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.

The Swift still holds the honour of being the first swept-wing jet fighter in RAF service. The FR.5 proved itself in the reconnaissance role, winning the NATO 'Royal Flush' reconnaissance competition in 1957 and 1959, conclusively beating off the best types other nations could offer.Specifications Item Length - Without Packaging (cm): 18 Item Width - Without Packaging (cm): 13.8 How many pieces will be found in the box opened by the customer?: 62 Item Scale: 1:72 Scale License line: BAE SYSTEMS is a registered trade mark of BAE Systems plc. Contents (what's in the box) sets: Plastic kit, instruction sheet, paint guide and decal sheet. Finish: Plastic Number of Scheme options: 2 Skill Level: 2 Flying Hours: 1 Wingspan (mm): 138

The F2 introduced in 1962 was much modified in 1968 producing the F2A with square cut fin, kinked leading edges and enlarged ventral tank which gave an enhanced combat air patrol time of some 2 hours. Includes Sprues Decals

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.

The Messerschmitt Me410 was developed as a heavy fighter but went on to perform several roles such as night fighter, bomber destroyer and reconnaissance. Entering service two years later than scheduled in 1943 as a replacement for the Me210, the aircraft featured several distinctive features including the twin gun barbettes.The Me410 was essentially a development of the 210 featuring a lengthened fuselage, revised wings and more powerful engines. Although the Me410 performed well, it entered service too late to make an impact on the tide of war and was soon relegated to reconnaissance roles.The Messerschmitt Me410 is undoubtedly one of the most impressive looking aircraft types of the Second World War, the ultimate incarnation of Germany's fascination with the Zerstörer heavy fighter concept.Today, just a single complete example of a Messerschmitt Me410 is to be found on display anywhere in the world, one of the prized aviation possessions maintained by the Royal Air Force Museum at their Midlands RAF Cosford site, the very aircraft Airfix scanned at the outset of this exciting new model tooling project.Although an excellent and extremely heavily armed aircraft, the Me410 could not adequately defend itself against the latest Allied single engined fighters. No match for the latest Spitfires, Tempests, and P-51D Mustangs, once USAAF commanders freed their fighters from bomber protection duties and allowed then to go hunting the Luftwaffe, any advantage the heavily armed Me410s had were effectively negated and if caught in the gunsights of Allied fighters, they were unlikely to survive the encounter.Production of the Messerschmitt Me410 ended during August 1944, when the manufacturing lines were switched to producing single engined Messerschmitt Bf 109G fighters for home defence duties, however by that stage in the war, things were already looking rather futile for the struggling Luftwaffe.Specifications Item Length - Without Packaging (cm): 17.5 Item Height - Without Packaging (cm): 4.5 Item Width - Without Packaging (cm): 22.6 How many pieces will be found in the box opened by the customer?: 137 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

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.

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)

From 1944, the de Havilland Mosquito B.XVI was delivered to front line squadrons. The B.XVI was a development of the earlier B.IX variant, but a new pressurised cabin had been incorporated so the aircraft could operate at high altitude.  Although it was unarmed, the B.XVI could carry a 3,000Ib bomb load. Not long after the start of B.XVI production, modifications were incorporated on the production line to allow a 4,000Ib ‘Cookie’ or blockbuster bomb to be carried internally, a weapon which possessed devastating destructive capability.  Combining the power of these fearsome weapons with the legendary speed and bombing accuracy associated with Mosquito operations allowed Bomber Command to keep the pressure on the enemy throughout the latter stages of WWII. By this time, with its first test flight on 12 March 1945, the last bomber version of the Mosquito, B.35, was at an advanced stage of development. Powered by the Merlin 113/114 engine, the war ended before the B.35 entered service. However, it had a long career with the post-war RAF, serving operationally until early 1954. When the RAF’s new jet-powered replacement for the Mosquito, the English Electric Canberra was introduced to service in May 1951, the Mosquito B.35 was relegated from frontline operations and many B.35s continued to operate in secondary roles after conversion to target tugs.  These conversions were undertaken by Northamptonshire-based Brooklands Aviation Ltd and called TT.35s. These remained in service with Civilian Anti Aircraft Cooperation Units (CAACU) until the last one was retired in May 1963. The TT.35’s target-towing system consisted of a wind-driven ML Type G winch with 6,000ft of non-twisting steel cable towing a fabric target drogue. Features This 1:72 scale kit consists of 182 parts and introduces 21 newly designed parts Open and closed bulged bomb bay doors 4000lb “Cookie” bomb,  Bomb bay interior parts,  Target towing winch parts and other details. Marking options for 3 distinctive new schemes which tell the story of the Mosquito’s changing roles in late World War 2 and into the post-war era- including the colourful TT.35 target towing variant “TA719” which survived into preservation. 

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.

Built for the Royal Navy after the First World War and completed in 1927, HMS Nelson saw active service from the outbreak of the Second World War, and was present at the surrender of the Japanese in Singapore in 1945. This military ship model kit is an incredible replica of HMS Nelson in 1:600 scale. Specifications Item Length - Without Packaging (cm): 36 Item Width - Without Packaging (cm): 5.4 How many pieces will be found in the box opened by the customer?: 132 Item Scale: 1:600 Scale Contents (what's in the box) sets: Plastic model kit, instruction sheet, paint layout sheet and decals. Number of Scheme options: 2 Skill Level: 2 Flying Hours: 2

The most powerful battleship in the world in 1941 when she sailed to raid Allied shipping in the North Atlantic with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. After being spotted by the Royal Navy she was shadowed and then engaged. In this engagement the Bismarck sank HMS Hood. She was then damaged by at least one torpedo from attacking Swordfish, slowing her down. She was eventually sunk by torpedoes fired from Royal Naval ships with the loss of almost 1,900 crew. Specification 1:600 Scale Parts Included: 170 Skill Level: 3 Scheme Options: 1

One of the powerful new Battleships produced for the German Kriegsmarine during the mid 1930s, Scharnhorst was equipped with nine 11-inch main guns which made her a capable commerce raider, but unable to compete with the many more heavily armed Battleships of the Royal Navy. She was sunk by HMS Duke of York at the Battle of the North Cape on 26th December 1943, but you can bring it back to life in 1:600 scale plastic model kit form! Specifications Item Length - Without Packaging (cm): 38.5 Item Width - Without Packaging (cm): 5 How many pieces will be found in the box opened by the customer?: 159 Item Scale: 1:600 Scale Contents (what's in the box) sets: Plastic model kit, instruction sheet, paint layout sheet and decals. Number of Scheme options: 1 Skill Level: 3 Flying Hours: 2

Launched at the Birkenhead shipyard of Cammel Laird on the 13th April 1937, H.M.S. Ark Royal was involved in the sinking of the German Battleship Bismarck. Later she was torpedoed by the German Submarine U-81. At 06:13 hrs. on 14th November 1941, she went down, with only one sailor losing his life. Mould tools made in 1966 Box illustration by Roy Cross, 1966. Specification 1:600 Scale Parts Included: 353 Skill Level: 3 Scheme Options: 1

One of the Town Class Batch 3 cruisers, the Belfast saw action at the Battle of the North Cape in World War II, as well as protecting the Artic convoys and taking a major role during the D-Day landings. After being refitted and seeing action in other conflicts including the Korean War, she is now preserved and anchored in the River Thames near to Tower Bridge in London. Specification 1:600 Scale Parts Included: 250 Skill Level: 3 Scheme Options: 1

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