WWII RAF Bomber Re-Supply Set

Airfix, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Cookie Sewell
 

Summary

FirstLook

I have always had a soft spot for Airfix, as they were the first series of models that I encountered in the same exact scale – 1/72 – and of more interesting subjects as they were historical and not simply one-off prototypes as many American models of the late 1950s-early 1960s were focused on. They really hit their stride at the end of the 1960s with some truly great kits.

One of my all time favorites was their Short Stirling bomber kit from 1966 - not only was it very detailed for the time, but it came with a small tractor and bomb dollies to set it off. Apparently Airfix got a bug in its ear from modelers, for three years later they released an Austin K2 ambulance and fire engine as the RAF Rescue Set. In 1971 they followed it with a pair of fuel bowsers as the RAF Refuelling Set, and topped it off with a “Queen Mary” tasker and mobile crane in 1973 as the RAF Recovery Set. Each one came with a few figures suited to their missions, and as well as that they added a “rubber” (flexible plastic) set of RAF Personnel in 1972. While I changed over to armor and eventually from 1/76 to 1/35 scales, I still fondly remembered these sets.

To everyone’s suprise, in 2013 Airfix returned to this line and released a new WWII RAF Bomber Resupply Set. This is a welcome addition to the older kits, and provides a wide variety of new items.

Included in the box are the following: a Bedford MW chassis, with two bodies so it can be finished as an MWC petrol bowser (fuel tanker) or an MWD cargo and personnel carrier; a Standard 12 hp 4x2 truck, better known as the “Tilly”; a David Brown VIG 1 Tractor/aircraft tug; a 450 gallon petrol bowser trailer; three bomb trolleys, two Type C for four bombs each and one Type F for a single large bomb; a 500 cc single-cylinder motorcycle; a mobile maintenance platform trailer; a bicycle; 6 x 1000 lb MC bombs; 6 x 500 lb MC bombs; one 4000 lb HC “Cookie Cutter” bomb; one 8000 lb bomb; six SBC small bomb containers; six wheel chocks, one ladder, three “jerry” cans, a 55 gallon oil drum, and a mechanic’s tool kit.

While nominally 1/72 scale, apparently old line Airfix fans have noted the vehicles all appear to be 1/76 scale, the old Airfix military vehicle one derived from British OO Gauge model railways. But as all the vehicles are rather small, the differences are so slight that few will notice or care about the differences.

The Bedford is very nicely done and unlike the old Airfix sets comes with clear styrene for the windshield and side windows. The MWC body comes with its doors closed, but there is a rough interior so a good modeler can open them up and add details to represent the pump system. The MWD canvas comes with a separate rear flap and a tailgate which can be represented in the lowered position or removed, so it also presents a number of options.

The Tilly is also very nicely done and comes with the cowl panel and windshield as a single clear part for rigidity and ease of assembly. Its canvas is open at the rear.

The David Brown tractor appears to be a near clone of the old Stirling kit one, but as it was nicely done in 1996 all they have done is clean up the molds a bit and reproduced the original kit nearly part for part less the driver.

Two comments on the vehicles. Apparently as a sop to modern aircraft modelers, the tires have all been “flattened” where they touch the ground. Also, all three vehicles have a front axle which uses tabs and slots which cleverly permit the front wheels to be angled when installed for posing the wheels in a turned aspect.

The bowser trailer has flattened tires as well, but it comes with a complete pump system inside and split doors to begin with.

The maintenance platform is a two-story affair and looks something like a mobile “jungle gym” set. It is provided for crews working engines, fuelling, loading items, etc.

The bomb dollies come in what appears to be a similar fashion to the originals, namely carrier racks that can be inverted for carrying single 500-1000 pound bombs or right side up to carry two bombs. The F dolly only carries one large bomb, either the 4000 or 8000 pound weapon. The 500 and 1000 pound bombs are basic and old-fashioned three-piece styrene affairs.

The motorcycle comes in three parts – forks/wheel, handlebars, and body. As such it can be posted with the front forks angled where the modeler chooses, as its flip-down stand is deployed. The bicycle is a single piece with – as is common in small scales – no spokes.

There are four large wheel chocks and two small ones provided, as are three “Jerry”
cans with solid handles vice three individual bars (the very fussy may want to replace them with fine wire).

The kit comes with a reasonably good set of decals and also two pages of color (!) finishing and marking directions, with the suggested time frame being mid 1943. Paint recommendations are not surprisingly keyed to Humbrol paints (also now owned by Hornby, Airfix’s current parent company).

Overall this is a very nicely done set with a great deal of flexibility. As I also model OO Gauge British pattern railways, the vehicles will be “demilled” and used for my layout.

Sprue Breakdown

A 9 Clear styrene
B 28 Bedford MW vehicle, 500cc motorcycle
C 30 Bedford MW body parts, Standard “Tilly”
D 56 David Brown tractor, bombs
E 26 Bomb containers, racks, petrol bowser trailer
F 50 Maintenance tower, bomb trailers, accessories