Halifax Wing Tips
Lincoln-Style Tail & Rudder

for Airfix / Revell kits

Alley Cat, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

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Alley Cat has released two straightforward but important conversions for two classic WWII British bombers:

AC 72004C - Lincoln Style Tail and Rudder for Lancaster (Revell)

Late-war and post-war Lancasters were frequently fitted with Lincoln-style vertical tail surfaces and rudders. The most obvious difference is the larger trim tabs.

Alley Cat has released a set of Lincoln-style tail surfaces as a drop-fit replacement for the vertical tail parts in Revell's excellent new 1/72 scale kit.

Casting and detail are first rate. There are no mould imperfections visible on my sample. The trailing edges of the rudders are razor sharp, and the trim tabs feature locating dents for the kit's mass balances. Locating slots for the kit's plastic horizontal stabilizers are deep and free from any excess material - very impressive.

The parts are cast onto a fairly thin block with two thicker reinforcing pieces. Careful scoring along the front edge of the tail should quickly free the resin parts.

AC 72005C - Halifax Extended Wing Tips (Airfix)

The extended, rounded-style wing tip was fitted to the Handley Page Halifax III from around Febuary 1944, to all Halifax B Mk VI, B Mk VII, A Mk IX and subsequentcivil conversions.

The venerable 1/72 scale Airfix kit, however, is fitted with the early, shorter squared-off wing tips.

Alley Cat has now released the later version of rounded wing tip.

Some minor surgery will be required for this conversion. The Aifix kit wings need to be cut off at the outer edge of the ailerons, and the new wing tips glued to the wings. The wing tips are handed port and starboard so take care to identify them before securing to the kit.

Alley Cat's late-version Halifax and Lancaster conversion parts will be warmly welcomed by anybody building the Airfix and Revell kits.

Thanks to A2Zee Models for the review sample

Alley Cat and FAA Models' accessories are available from A2Zee Models  website

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2008 by Brett Green
Page Created 7 November, 2008
Last updated 7 November, 2008

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