Vickers Wellington Mk.II

MPM, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mick Evans

MPM's 1/72 scale Wellington Mk.II is available online from Squadron.com

The Vickers Wellington was designed in 1935 by the brilliant engineer Barnes Wallace.  The Wellington was best remembered for prominent geodetic framework, which was Wallis’s patent design. 

MPM released the Mk.I version of the Wellington some time ago and received good reviews particularly in comparison to the existing 1/72 scale kits produced by Airfix (over 40 years ago), Frog/Novo (over 40 years ago) and Matchbox over 30 years ago.  The time was ripe for a new release Wellington and congratulations to MPM for stepping up to the mark.  This version is the Mk.II fitted with Rolls Royce Merlin engines.

Upon opening the box we are presented with a very detailed injection moulded plastic kit.  There are 160 finely engraved injection moulded plastic parts, parts and 23 clear injection moulded canopy parts in this kit.  This count of parts includes all of the parts for the Bristol Hercules Mk.IC version.

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Thumbnail panels:

The detail in this kit is nothing short of superb.  Every panel line is crisply replicated and every piece of surface detail is present.

Excellent cockpit detail is provided by the way of 13 parts and most of this detail will be visible through the crystal clear canopy. There is a cockpit floor, centre console, rudder bar, seat, instrument panel, control column, front and rear bulkheads are provided.  The detailed geodetic structure on either side of the inside of the fuselage has been faithfully replicated   The external representation of the ribbing and geodetic design is nicely represented and will look good under a coat of paint.

The engines are reasonably detailed as are the main wheel wells.  A good representation landing gear is provided these require very little clean up and refinement.  The detail provided for the nose and tail turrets is more than adequate for this scale.

The transparencies are crystal clear although some surgery is required to fit the waist gun position transparencies as these are solid with outlines moulded on the inside of the fuselage for cutting guidance.  The decals are crisp, accurate in colour and in register.

The kit is very detailed with a high number of parts and a trial fit of the major parts shows no real issues with fit.  I think that this will make into a very nice and accurate little kit and updates an important part of history for twin engine WWII bomber aircraft.

Markings

Marking are provided for four aircraft in the standard Dark Earth/ Dark Green upper surface and Night Black under surfaces as follows:

• Vickers Wellington Mk.II W5567/SM-M, 305 (Polish) Sqn RAF based at RAF Lindholm in 1941/42.

• Vickers Wellington Mk.II W5566/SM-H, 305 (Polish) Sqn RAF based at RAF Lindholm in 1941/42.

• Vickers Wellington Mk.II Z8345/EP-S, 104 Sqn RAF based at RAF Driffield East Yorkshire in 1941.

• Vickers Wellington Mk.II W5442/BU-M, 214 “Federated Malay States” Sqn RAF based at RAF Stradishall, Suffolk in November 1941.

Highly recommended to modellers who have some experience with limited run kits.

Thanks to MPM / Special Hobby for the review sample

Review Text Copyright © 2008 by Mick Evans
Images Copyright © 2008 by Brett Green
Page Created 17 June, 2008
Last updated 18 June, 2008

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