Wellington Mk.IIC Conversion

for Trumpeter kits

Alley Cat, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

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Alley Cat has released its most ambitious conversion to date for a 1/48 scale Wellington Mk.IIC.

The Wellington Mk.IIC was fitted with Rolls Royce Merlin X engines, delivering a very different look from the more familiar Bristol radials. 400 Mk,IICs were delivered.

Alley Cat's 1/48 scale Wellington Mk.IIC conversion comprises 30 parts in pale tan coloured resin, two parts in clear resin and a decal sheet with five marking options.

The jewel in the crown is the one-piece in-line engine nacelles. These are beautifully cast with a smooth surface and delicately recessed panel lines, scoops and rivets. Even more impressive are the circular radiator grilles, recessed deep inside the engine intakes.

There are four resin casting pegs on the rear of each nacelle, but these will easily be removed with a razor saw.

The remaining parts are mostly associated with the nacelles, and include 10 propeller blades (four spares are supplied, presumably in case of warpage but they are all fine on my sample), spinners, exhausts and intake scoops. Blanks are also supplied for the nose and ventral turret positions.

Replacement horizontal tail planes will be a drop-fit replacement for the kit parts.

Two clear triangular windows are also provided in case your preferred subject was fitted with these. The clear resin looks cloudy on the casting block, but the parts should sparkle after a bath in Future floor polish.

Although this conversion will transform the appearance of your Trumpeter Wellington, it should be very straightforward to install with no surgery required to install the engine nacelles.

Alley Cat recommends using the Trumpeter 1/48 scale Wellington Mk.I as the basis for the conversion, as most Mk.IICs were converted from that production run. Instructions are provided, mainly in text form, on a single side of A4 paper and are quite adequate for this simple conversion.

The inclusion of decals is very welcome. Five marking options are offered. The first four listed below are in the colours of Dark Earth, Dark Green and Night:

• BU V W5442 of 214 SQN. SRI GURCH nose art

• PH W W5381 of 12 SQN. WIMPEY nose art

• SM H W5566 of 305 SQN. DONALD DUCK nose art

• SM M W5567 of 305 SQN. POPEYE with HITLER over his knee nose art

• U Z8524 of 104 SQN. is finished in a desert scheme of Dark Earth, Middle Stone and Night and carried bird nose art. The front turret blank is used for this aircraft, making it quite a unique option.

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The decals are perfectly printed by Microscale, and colours look good.

Alley Cat's 1/48 scale Wellington Mk.IIC conversion is very complete and beautifully presented.

It will transform the appearance of your big Trumpeter Wimpy, but it should be appropriate as the first conversion project for a modeller of only moderate experience.

The inclusion of five marking options is a real bonus. This is a very impressive package for RAF Bonber Command fans.

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 © 2009 by Brett Green
Page Created 20 January, 2009
Last updated 21 January, 2009

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