Airfix

Airfix Models and Humbrol Paints - Here is a selection of the items we keep in stock, please contact the store for pricing and availability of other products.

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Airfix 617 Sqn. Dambusters 80th Anniversary 1:72 A50191 As the first of 20 modified Avro Lancasters arrived at RAF Scampton on 8th April 1943, the specially assembled volunteer crews of specialist 'Squadron X' (later allocated the RAF squadron number 617) from within 5 Group Bomber Command must have been intrigued. The new aircraft were B.III (Specials), referred to at Avro's Woodford factory as Lancaster Type 464 Provisioning and each one had been modified with equipment to deliver the Vickers Type 464 'Upkeep' mine. Although the mines had not been delivered to Scampton at that time, talk amongst the crews inevitably turned to discussing their intended target, with most assuming they would be sent to attack the massive German battleship Tirpitz. As more Lancaster's arrived, the commander of this new squadron, Wing Commander Guy Gibson, selected Lancaster ED932/AJ-G as his own aircraft, due to the fact that the bomber's codes were the same as his father's initials, Alexander James Gibson. Gibson and the crew of ED932 were amongst the first to train with their new aircraft and their unusual bombs, releasing their mines at a test site at Reculver on the north Kent coast from 12th May 1943, just five days before crews embarked on their historic raid. After a period of intense training and on the day prior to the raid, Gibson was finally briefed on the intended targets - 'Operation Chastise' would be striking at the industrial heart of Germany, the great dams of the Ruhr Valley. At 21.39 on 16th May 1943, Gibson and Lancaster ED932 took off from RAF Scampton at the head of the first attack wave of nine Lancasters heading for the Mohne Dam, flying a route over Suffolk, then the North Sea, crossing the Dutch coast at Zeeland, before heading inland attempting to avoid known areas of Luftwaffe defences. As Gibson and his crew made their attack run on the Mohne Dam, the other Lancasters of the first wave circled the target area, watching the effectiveness of the attack run and waiting for the instruction to commence their own attack. Having released their mine, Gibson and his crew flew alongside the other aircraft during their attacks, attempting to draw enemy fire away from the attacking aircraft, giving them the best chance of effecting a breach. The fifth mine dropped was a perfect run and exploded in exactly the right place to cause the already weakened dam to fail – they had done it. In the years which followed, this incredible operation was referred to as the 'Dambusters Raid' and No.617 Squadron would become one of the RAF's most famous units. 'Operation Chastise' was heralded as a spectacular success for Bomber Command, but at a heavy cost, as eight Lancasters and 53 airmen failed to return. No.617 Squadron continues the proud legacy of the Dambusters airmen to this day, as the first operational RAF unit equipped with the Lockheed Martin® F-35® Lightning, symbolically officially reforming in April 2018, the month in which the Royal Air Force commemorated its centenary. What's Inside Avro Lancaster B.III (Special) and F-35B model kits. Instruction Sheets, paint layout, decals, paint, glue and brush. Age 12+
Airfix Aston Martin DB5 Starter Set 1:43 A55011 Although the criteria for a car that can be described as one of the best supercars in the world will always be controversial, surely few would argue that the Aston Martin DB5 should belong to this group.  The DB5, a luxurious Grand Tourer designed by an Italian design team but the essence of British sophistication and style, built on the impressive success of its predecessor DB4, presenting the auto world between 1963 and 1965 one of the most sought-after cars ever produced. The Aston Martin DB5 stood for pure driving fun and was not only fast, powerful and cultivated, but above all beautiful to look at.  With its iconic front profile and eye-catching spoke wheels, this 1960s product can still keep up with any modern classic, and if you came to an event in one of these beauties, you would definitely be the center of attention. 29 pieces, completely new tools. Length built 106 mm / width 31.3 mm / height 39.1 mm.  Aston Martin, the Aston Martin Wings logo and model names Vantage, DBS, DB5 and DB10 are trademarks licensed or used by Aston Martin Lagonda Limited. All rights reserved. Age 8+
Airfix Austin K2/Y Ambulance 1:35 A1375 Some of the most important military vehicles of the Second World War didn't feature huge main guns, neither were they bedecked with ever thicker armour plating, but are no less fascinating to study. One of the most crucial abilities on any battlefield is to be able to transport your wounded troops quickly and efficiently from the front line, to field medical stations some distance behind the fighting, where they could receive the medical attention they needed and potentially save their lives. Although clearly any vehicle could be used for this task, a dedicated ambulance would often allow the wounded to start receiving care straight away and if you were ever in need of one's services, you would no doubt class these as the most important vehicles on the battlefield. One of the most famous vehicles of its type, the Austin K2/Y Ambulance was used extensively by British and Commonwealth forces throughout WWII, both in the combat zones of the world and on the home front. Built around the chassis of the Austin K30 light truck, the casualty compartment was developed in conjunction with the Royal Army Medical Corps and therefore proved to be highly functional. Able to carry either four stretcher cases or ten seated casualties, one of the main reasons why the K2/Y was so successful was because it was so rugged and reliable, requiring only a minimum of maintenance - an ambulance should always be ready when you need it. The rear cabin was typically constructed of painted canvas on a timber frame, with the highly visible red cross on a white disk positioned prominently on all sides to hopefully ensure the vehicles occupants didn't come under fire. Once the K2/Y had delivered its latest casualty load to the field station, it would invariably head straight back into the combat zone, at speeds on open roads approaching 50 mph. An extremely popular vehicle with British, Commonwealth and American troops, the Austin K2/Y was viewed as something as an angel on the troops shoulders. Hopefully, they would never need to see the inside of the ambulance, but if they did 'Katy' would be ready and waiting for them. With over 13,000 examples built, these would have been a familiar sight on the battlefields of the world and it is thought that around fifty examples still survive to this day, some having undergone restoration back to something close to their original wartime configuration. Age 12+
Airfix Avro Anson Mk.1 1:48 A09191 Although not generally regarded as one of the most fashionable British aircraft to see service during the Second World War, the Avro Anson was nevertheless one of the most important aircraft not only of the inter-war years, but also during WWII itself and is deserving of more recognition than it usually receives. An aircraft which began its development in 1933 as a high speed, long range, modern mail carrying charter aircraft, the Avro 652 was still in development when the British Air Ministry issued a requirement for a twin engined, general reconnaissance and multi-role aircraft capable of performing a variety of roles for both the Royal Air force and the Royal Navy. The Avro team felt that their new aircraft would be perfect for the role and later entered it in an official evaluation programme with the competitor de Havilland DH89M, the military version of their biplane Dragon Rapide. The Avro design was found to possess greater range and endurance and whilst not without a few areas which would require some design modifications, an initial order for 174 militarised aircraft was placed. The Avro 652 would be given the name Anson after an Eighteenth Century British Admiral of the fleet, a development which did not please everyone at the Air Ministry, but as the aircraft was intended to undertake maritime patrols, the name did seem rather appropriate. Highlighting the importance of the Avro Anson as a British aircraft type, when it entered service with No.48 Squadron at RAF Manston in March 1936, it became the first monoplane type to achieve squadron service status, but was also the first RAF aircraft to feature a retractable undercarriage. At this time, the advanced Anson quickly began to attract attention from several other countries and in order to capitalise on this interest, some aircraft were diverted from existing RAF orders to fulfil these requirements, with full production forcing Avro to open new manufacturing facilities in the North West of England. The RAF Anson Mk.I was equipped with a fixed forward firing .303 machine gun operated by the pilot and a single Lewis gun mounted in the manually traversed dorsal turret. It could also be equipped with a modest bomb load, something which was required by submarine hunting aircraft operated by Coastal Command and whilst there were no reports of an Anson sinking a U-Boat, their presence would keep these feared hunters submerged. During the Dunkirk evacuations, Ansons used to cover the operation came under attack by Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters, which had real difficulty engaging the slow flying British aircraft. Consistently overshooting the Ansons, they came in the sights of the aircraft's forward firing gun and astonishingly, two of the Luftwaffe fighters were shot down and a third was badly damaged, with all the Ansons escaping from the engagement unscathed. Despite the fact that the RAF entered the Second World War with 26 squadrons equipped with Avro Ansons, they were basically obsolete as a fighting machine and particularly for the ones assigned to Bomber Command, they were quickly withdrawn to secondary training roles, a task for which the 'Faithfull Annie' was particularly well suited. As part of the Empire Air Training Scheme, many thousands of aircrew destined for service with Bomber Command were trained both in the UK and overseas, including those destined to serve in the Avro Lancaster, the mighty bomber which was produced in some of the same factories previously used to produce Ansons. With just under 11,000 Ansons eventually produced, the final RAF example was only withdrawn from service as a station communications aircraft in 1968. Age 12+
Airfix Avro Anson Mk.1 1:48 A09191A When it entered service with No.48 Squadron at RAF Manston in March 1936, the Avro Anson became the first monoplane type to achieve squadron service status and was also the first RAF aircraft to feature a retractable undercarriage.  The RAF Anson Mk.I was equipped with a fixed forward firing .303 machine gun operated by the pilot and a single Lewis gun mounted in the manually traversed dorsal turret. It could also be equipped with a modest bomb load, something which was required by submarine hunting aircraft operated by Coastal Command.  Despite the RAF entering the Second World War with 26 squadrons equipped with Avro Ansons, they were basically obsolete as a fighting machine and were quickly withdrawn to secondary training roles, a task for which the ‘Faithfull Annie’ was particularly well suited.  As part of the Empire Air Training Scheme, many thousands of aircrew destined for service with Bomber Command were trained both in the UK and overseas. Age 12+
Airfix AVRO Lancaster B.III The Dambusters 1:72 A09007A Following a short but intense period of training, the volunteer group of crack airmen who made up the new RAF No.617 Squadron took off from RAF Scampton on the night of 16th/17th May 1943, at the start of the most audacious bombing raid in history. Led by their enigmatic and inspirational commanding officer Guy Gibson, he is reputed to have said, 'This squadron will either make history, or it will be completely wiped out', but nevertheless, every man was determined to play their part in this historic raid. Nineteen 'Special' Lancaster's and their crews sent a message to the German nation that could not be disguised by their propaganda ministers.
Airfix BAE Systems Hawk 100 Series 1:72 A03073A Building on the incredible success of the RAF’s British Aerospace Hawk trainer, the 100 series was a significant development of the original design, which resulted in a much more aggressive looking aeroplane. With a lengthened nose and permanent wing-tip mountings for air to air missiles, the Hawk 100 series would provide several nations with an extremely cost effective, agile and capable multi-role aircraft option. BAE SYSTEMS is a registered trade mark of BAE Systems plc. Age 10+
Airfix Blackburn Buccaneer S.2C/D 1:48 A12012 A mighty naval strike aircraft which can trace its origins back to Britain's response to a massive naval expansion programme by the Soviet Navy in the 1950s and the introduction of their Sverdlov Class Cruisers, the Blackburn Buccaneer was designed to have exceptional low altitude performance and the ability to effectively neutralise this new naval threat. Required to operate from the relatively confined space aboard one of Britain's aircraft carriers, this subsonic strike jet was the most capable aircraft of its kind in the world and a real triumph for Britain's aviation industry - it also happened to be the heaviest aircraft ever operated by the Royal Navy. In order to allow its effective operation at sea, the Buccaneers design not only included the ability to fold its wings, but also the nose (radar housing) and rear speed brake could be folded back and split open respectively, allowing for more effective carrier stowage, whilst maintaining the aerodynamic integrity of the aircraft. Entering Royal Navy service in July 1962, there were no two seat trainer versions of the Buccaneer, so even though the pilot would have had the benefit of several flights as a back seat observer in the new aircraft, his first flight as pilot would therefore be his Buccaneer solo. Thankfully, the Blackburn designers included many hi-tech automated features in the Buccaneer's roomy cockpit, all of which were intended to reduce pilot workload. There is something aviation enthusiasts find particularly fascinating about the operation of aircraft at sea and the intrepid aviators who flew aeroplanes from the heaving decks of aircraft carriers under steam, particularly when aviation entered the jet age. The unforgiving nature of these operations dictated that naval aircraft had to be extremely tough, in addition to being capable of carrying out the mission for which they were required, attributes the Blackburn Buccaneer possessed in abundance.  The introduction of the S.2 variant of the aircraft in late 1965 saw a major upgrade of the Buccaneer's capabilities, but centred around the adoption of a new powerplant, the famous Rolls Royce Spey turbofan. Possessing greater thrust and increased range, the Buccaneer S.2 was an even more capable naval strike aircraft and one which must have struck fear into the hearts of every Soviet naval commander. With its increased power, the S.2 was now able to land back on its home carrier with one engine shut down if required, but still having enough thrust to safely go around again, should the aircraft fail to catch the arrestor hook. The Buccaneers of No.800 Naval Air Squadron were famously involved in the destruction of the stricken oil tanker Torrey Canyon, off Land's End in March 1967, as the government attempted to avert an environmental catastrophe by breaking open the vessel and burning its flammable cargo. Operating from RAF Brawdy, eight Buccaneers from No.800 NAS dropped 42,000 lbs of high explosive bombs on the tanker, achieving an impressive 75% success rate. Age 14+
Airfix Blood Red Skies Battle of Britain 1:72 A1500 A TABLETOP GAME OF WORLD WAR II FIGHTER COMBAT: A Tactical Level Air Combat Tabletop Game for Two or More Players. Written by Andy Chambers, 'Blood Red Skies' is a tabletop miniatures game where you take command of a force of fighter aircraft in battle. The emphasis in 'Blood Red Skies' is on action and the game is fast-paced, with no pre-plotting or book-keeping required. A game of Blood Red Skies with two planes per side can be fought in twenty minutes or less. The Airfix Presents 'Blood Red Skies' box set comes complete with everything you need to get playing the game, and four aircraft: two Supermarine SpitfireMk IIs and two Messerschmitt Bf109-Es in 1:72 scale. Contents:   1 x Blood Red Skies Rulebook  2 x Supermarine Spitfire MkII Fighter planes 2 x Messerschmitt Bf109-E Fighter planes 4 x BRS Advantage Flying Bases 2 x Reference Aircraft Cards 8 x Combat Dice 6 x Pilot Skill Level Discs 6 x Boom Chit Tokens 6 x Zoom Tokens 3 x Cloud /Air Defence Clusters 1 x Navigation Caliper 1 x Range Finder 2 x Movement Templates Age 12+
Airfix Bristol 192 Belvedere 1:72 A03002V A significant post-war achievement for Britain's aviation industry, the Bristol Belvedere was a highly capable, tandem-rotor, heavy-lift helicopter which underlined the versatility of modern rotorcraft. Featuring true twin-engine redundancy, the Belvedere could operate safely on just a single engine if required. Surprisingly, only 26 of these helicopters were produced. Age 10+
Airfix Bristol Superfreighter 1:72 A05002V The Bristol Superfreighter was designed in 1952 as a development of the Bristol Freighter to meet the requirements of the car ferry services, carrying cars and their passengers across the English Channel. By 1954 there were Silver City Airways services between Southampton-Cherbourg and Lympne-Ostend. In 1963 Silver City was amalgamated with other operators to form British United Air Ferries still using the Superfreighter. Cross Channel car ferry services came to end in the late 1960s when cheaper sea ferry services became more popular. Age 10+
Airfix Bugatti Chiron Starter Set 1:43 A55005 First unveiled at the Geneva show in 2016, the 8.0L W16 Quad turbo charged Bugatti Chiron is a remarkable example of the state-of-the-art Bugatti engineering. As a successor to the iconic Bugatti Veyron, the Chiron has been developed to produce a staggering 1,479BHP. The breath-taking vehicle is capable of reaching an incredible top speed of 261MPH. The Small Starter Set Bugatti Chiron offers exceptional detail and the perfect option for beginners at a 1:43 scale.
Airfix Churchill Bridge Layer 1:76 A04301V Taking just 1.5 minutes to deploy, the Tank Bridge No.2 provided a Class 60 tracked load and a Class 40 wheeled load over a 30ft gap. The bridge was in one piece and mounted on the turretless tank. The launching arm was attached by a pivoting arm mechanism with rollers to the front of the tank, the other end of the arm being attached to the centre of the bridge. The bridge remained horizontal as it was raised and then lowered by the pivot arm across the gap. Age 12+
Airfix Cromwell Mk.IV/Mk.VI 1:35 A1384 One of the most effective British tanks of the Second World War, the Cromwell may have been slow in development but was a speedster on the battlefield, with its Rolls Royce Meteor engine capable of powering this Cruiser Tank to an impressive 40mph. The Cromwell was used extensively in Europe following the D-Day landings. Age 12+
Airfix D-Day Fighters 1:72 A50192 The importance of the role air power played in the months leading up to D-Day cannot be overstated, with the Allied powers knowing that securing superiority of the skies over the proposed landing beaches could be the difference between success and failure of the entire operation.  That being the case, Allied air forces were committed in ever-increasing numbers from the end of 1943, attacking airfields, supply infrastructure and other strategic targets, and mounting hundreds of diversionary attacks. This was all intended to keep German forces guessing as to the location of the anticipated invasion, but all the time diminishing their ability to respond to the landings when they came.  With so many Allied aircraft expected to be in the air supporting Operation Overlord, Allied Commanders were concerned about the possibility of their aircraft coming under attack from friendly forces both in the air and from anti-aircraft units on the ground.  They issued a directive that all aircraft (with some exceptions, including four-engined heavy bombers) be painted with identification markings around their wings and rear fuselage, under the strictest levels of security.  The order to begin applying markings to troop transport, aircraft was not issued until 3rd June 1944, with other units receiving their instructions the following day. This move placed additional pressure on airfield staff already working at maximum capacity.  On D-Day itself, over 13,000 individual sorties were flown by Allied aircraft in support of the amphibious landings and although around 127 aircraft were lost for various reasons during those operations, it's thought that the adoption of invasion makings significantly reduced numbers succumbing to incidents of friendly fire on that momentous day.  Although the Luftwaffe were conspicuous by their absence on D-Day itself, they fought tenaciously in the weeks and months which followed, highlighting the fact that they were far from finished. Age 12+
Airfix D-Day Operation Overlord Starter Set 1:76 A50162A Early on the morning of June 6th 1944 the combined forces of the Allied armies landed on the Normandy beaches in Northern France in the most ambitious and important operation of the Second World War. With airborne troops already on the ground and fighting, the sea-borne element of the force began landing. This phase of the operation was codenamed Neptune and consisted of five invasion beaches, three British and Canadian (Sword, Gold and Juno) and two American beaches (Omaha and Utah). The landings themselves were preceded both by a powerful air attack and by a fierce naval artillery barrage from a vast armada of ships anchored off-shore. The majority of the beaches were taken with casualties, but no severe losses, except for Omaha where the American troops were pinned down after the naval bombardment failed to destroy the German defences. But even this obstacle was overcome and once the beach-heads were secure, Allied troops and equipment were quickly brought ashore, ready to continue on and liberate the occupied countries of Western Europe and ultimately to defeat Germany and win the war. This collection comes from the Normandy beach-head, with tanks, landing craft, trucks, a gun emplacement, soldiers and a diorama base to enable you to recreate this momentous day. Airfix Gift Sets are ideal for more advanced modellers and include glue, acrylic paints and brushes. Age 10+
Airfix De Havilland Chipmunk T.10/T.20 1:48 A04105A An aircraft which has been responsible for training thousands of pilots and allowing thousands more to enjoy experience flights, the Chipmunk took over this important responsibility from the venerable Tiger Moth from 1950 onwards. One of the longest serving RAF types, the Chipmunk still provides training and currency support for pilots of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Age 10+
Airfix De Havilland Vampire F.3 1:48 A06107 With the magnificent de Havilland Mosquito only just entering Royal Air Force service towards the end of 1941, designers at the company were next asked to turn their attentions to developing a new jet engine, one which was capable of powering a new generation of high speed fighter aircraft. Entrusted to the brilliant mind of engine designer Frank Halford, he was determined that his engine would be less complicated and of simpler design than the one being developed by his rival, Frank Whittle and he was ready to test his engine by April 1942. Showing great promise and producing the intended level of thrust, the only thing to do now was to see how it performed in the air. At a time when jet engine technology was still in its infancy and these early engines were both a little lacking in power and slow to respond to power input commands, de Havilland's decision to produce their first jet aircraft as a single engined design was a brave one and placed great faith in the performance of their new jet engine. The diminutive new aircraft was initially designated de Havilland DH.100 'Spider Crab', with this codename used to mask the secret nature of the aircraft's development. Constructed around the new de Havilland Goblin 1 turbojet, the aircraft featured a relatively short, egg shaped central fuselage nacelle and employed a unique twin-boom tail configuration for control stability which allowed the engine'â„¢s thrust to egress directly from the central fuselage. With a requirement to take the pressure off the wartime aviation industry, this experimental aircraft had to be constructed of both wood and metal and it is interesting to note that the majority of the fuselage employed the same laminated plywood construction the company had perfected during Mosquito production. Unfortunately for the de Havilland team working on the new jet, their Mosquito was proving to be such a war winner that this experimental project was deemed of lesser importance than producing Mosquitos, probably rightly so for Britain's war effort. To rub salt into this aviation wound, the first flight of the aircraft would be further delayed for an unbelievable reason - the only serviceable jet engine was ordered to be sent to America to help with the advancement of their own jet powered project. Mosquito production priority and a series of unforeseen delays eventually dictated that the Gloster Meteor's development outpaced that of its de Havilland competitor, with the Meteor taking the honour of being Britain's first jet aircraft to enter service and the only Allied jet of WWII. Making its first flight on 20th September 1943, de Havilland DH.100 'Spider Crab' LZ548/G took off from the company's Hatfield airfield in the hands of chief test pilot Geoffrey de Havilland Jr. Interestingly, the 'G' used in the identification code highlights the secret nature of the project and required that the aircraft must be guarded at all times whilst on the ground. This first flight lasted just over 30 minutes, during which time the aircraft exceeded 400mph and showed great promise, however, it would be April 1945 before a production aircraft would take to the air, by which time the new jet fighter had been christened the Vampire. Despite its protracted development, Britain's second jet fighter to enter service would prove to be something of a classic and is now regarded as one of the most successful early jet aircraft in the world. The Vampire F.Mk.I entered Royal Air Force service in March 1946, to be followed by the revised and more capable F.3 just two years later. The Vampire F.3 was basically a longer range version of its predecessor, featuring increased internal fuel capacity and the ability to carry two external fuel tanks. This latest variant also differed visually, in that it incorporated taller and more rounded vertical stabilisers, a lowered horizontal stabiliser and distinctive 'acorn' fairings at the base of each vertical stabiliser. Although this was still relatively new technology, de Havilland cleverly designed the aircraft to be simple to maintain and operate, earning the aircraft an enviable reputation for reliability amongst air and ground crews alike and allowing more pilots to safely make the transition to jet powered flight.  With a number of significant firsts to its name, the Vampire was the first RAF aircraft to exceed 500 mph, with the extra range of the F.3 allowing this to be the first jet fighter to cross the Atlantic. The Vampire F.3's of No.32 Squadron were also the first RAF jet fighters to be deployed outside Northwest Europe and the first to operate in the higher temperatures of the Mediterranean. Without doubt, the de Havilland Vampire has to be considered one of the most important early jet fighters in the world. Age 10+
Airfix De Havilland Vampire T.11 Starter Set 1:72 A55204A As a two-seater trainer, the Vampire T11 excelled. The side by side seating ensured both pilots had good visibility. The aircraft's inherent stability and docility also made it a relatively safe and effective platform for instruction. Age 10+
Airfix Ford Fiesta RS WRC Starter Set 1:32 A55302 Developed from the standard Fiesta road car, the Ford Fiesta RS WRC is a bespoke rally car. Airfix Starter Sets are ideal for beginners. Large Starter Sets are perfect for gifts or to build yourself once you have mastered the basics. Each Large Starter Set includes glue, two brushes and six acrylic paints. Accurate model with everything you need to make it. Includes:79 parts. Poly cement. 2 paint brushes. 6 acrylic paints. Age 12+
Airfix German Light Tank Pz.Kpfw.35(T) 1:35 A1362 The Panzerkampfwagen 35(t), commonly shortened to Panzer 35(t) or abbreviated as Pz.Kpfw. 35(t), was a Czechoslovakian designed light tank used mainly by Nazi Germany during World War II. The letter (t) stood for tschechisch (German: "Czech"). In Czechoslovakian service it had the formal designation Lehký tank vzor 35 (Light Tank Model 35), but was commonly referred to as the LT vz. 35 or LT-35. A total of 434 were built; of these, the Germans seized 244 when they occupied Bohemia-Moravia in March 1939 and the Slovaks acquired 52 when they declared independence from Czechoslovakia at the same time. Others were exported to Bulgaria and Romania. In German service, it saw combat during the early years of World War II, notably the invasion of Poland, the Battle of France and the invasion of the Soviet Union before being retired or sold off in 1942; the fighting in Russia having exposed the vehicle's unsuitability for cold weather operations and general unreliability.  This weakness, in addition to their thin armour and inadequate firepower, resulted in the 6th Panzer Division being re-equipped with other more powerful German tanks on its withdrawal from Russia in April 1942.
Airfix Gloster Meteor F.8 1:48 A09182A In many respects, the Gloster Meteor could be regarded as Britain's jet powered equivalent of the Spitfire, the first of a new breed of fighter which would go on to patrol Britain's skies for many years following its squadron introduction in July 1944.  The later F.8 variant was arguably the most effective version of the Meteor and for the five years following its introduction, it would form the backbone of the Britain's fighter defence force.  With 1,183 aircraft built, the F.8 was both the final single seat fighter variant of the Meteor and the most heavily produced, arguably making this one of the most important British aircraft of the post war era. Age 12+
Airfix Gloster Meteor F.8 Korea 1:48 A09184 The Gloster Meteor F.8 was a greatly improved version of Britain’s first operational jet fighter and arguably the definitive version of this classic aircraft. Seeing extensive service during the Korean War with No.77 Squadron of Royal Australian Air Force, the Meteor would be engaged in combat with the new Soviet produced MiG 15 jet fighter, which proved to be an extremely capable adversary. The Gloster Meteor maintains a significant position in the history of the Royal Air Force, as it became Britain’s first operational jet aircraft. Not willing to risk this technology falling into the hands of the Germans, initial operations were confined to UK airspace, particularly in combatting the V-1 Doodlebug threat. Indeed, once Meteors were deployed to Europe in the latter stages of WWII, they were still forbidden to engage in combat with the Messerschmitt Me 262, so we will never know how these significant aircraft would have performed against each other. In operation, the Meteor proved to be a delightful aircraft to fly and enabled pilots to make a relatively easy transition from piston engined aircraft to jet powered flight. Unlike the Messerschmitt Me 262, the Meteor also proved to be almost as reliable as the Spitfires and Tempests it was intended to replace and was even capable of being operated from relatively basic grass airstrips. Continually developed throughout its service life, the Gloster Meteor would remain in RAF service for many years, with a handful of target towing aircraft still operating in the 1980s. Scheme A – Meteor F8 A77-851 flown Sergeant George Spaulding Hale, No.77 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Kimpo, Korea, March 1953 Scheme B – Meteor F8 Aircraft A77-854, No.77 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Kimpo, Korea, 1953. Scheme C – Meteor F8 No.327 Squadron, Ruiten Vier” (Diamonds Four) display team, Koninklijke Luchtmacht (Royal Netherlands Air Force), Commando Lucht Verdediging (Air Defense Command), Soesterberg Air Base, The Netherlands, 1952. Age 12+
Airfix Golden Hind 1:72 A09258V The Golden Hind was an English galleon best known for its global circumnavigation between 1577 and 1580, captained by Sir Francis Drake, who on his return with a haul of Spanish gold and other treasures was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. The Hind was a well armed and nimble galleon, she was originally commissioned as The Pelican and built in Deptford, London, where she was launched in 1577. She was the flagship of an expedition to explore the regions beyond South America commanded by Drake, with personnel support of Queen Elizabeth of England. Drake's mission became one less of exploration and more of piracy as he wreaked havoc against Spanish interests in the region. Launched: 1577, Deptford, London Displacement: 300 Tons Length: 120ft (37m) Beam: 18ft (5.5) Draft: 9ft (2.7m) Crew: 80 - 85 Armament: 22 Guns
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