WWI & WWII kits-updated!
BIFF!
Airfix have produced a number of quality WWI aircraft kits over the years initiated by this fine Bristol Fighter. 32 parts,plus display stand, provide a pretty accurate model of the wartime 'Biff' with restrained surface detail and refined 'struttage'. Our kit comes with extra parts from later mouldings with somewhat over-enthusiastic upgraded surface details that make for interesting comparisons... Other bonus items include three decal sheets, one being of more recent vintage with alternative markings.
AN EARLY BIRD!
One of the very first Airfix Albatros kits (Pattern No. 1393) from the second production run when the header artwork was changed along with the company logo. Moulded in silver, it is complete and the plastic remains in very good condition although the decals are beyond their sell-by date and the wrapper decidedly worn and torn-it still bears the original pencilled price of 2/- and was probably purchased form F W Woolworths. For the period, the kit is basically sound although subsequent issues would be irrevocably altered by American MPC/Airfix-but that's quite another story...
'HARRY TATE' !
ONE of four Airfix 1:72 scale WWI kits produced in 1957, the RE8 has been a staple of their annual catalogues on and off ever since and is well overdue for a re-tool! Our original is from initial production runs with minimalistic surface detail overall and undernourished crewmen. It's reasonably accurate for its time and with care and dedication an excellent RE8 can result. Apart from the yellowed decal sheet and worn paper header, plastic content is mint with only a few parts on the loose which we've bagged separately to thwart the dreaded 'carpet monster.'...
AN ADMIRABLE AVRO!
RELEASED in 1956 by Merit, this excellent 1:48 scale kit of the classic British Avro 504K training aircraft was a welcome addition to their range, one of several home-grown subjects the Potters Bar firm produced. Kit 4745 was moulded in a buff colour in at least two shades and sometimes a bright yellow. It was accurate in outline, bore convincing surface detail and easy to assemble thanks to a first-class instruction leaflet and good fit of parts. This pre-owned example is complete with all original 37 pieces accounted for despite having been detached from their 'sprue trees' at some point. The box is in reasonable condition with several worn areas and minor tears and unavoidably yellowed with age.An end label has been recreated in correct style as the original was quite degraded. Extras include a CSM Clerget in white metal and PE British instruments, plus a virtually complete ex-Smer decal sheet with British and Australian trainer options. Only the 'Auroraesque' etched markings 'despoil' what many consider to be Merit's finest addition to their range.
LAND CLERGET TRACTOR!
The first Sopwith Strutter kit by Roden of the Ukraine was released in 2023 and streets ahead of most others in their 1:32 scale series. The Sopwith two-seater is an impressive production with plenty of authentic cockpit details, crisp Clerget and twin gun armament as well as a number of unused bombs for upcoming kits. Two main-planes as supplied, one with solid centre-section, the other with generous cut-outs for which thin acetate panels are provided. The kit is mint and comes with extra decals; engine frame; used Profile No.121, plus a xerox copy of the original 1917 T.5 technical rigging notes with airframe sketches, annotated drawings and RAFwire diagram with all wire gauges and lengths specified. Although our first Strutter DATAFILE has sold out we still have copies of Volume 2 in store that covers single seat variants including the Comic night-fighter conversion for which photos and drawings are featured. These will be of pertinent interest to any modellers building Roden's second Strutter release (637) currently available.
K & B KIT NO. 1135-170, FOKKER E.V
ONE of a dozen Aurora Collector's Series re-issues, the renamed Fokker E.V was moulded in light grey with the customary accessories in black. Our kit is in very good condition with all original 30 parts, most fallen from their 'trees' so have been secured in several zip-lock bags. Experienced WWI modellers will be familiar with the kit's several flaws,notably the undernourished wing although its square off tips closely match the Frankfurt Kruck Company experimental stress test wing illustrated on page 30 of DATAFILE 25. Ian Stair's drawings on centre pages also reveal the tailplane's missing forward cut-out and slightly shortened fuselage which can be corrected. Decals represent Polish example 001 flown by Pol.pil. Stefan Stec in April 1919 and looks to be in fair condition. The attractive box artwork shows his E.V with solid green uppersurfaces and pale blue beneath although these ex-German monoplanes retained their original factory finish of printed fabric areas and stained ply wings in four colours applied strie style. As a bonus our kit includes sufficient four- and five-colour 'lozenge' decal strips in 1:48 scale to aid modellers seeking a more authentic finish for these aircraft in post -WWI Polish service.
LATTICE TAIL IN QUARTER SCALE!
CSM injection-moulded Caudron G.IV, impeccably moulded and packaged with plenty of PE detail items and comprehensive decal sheet covering a quartet of late version French service machines. All frames remain intact within their original plastic bags and aside from one repaired box corner the kit offered is absolutely mint as purchased. One only.
K&B KIT NO.1126-1-97-GOTHA G.V.
MODEST overhaul of Aurora's original 1958 126-1-98, the K&B reissue formed part of their 'Collectors Series' which typically featured new decals and a box-filling vacformed ground base of dubious value all packed within large attractive boxes showcasing stunning artwork by John Amendola. The Gotha contains 66 deep blue parts with 51 'accessories' on black runners-the original kit's five figures are also included but not the groundbase with its chocks. Despite the opprobrium heaped upon the original kit since first release, it became the holy grail of kit collecting in the 1960s prompting a private enthusiast to collaborate with Aurora issuing 1000 'replica' kits at bargain prices. The following year Aurora relaunched the kit themselves with some minor revisions. Comparing the kit's major components with latter-day scale plans shows them to be tolerably accurate in scale and outline providing a sound platform to build on whilst refining chunkier aspects. Inaccurate bombs and incorrectly- shaped engine 'power eggs' are the main failings, the latter proving a challenge of re-modelling. Our kit includes 1:48 scale drawings of the nacelles for adventurous modellers wishing to make their own... Decals provide both styles of national insignia with only the eiserne kreuze matching embossed wing and rudder positions...
THE LINDBERG LINE!
Original 1965 boxed 1:48 scale SE5A kit in glorious vivid yellow plastic! Includes tailskid dolly; mechanic figure, wheel chocks and a three piece engine with separate exhausts.Original clear stand is included along with instruction leaflet and a decal sheet that has admittedly fallen victim to ageing. Otherwise the kit is in very good condition. One only.
BOEING! BOEING!
The stubby Boeing F4B-4 was designed for the US Navy and the first example was delivered in July 1923. Seven first-line units were equipped with the type to serve on five carriers: Enterprise; Langley; Lexington; Ranger and Saratoga. The particular K & B example available here is a 1972 re-issue of the original Aurora kit from 1957 and contains 31 parts moulded in grey styrene-including a transparent windscreen. Good surface detail overall but some parts will require a little thinning, but at least there are none of those pesky embossed markings' positions! The contents, including a typically colourful decal sheet, are virtually mint although the box has been put through the wringer at some point! We have attempted to restore it to a more presentable condition using period -style materials.
'THE LITTLE SLINGSHOT!'
Ansaldo's Balilla is immortalized by Poland's Techmod by their stunning 1:48 scale kit combining injection-moulded plastic with 3D printed parts. The latter are superb, down to the ultra-fine matrix and emblem on the radiator front to delicate spoked wheels and a plethora of cockpit parts also. This is a mint example and provides comprehensive instruction diagrams and multi-view colour profiles illustrating the five options that are printed on a quite spectacular decal sheet. One of the finest 1:48 scale models of this classic Italian WWI fighter ever kitted.
'BLOODY PARALYSER!'
THIS truly classic Airfix production dates from 1968 and, apart from a tired and yellowed decal sheet, our example is in near mint condition. All the parts are bagged in polythene although the greater majority are still retained on their runners. Moulded in dark green with a small number of crisp of transparencies, this was the first ever 1:72 scale plastic kit of a genuine British WWI bomber and a bold marketing decision by Airfix for the time. Aside from a few issues regarding wing rib treatment, this kit provides an accurate and highly detailed set of parts to produce a superb model of the 'Bloody Paralyser' and our kit is a first generation moulding with the original box art by Roy Cross depicting the bomber being attacked by a swarm of Fokker Triplanes-memorable in its own right. We have just the one kit available at present..
BALSA FLIES BETTER!
Great 24'' span flying model of the classic WWI British fighter biplane with full content in very good condition.First issued in 1958, this super model is designed for rubber and diesel engines but easily converted for CO2 and electric power.
I AM THE WALRUS!
ONE of Merit's larger 1:48 scale kits, and one they produced themselves rather than being a knock-off, their 1956 Supermarine Walrus was, for its day, a good model. Some cabin interior detail is provided which is worth working up as the transparent cabin is so crisp and clear. Wing and tail rib detail is well represented and neatly recessed hull rivets lend themselves to weathering wash techniques. Outlines are fairly accurate and assembly eased by the struts' linked tie-bar and slot assembly. Because the original decals are somewhat aged, we have included a much more recent alternative from Classic Airframes with four diverse subjects. Full wingwalk stencils are provided along with detailed camouflage drawings showing accurate uppersurface patterns. Kit contents themselves are complete in very good condition with any loose parts segregated within polybags. Detailed instruction leaflet offers exploded assembly diagrams and vital rigging sketches. It may have been surpassed in recent years by Airfix but the pioneering Merit 'Shagbat' still has plenty to offer adventurous modellers!
BAGGED-ONE SE5A!
COMPRISING a complete (unboxed) 1958 Merit SE-5A kit and offered bagged with our own unique card header in the style of Airfix and Playcraft period packaging. As well as the original 30 part kit are four excellent SE5A references to suit any builder. They include:
*AeroModeller 1:48 scale plans feature!
*Blueprint-style scale drawings and detailed airframe sketches from an early edition of Aeroplane Monthly!
*Large area fold-out colour poster cutaway and profiles by John Batchelor as presented with Purnell's 1970 First World War part-work with facsimile 1917 RAF plan view drawing on the reverse!
*Profile Publications No.1 the SE5A by J M Bruce published in 1965!
This special collation is only available from this store as a 'one-of-a kind' special offer and cannot be repeated!
MALTA DEFENDER!
One of the first Gloster Gladiator plastic kits was from Airfix in 1956 following their Spitfire Mk.I released three years previously , the very first aircraft kit produced by the company that became a runaway sales success. Despite the worn paper header, this example is complete down to the original transfer sheet ; early style display stand and a packing slip that will bring back fond memories for many older modellers. The kit parts are clean and surprisingly most of them have remained on their runner after all these years inside the original polythene bag. For kit collectors, this now rare early Airfix product is a true classic and something of a novelty...
'TOMMY' !!!
This 1979 edition of the Guillow's classic is in tip-top condition and includes all the balsa parts and strip; tissue covering and decals; vacformed plastic parts and hard polystryrene wheel halves; required to complete a fine flying scale model of the classic Thomas Morse S4C Scout of 1918. One of their most popular kits of the time and we are able to offer this single mint example to our customers....
THE RAF'S FINEST FIGHTER!
Despite the garish box art,this is a pretty accurate model of the British SE5 WWI fighter in the usual Guillow's style with full instructions;balsa and plastic parts plus decals and covering tissue. Vacform pilot figure included along with ply firewall and instructions for Cox .010 power conversion.
SAVE IT FOR A RAINY DAY!
From Czech CMR, a really stunning resin kit of the 1918 French Morane Saulnier Type AI parasol monoplane, one of the first models produced of this attractive design. All parts are resinous and will demand a careful modeller to prepare the super-fine smaller pieces once removed from their delicate webs. Detail is first class, with accurate structure representation and provision for a rotating powerplant/airscrew assembly. Full instructions, colour notes and drawings plus a really high-grade decal set with two choices of decor add perfect finishing touches. Bonus items include a copy of Mini Datafile No.5 and a sheet of 1:48 scale AI decals produced by Microscale for the Copper State Models kit This is one unique package and it's only available here!
Probably the best-known of all the Austro-Hungarian Navy's WWI single -seater flying boats was the Hansa Brandenburg CC. 1 with its distinctive 'star-strutted' wing cellule. Omega's 2004 resin features good surface detail and some really neat PE detail items. Graphic instruction leaflets are a high point with scale plans; strut and engine fit sketches; colour notes and annotated diagrams. Includes a beaching trolley for display and a modest decal sheet for No.29, a 200-hp powered type CC that entered service in late February 1917.
Our kit is complete with contents and box in near mint condition- plus there's a host of great spares: resin struts and engine; PE set and several alternative decals!
SEEING DOUBLE!
Two-in-one ''Dual Combo'' set with a pair of mint Eduard MA Pfalz D.III kits from 1996! Excellent crisply-moulded parts with PE details and a sharply-printed decal sheet offering authentic markings for Jasta 15 and Jasta 22 Pfalzen. One of Eduard's 'Flying Circus' series from the era, this 1:48 scale kit (8005) was reviewed in the Volume 13, No.3, May/June issue of WINDSOCK International where it was rightly praised. All contents of both kits packed in the single box are in their original unopened polybags.
TORA! TORA! TORA!
The infamous Japanese Zero was immortalized in 1:48 scale by Tamiya in their excellent 1976 release. Content of our kit is near-mint,although the box is a little creased in places. All parts remain on their runners with just a few being detached and being zip-locked bagged for protection. Fabulous decals offer five subjects with accompanying colour notes forming a crucial element of the instruction sheet.
*We have added a number of bonus items inside the box: Eduard's rare PE detail set 48-176 (for the Hasegawa kit) and a pair of top notch refernece books: Profile Publications No. 129 and Squadron Signal's AM6 Zero in Action from 1983-packed with many photos, colour profiles and line drawings!
PFALZ ON THE 'PFLAT'
Warplanes' vacform Pfalz D.III (sic) produced by Rareplanes in 1976-no decals were included. Despite its label this has the large area tailplane of a D.IIIa which can easily be cut down to suit.The parts require careful treatment when wresting from their backing sheet, not to mention some fettling, but the results can be surprisingly satisfying. This unopened example is virtually mint and we have added six extensive decal sheets offering multiple finishes for the model-you'll be spoilt for choice!
NIGHT OWL!
Moulded by Revell (GB) of Potters Bar in 1967, this near-mint 1:72 scale Heinkel HE-219 'Owl' night-fighter is moulded in Revell's trademark pale blue plastic with a single transparency for the tandem cabin. This is a well-detailed and easy to assemble model although it is inevitably a tail-sitter' without nose weights: although a clear plastic 'prop' under the rear fuslage would do just as well. The decal sheet, whilst uncreased, may not hold together unless the entire surface has been pre-lacquered in clear acrylic. That aside, the contents are in first class order and include a sheet of 1:72 scale German WWII fin crosses that we are not able to illustrate here!!!
FIRST ACROSS THE CHANNEL!
Here is an original Frog Trail-Blazing Bleriot XI monoplane as first released in 1965. Despite the weathered and compromised box, the contents are complete, right down to a pseudo patch of Dover turf; a French flag fluttering from a pole and a standing Louis Bleriot figure. Despite the unavoidable limitations imposed by the small scale, the kit can be worked on to achieve a pleasing result. Just one available.
THE CLASSIC FRENCH WAR HORSE!
One of several 1:72 scale French Breguet 14 plastic kits produced in 2006 by AZmodel, this is their A.2 version in French service. Our example is in mint condition with all plastic,resin and nickel photo etch detail parts in their original polythene wallets. Decal sheet offers a trio of subjects and includes a full colour guide under the box. There's also a small bonus item in the shape of a 1:72 French Salmson decal sheet for your spares box...
BIRD OF PREY!
The fabulous Martinsyde F.4 Buzzard of 1918 never saw service in WWI and its superlative qualities never tested in combat. This May 2011 AZmodel injection-moulded kit is well engineered with excellent surface detail overall. We have one mint example in original packaging with resin engine and a decal sheet offering RAF and Belgian markings-full colour guides for which appear under the box. This is their kit No. AZ 7341 ...
A REAL SCALE(Y) MODEL!
1:48 scale Renwal Aero-CURTISS HEDDON JENNY in the dramatic fish-inspired barnstorming colours of Frank Hawks. Box is a bit battered but contents are complete with full Aero-Skin panels and a bottle of weapons-grade Testors liquid cement...face mask included!
AN ARMOURED ALBATROS!
Albatros J.I armoured ground attack all resin kit A66 from Choroszy Modelbud-this is the German version with extra decals. Superb detail and razor-sharp trailing edges to all flying surfaces and it's in mint condition.
AN HANDSOME HANRIOT!
Produced in France by JMGT, this is a quality resin kit of the Hanriot HD.1 fighter biplane that served so well in Belgian and Italian air units during WWI. This detailed and accurate model also includes white metal and photo-etched parts, vacform cowlings and windscreens, plus two decal sheets offering a choice of seven colourful examples. VGC.
AN HANRIOT FOR THE MATELOTS!
Based upon the earlier JMGT HD.I kit with extra parts and all new decals,this is the HD.2 floatplane version of Dupont's classic WWI design. Comes with a great decal sheet offering no less than nine colourful variants- all detailed in the instructions. Some minor 'repair' work is required on a couple of pieces but otherwise the kit is in VGC.
'THE HUNTER'!
This excellent all-rein kit from Poland's Karaya was their very first 1:48 scale WWI kit and it's a good one! With PE parts and a multi subject decal choice spread over four sheets this super kit of the Italian Ansaldo A.I Balilla fighter biplane so popular with many enthusiasts and model manufacturers. We have just the one example available and it's in VGC!
STAR-SPANGLED SPAD!
Mint example of DML kit 5902- in post-war 'Showbird ' markings-also comes packed with AeroMaster, Print-Scale and PD Decals bonus decal sheets offering a total of over a dozen wartime subjects from four nations. Also a few other surprise SPAD-related items can be found in the box. Unique!
SALMSON-POWERED SHORT...
Karaya 1:72 scale all-resin classic with RNAS decals and parts for a nine-cylinder Salmson engine that powered this variant. Includes beaching trolley and tail trestle plus PE detail parts for cockpit internals and spoked wheels for the trolley. VGC.
THE 'STRETCHED' ONE!
Choroszy Modelbud long-fuselaged Junkers D.I in 1:72 scale featuring hyper-detailed resin parts throughout and comes with decals and clear film sheet. This boxing also includes extra white metal machine guns,wheels and Axial airscrew.