1⁄72
Monday, June 10, 2019 - 07:45 AM UTC
Airfix has released 3D CAD images of the 1/72 scale Vickers Wellington Mk.VIII, the type that played an important role in Britains Coastal Command
”Entering service in the April 1942, the Wellington GR Mk.VIII was a development of the RAF’s Mk.IC, specifically built for Coastal Command duties and equipped with new equipment designed to detect and destroy U-Boats. Distinctive by the addition of an array of fuselage mounted aerials, these Wellingtons were equipped with ASV Mk.II radar, an Air-to-surface (vessel) system carried to help the aircraft detect the presence of U-Boats, which would be attacked straight away. These long ocean patrols proved to be incredibly successful against the U-Boat menace, specifically as the submarines could no longer hunt with the relative impunity they initially enjoyed and were force to completely re-evaluate how they operated – in effect, the hunters had become the hunted.
Some of Coastal Command’s Wellington Mk. VIII aircraft were modified to carry a Leigh Light, which was designed to help with the night detection of surfaced U-Boats. An essential weapon in the battle against the U-Boats, the Leigh Light was a powerful 22 million candlepower carbon arc searchlight which was carried in a cradle, which could be lowered from the fuselage of the aircraft, behind the wing root. Used in conjunction with the radar unit, the crew of the aircraft would have already detected the U-boat, however, it would have been difficult to attack their target in the dark without the aid of this powerful light. Used from June 1942 onwards, the light allowed Coastal Command crews to attack German submarines which had surfaced to re-charge their batteries, with the cloak of darkness having previously made them safe from attack by enemy aircraft. With the presence of the U-Boat already detected, the light would only be switched on during the final moments of the Wellington’s attack, not giving the vessel enough time to take evasive action and giving them the best chance of success. This attack method proved to be so successful that U-boats were forced to carry out their battery re-charging during daylight hours, clearly making them much more vulnerable to enemy attack, but allowing their look-outs more time to react to the presence of aircraft. Crucially, the use of Leigh Light equipped Wellingtons brought about a significant reduction in shipping losses due to U-boat operations, falling from 600,000 tons per month to 200,00 tons.
These 3d CAD screenshots show the installation of some of the additional parts included with the forthcoming release of the Coastal Command Wellington GR Mk.VIII. An exclusive first look at the new part frames which will allow the unusual GR Mk.VIII variant of the Vickers Wellington to be constructed. The installation of Leigh Lights is a fascinating aspect of the air war during WWII and one which made a significant contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic. There was a wide variation in the type of installations used to attach these lights to Coastal Command aircraft, with most fitted in a fuselage lowered cradle, but others installed under the wings of aircraft and when used in conjunction with the increasingly effective airborne radar units, this rather innocuous looking device proved to be a decisive weapon in combatting the U-boat menace.
The latest release from our popular 1/72nd scale Vickers Wellington tooling is scheduled for September and will include additional part frames to allow the modeller to produce the GR Mk.VIII variant of the aircraft, which was employed in maritime operations both at home and overseas. The exclusive pictures of the frame components we have included above clearly show that two different versions of this mark of Wellington can be built and as both display some distinct differences, it could be a difficult choice in selecting which one to model. The lead scheme presents a Wellington equipped with the powerful Leigh Light, which proved so effective in disrupting U-Boat operations from the middle of 1942, whilst also representing a significant technological advancement in the capabilities of Coastal Command. Wellington HX379 has the full antenna array which was a feature of the ASV Mk.II radar equipment installation and has the front turret removed and glazed over. As most modellers tend to display their finished models on their undercarriage and the Leigh Light had to be retracted before a Wellington could land, this is how the design team decided to represent this particular aircraft. WN-A is also presented wearing a distinctive Coastal Command scheme.
The second build option is to produce a Wellington GR Mk.VIII wearing a typical RAF Desert Air Force scheme and whilst the aircraft still displays the full ASV Mk.II radar antenna array, it still retains its front turret. Both options are equally appealing and it will be something of a challenge choosing one over the other. Let’s take a closer look at both of these scheme options:”
●Wellington GRMk.VIII, No 172 Squadron, RAF Chivenor, Devon, England, October 1942
●Wellington GRMk.VIII, No 38 Squadron, RAF Gambut, Libya, late 1942
”A Maritime version of the Wellington Mk.IC used so successfully by the Royal Air Force, the GR Mk.VIII was produced in three distinct variants, the most distinctive of which were the 58 aircraft equipped with both ASV Mk.II radar and a powerful Leigh Light, intended for use in night time operations against surfaced U-boats. The first RAF Squadron to be equipped with the Leigh Light Wellington was No.172 Squadron, formed at Chivenor on 4th April 1942, having initially been designated No.1417 (Leigh Light) Flight. On its first patrol, a Wellington from the squadron detected and attacked the Italian submarine Luigi Torelli – piloted by Squadron Leader Jeaffreson Greswell, his Wellington detected and illuminated the Italian vessel, which remained surfaced and even fired identification flares, assuming the aircraft was friendly. The Wellington made two attack runs on the submarine, dropping depth charges and badly damaging the vessel, forcing it to make for port in Spain, but also proving the effectiveness of the radar/Leigh Light detection system. The squadron’s first confirmed submarine kill occurred on 5th July 1942, when U-502 was destroyed in the Bay of Biscay, west of La Rochelle.
With the ability to either destroy or significantly disrupt enemy U-boat activity, the Leigh Light equipped Wellingtons of Coastal Command were in great demand and wherever U-boats posed a particular threat, the aircraft would be dispatched to deal with them. This would see the Wellingtons flying from various airfields, both in the UK and the Mediterranean, as the essential work of maintaining Britain’s sea lanes continued throughout the war. After serving with No.172 Squadron and helping to establish the operational credentials of these unusual anti-submarine aircraft, Wellington GR Mk.VIII HX379 transferred to No.179 Squadron, where it would fly similar operations from RAF Gibraltar. On the night of 2nd/3rd June 1943, it was one of four aircraft sent to patrol the approaches of the Mediterranean against enemy U-boat activity. After the aircraft had been patrolling for some time, the crew reported that one engine had failed and they were immediately returning to base. Little is known about what happened next, but the aircraft was later reported as having ditched in the sea, some 19 miles west of Gibraltar. In what must have been a particularly heavy ditching, some of the crew sustained significant injuries and with their life raft damaged in the incident, they were all left clinging to debris floating on the sea. Two men decided to try and swim to the Spanish coast to raise the alarm and were fortunate to be picked up by a fishing boat when they were on the point of exhaustion – tragically, nothing more was heard of the crew mates they were forced to leave behind. Although the Wellington is more readily associated with Bomber Command operations against German targets in Europe, the aircraft also made a significant contribution to Allied maritime operations during WWII. RAF No.38 Squadron had a relatively uneventful start to the Second World War, mounting long patrols out into the North Sea, but avoiding the costly early raids into Germany and occupied Europe, however, all this would change when they were sent to Egypt in November 1940 and operations against German and Italian forces in the region. They would spend the next year attacking Axis bases in the Mediterranean, supporting Allied advances and disrupting the enemy’s ability to fight, with the Wellington serving as the main attack bomber of the Middle East night bomber force. At the beginning of 1942, the squadron received their new Wellington GR Mk.VIII radar equipped bombers and were re-trained to launch night attacks against Axis shipping in the Mediterranean, a role at which the aircraft excelled, making a significant contribution to Allied fortunes in the region. Radar equipped Wellingtons, which were colloquially referred to as ‘Snoopingtons’, would patrol the shipping lanes in search of Axis shipping convoys at night and once detected, they would report their position to torpedo equipped Wellingtons, or ‘Torpingtons’. With their attacks needing to be made at heights of only 70 feet above the waves in the dead of night, the torpedo equipped Wellington crews would need all the help they could get and their radar equipped counterparts would either shoot flares over the target, or if equipped with the powerful Light Lights, could provide a more stable illimitation of the target.
These dangerous operations were essential in reducing the enemy’s ability to re-supply and re-deploy their forces and played a significant role in reducing the effectiveness of Axis operations in the Mediterranean Theatre. Indeed, as enemy shipping losses continued to mount, it became more difficult for these maritime Wellingtons to find targets and their patrol areas were expanded for this reason, making their already dangerous missions even more hazardous. The scheme worn by Wellington GR Mk.VIII HX485 ‘N’ represents a machine in standard RAF Middle Eastern night bombing colours, even though it is equipped with the ASV Mk.II radar unit which proved so effective against Axis shipping targets, including surfaced U-boats. As was the case with the aircraft covered in the A scheme, this aircraft was also lost at sea, having developed engine problems during one of its long ocean patrols – diching into the sea west of Bengazi, not all the crew would survive the incident, a fate which tragically befell a great many Allied airmen engaged in protecting the sea lanes. This submarine hunting Wellington will appeal to many modellers and would look great displayed next to a model finished in the Bomber Command scheme more readily associated with this classic British bomber
The latest kit release from our new Vickers Wellington tooling (A08020) presents the aircraft as it was employed in the vital struggle to protect Allied shipping and to detect and destroy the feared German U-boats, using specialist equipment and some distinctive fuselage additions. They not only represent a relatively unknown wartime use for this venerable old bomber, but will also provide the modeller with an appealing subject for their latest build project. The Wellington GR Mk.VIII A08020 is scheduled for a September release and we look forward to bringing you confirmation of what promises to be spectacular box artwork in a forthcoming edition of Workbench.”
Airfix
A08020 – Vickers Wellington Mk.VIII – 1/72
Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE
Some of Coastal Command’s Wellington Mk. VIII aircraft were modified to carry a Leigh Light, which was designed to help with the night detection of surfaced U-Boats. An essential weapon in the battle against the U-Boats, the Leigh Light was a powerful 22 million candlepower carbon arc searchlight which was carried in a cradle, which could be lowered from the fuselage of the aircraft, behind the wing root. Used in conjunction with the radar unit, the crew of the aircraft would have already detected the U-boat, however, it would have been difficult to attack their target in the dark without the aid of this powerful light. Used from June 1942 onwards, the light allowed Coastal Command crews to attack German submarines which had surfaced to re-charge their batteries, with the cloak of darkness having previously made them safe from attack by enemy aircraft. With the presence of the U-Boat already detected, the light would only be switched on during the final moments of the Wellington’s attack, not giving the vessel enough time to take evasive action and giving them the best chance of success. This attack method proved to be so successful that U-boats were forced to carry out their battery re-charging during daylight hours, clearly making them much more vulnerable to enemy attack, but allowing their look-outs more time to react to the presence of aircraft. Crucially, the use of Leigh Light equipped Wellingtons brought about a significant reduction in shipping losses due to U-boat operations, falling from 600,000 tons per month to 200,00 tons.
These 3d CAD screenshots show the installation of some of the additional parts included with the forthcoming release of the Coastal Command Wellington GR Mk.VIII. An exclusive first look at the new part frames which will allow the unusual GR Mk.VIII variant of the Vickers Wellington to be constructed. The installation of Leigh Lights is a fascinating aspect of the air war during WWII and one which made a significant contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic. There was a wide variation in the type of installations used to attach these lights to Coastal Command aircraft, with most fitted in a fuselage lowered cradle, but others installed under the wings of aircraft and when used in conjunction with the increasingly effective airborne radar units, this rather innocuous looking device proved to be a decisive weapon in combatting the U-boat menace.
The latest release from our popular 1/72nd scale Vickers Wellington tooling is scheduled for September and will include additional part frames to allow the modeller to produce the GR Mk.VIII variant of the aircraft, which was employed in maritime operations both at home and overseas. The exclusive pictures of the frame components we have included above clearly show that two different versions of this mark of Wellington can be built and as both display some distinct differences, it could be a difficult choice in selecting which one to model. The lead scheme presents a Wellington equipped with the powerful Leigh Light, which proved so effective in disrupting U-Boat operations from the middle of 1942, whilst also representing a significant technological advancement in the capabilities of Coastal Command. Wellington HX379 has the full antenna array which was a feature of the ASV Mk.II radar equipment installation and has the front turret removed and glazed over. As most modellers tend to display their finished models on their undercarriage and the Leigh Light had to be retracted before a Wellington could land, this is how the design team decided to represent this particular aircraft. WN-A is also presented wearing a distinctive Coastal Command scheme.
The second build option is to produce a Wellington GR Mk.VIII wearing a typical RAF Desert Air Force scheme and whilst the aircraft still displays the full ASV Mk.II radar antenna array, it still retains its front turret. Both options are equally appealing and it will be something of a challenge choosing one over the other. Let’s take a closer look at both of these scheme options:”
●Wellington GRMk.VIII, No 172 Squadron, RAF Chivenor, Devon, England, October 1942
●Wellington GRMk.VIII, No 38 Squadron, RAF Gambut, Libya, late 1942
”A Maritime version of the Wellington Mk.IC used so successfully by the Royal Air Force, the GR Mk.VIII was produced in three distinct variants, the most distinctive of which were the 58 aircraft equipped with both ASV Mk.II radar and a powerful Leigh Light, intended for use in night time operations against surfaced U-boats. The first RAF Squadron to be equipped with the Leigh Light Wellington was No.172 Squadron, formed at Chivenor on 4th April 1942, having initially been designated No.1417 (Leigh Light) Flight. On its first patrol, a Wellington from the squadron detected and attacked the Italian submarine Luigi Torelli – piloted by Squadron Leader Jeaffreson Greswell, his Wellington detected and illuminated the Italian vessel, which remained surfaced and even fired identification flares, assuming the aircraft was friendly. The Wellington made two attack runs on the submarine, dropping depth charges and badly damaging the vessel, forcing it to make for port in Spain, but also proving the effectiveness of the radar/Leigh Light detection system. The squadron’s first confirmed submarine kill occurred on 5th July 1942, when U-502 was destroyed in the Bay of Biscay, west of La Rochelle.
With the ability to either destroy or significantly disrupt enemy U-boat activity, the Leigh Light equipped Wellingtons of Coastal Command were in great demand and wherever U-boats posed a particular threat, the aircraft would be dispatched to deal with them. This would see the Wellingtons flying from various airfields, both in the UK and the Mediterranean, as the essential work of maintaining Britain’s sea lanes continued throughout the war. After serving with No.172 Squadron and helping to establish the operational credentials of these unusual anti-submarine aircraft, Wellington GR Mk.VIII HX379 transferred to No.179 Squadron, where it would fly similar operations from RAF Gibraltar. On the night of 2nd/3rd June 1943, it was one of four aircraft sent to patrol the approaches of the Mediterranean against enemy U-boat activity. After the aircraft had been patrolling for some time, the crew reported that one engine had failed and they were immediately returning to base. Little is known about what happened next, but the aircraft was later reported as having ditched in the sea, some 19 miles west of Gibraltar. In what must have been a particularly heavy ditching, some of the crew sustained significant injuries and with their life raft damaged in the incident, they were all left clinging to debris floating on the sea. Two men decided to try and swim to the Spanish coast to raise the alarm and were fortunate to be picked up by a fishing boat when they were on the point of exhaustion – tragically, nothing more was heard of the crew mates they were forced to leave behind. Although the Wellington is more readily associated with Bomber Command operations against German targets in Europe, the aircraft also made a significant contribution to Allied maritime operations during WWII. RAF No.38 Squadron had a relatively uneventful start to the Second World War, mounting long patrols out into the North Sea, but avoiding the costly early raids into Germany and occupied Europe, however, all this would change when they were sent to Egypt in November 1940 and operations against German and Italian forces in the region. They would spend the next year attacking Axis bases in the Mediterranean, supporting Allied advances and disrupting the enemy’s ability to fight, with the Wellington serving as the main attack bomber of the Middle East night bomber force. At the beginning of 1942, the squadron received their new Wellington GR Mk.VIII radar equipped bombers and were re-trained to launch night attacks against Axis shipping in the Mediterranean, a role at which the aircraft excelled, making a significant contribution to Allied fortunes in the region. Radar equipped Wellingtons, which were colloquially referred to as ‘Snoopingtons’, would patrol the shipping lanes in search of Axis shipping convoys at night and once detected, they would report their position to torpedo equipped Wellingtons, or ‘Torpingtons’. With their attacks needing to be made at heights of only 70 feet above the waves in the dead of night, the torpedo equipped Wellington crews would need all the help they could get and their radar equipped counterparts would either shoot flares over the target, or if equipped with the powerful Light Lights, could provide a more stable illimitation of the target.
These dangerous operations were essential in reducing the enemy’s ability to re-supply and re-deploy their forces and played a significant role in reducing the effectiveness of Axis operations in the Mediterranean Theatre. Indeed, as enemy shipping losses continued to mount, it became more difficult for these maritime Wellingtons to find targets and their patrol areas were expanded for this reason, making their already dangerous missions even more hazardous. The scheme worn by Wellington GR Mk.VIII HX485 ‘N’ represents a machine in standard RAF Middle Eastern night bombing colours, even though it is equipped with the ASV Mk.II radar unit which proved so effective against Axis shipping targets, including surfaced U-boats. As was the case with the aircraft covered in the A scheme, this aircraft was also lost at sea, having developed engine problems during one of its long ocean patrols – diching into the sea west of Bengazi, not all the crew would survive the incident, a fate which tragically befell a great many Allied airmen engaged in protecting the sea lanes. This submarine hunting Wellington will appeal to many modellers and would look great displayed next to a model finished in the Bomber Command scheme more readily associated with this classic British bomber
The latest kit release from our new Vickers Wellington tooling (A08020) presents the aircraft as it was employed in the vital struggle to protect Allied shipping and to detect and destroy the feared German U-boats, using specialist equipment and some distinctive fuselage additions. They not only represent a relatively unknown wartime use for this venerable old bomber, but will also provide the modeller with an appealing subject for their latest build project. The Wellington GR Mk.VIII A08020 is scheduled for a September release and we look forward to bringing you confirmation of what promises to be spectacular box artwork in a forthcoming edition of Workbench.”
Airfix
A08020 – Vickers Wellington Mk.VIII – 1/72
Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE
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