Introduction

The Halifax bomber is rarely mentioned when talk of British World War 2 bombers is talked about; the Lancaster being the one everyone knows, due in part I suspect because of the specialist missions it carried out. Revell of Germany have now released a Handley Page Halifax B Mk.III in 1/72nd scale.

The following text is as supplied by Revell of Germany.
The Halifax was one of the most famous Royal Air Force 2nd World War bombers and flew more than 47,000 missions over Germany. Compared to the previous version with RR Merlin engines the Mk.III version powered by Bristol Hercules radial engines delivered a great improvement in flight performance. This variant entered service after 1943. Halifax bombers were also employed as towing aircraft during operations in Normandy and at Arnhem as well as for deploying agents behind enemy lines. Although there were many problems during its development and that the Halifax was always overshadowed by the Lancaster, it eventually turned out to be best-known Allied bomber of the War. The Halifax Mk. III was armed with 8 Browning as well as a Vickers machine gun and could carry a bomb load of 5,900 kg (13000 lbs). The only original fully restored Halifax stands in the National Air Force Museum in Canada in Trenton, Ontario.

Contents

This model is packaged in one of the thin card end opening cartons, and so needs packaging in cardboard for those who make purchases online. The sprues are packaged in four clear plastic bags that are taped shut. The contents break down as follows;
10 light grey sprues
1 clear sprue
A decal sheet
An advisory sheet
An instruction booklet

Review

First impressions of this offering are good as the plastic parts are not bulky, and other than some ejector pin marks everything looks good. I have found a bowed part in the mix, but due to the way this is added to the model it will correct itself when installed. I did find a 2011 date stamp on the inside of one wing, but that does not appear to have caused any negatives with my initial look over the parts.

The interior of the model is quite good and has a reasonable level of detail, I cannot comment on the accuracy of that detail as I have not as yet been inside the Halifax Mk III at Elvington. Revell of Germany has supplied rib detail in the cockpit area and the tail gunners location, I feel the detail here is acceptable with the limited view you are going to have of these areas through the glazing.

The fuselage of the aircraft has very nice recessed panel lines present and these will add a nice finish to the look of the completed model. The floor of the aircraft is the part that is bowed, but as this part has the spars to support the wings and locates inside the fuselage I do not believe this bowing will cause an issue. The bomb bay of the model is nicely detailed and it should prove pleasing to those modellers who display it open with its bombload on show. The turrets in the aircraft are quite good due to the good job that Revell of Germany has done on the clear parts. The barrels of the guns will ideally need to be drilled to improve their appearance; those who want to really add some detail could also purchase a set of 303 barrels from a company such as Master, an image of their offering is included in the photographs.

The wings of the model share the nicely recessed panel lines of the fuselage and again will add a nice detail to the finished model. I do have one concern about the wings and that is how they connect to the fuselage, I believe they will require some filler as even the images supplied by Revell of Germany of the finished model look in need of filler. The cont6rol surfaces of the wings and tail are moveable on the finished model and so can be set in a position that pleases you most. The engines and landing gear look the part and it is the landing gear and their bays that perhaps impress me most about this model. As with most things there is a let-down in this area and that is that the tyres of the undercarriage have no tread detail present and is again an area where the after market providers may be of help.

Revell of Germany has supplied two finishing options for the model and these are identified below. The decals themselves are good and reasonable thin.
Handley Page Halifax B.Mk.III, No.424 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, Skipton-on-Swale, England, December 1944
Handley Page Halifax A.Mk.VII, No.644 Squadron, Royal Air Force, Tarrant Rushton, England, April 1945. (As restored at the National Air Force Museum of Canada, Trenton, 2014

Conclusion

I am very pleased to see Revell of Germany offer a second version of the under represented Halifax. At a cost of £26.99 I feel it is a very affordable model with a good size to the finished model. The addition of the turned machine gun barrels and tyres will lift this model to something out of the norm and I also suspect there are a few after market decal sets for those who want to represent a specific or different model. For the most part I am very pleased with what is offered for the money.

Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For details visit www.revell.de/en, @RevellGermany or facebook.com/Revell

The images off the finished model in this review are supplied by Revell of Germany.

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