1:72 Vickers Wellington Mk.II bomb bay

The real subject

The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine bomber that differed from its contemporaries in the way it was built. The fuselage and the wing were formed by a lattice framework of thin sections with the covering stretched over it, so the machine could take extensive damage and get home with its side shot through. The Mk.II version was recognizable by its Rolls-Royce Merlin powerplants, V12 engines that replaced the radial engines of the earlier series.

What the set contains

These are photo-etched metal parts intended for the bomb bay, that is for a space that is only visible on a finished model if you build it with the doors open. Photo-etching makes it possible to do the lattice structure, the hinges and the small stiffeners in a thickness that cannot be reached on a plastic part. The extent of the fret and the number of parts are stated in the manufacturer's instructions included in the package.

Building and painting tips

The parts are held in the fret by thin tabs. Separate them with a sharp blade on a hard backing rather than by twisting, otherwise they will bend. Make the bends in a bending tool or between two straight blades, always along the marked line. They are glued with cyanoacrylate or two-part glue; plastic cement does not hold on metal. Before painting, wash and degrease the fret and use a primer for metal, otherwise the finish will peel off when you handle it.

Who it is for

The set is for modelers who want to build the Wellington with the bomb bay open. The model, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.