Models

Models and 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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Adepta Sororitas Palatine As experienced commanders and skilled combatants both, Palatines act as lieutenants to their respective Canoness, helping to direct the firepower of their Battle Sisters and leading them in the charge when duty calls for retribution to be delivered up close. Unshakeable of faith and filled with divine purpose, they inspire all around them in pursuit of victory. Bolster your Battle Sister firing line with the Palatine, who casts a watchful eye over the rank and file of the Adepta Sororitas when the Canoness' attention is needed elsewhere. As a powerful force multiplier, she is an excellent lynchpin to firing lines looking to fell profane war engines or large hordes of enemy warriors. The kit is comprised of 10 plastic components, with which you can assemble one Palatine, and is supplied with 1x Citadel 32mm Round Base.
Adepta Sororitas Seraphim Squad The angelic warriors known as Seraphim fight in the advanced guard of an Adepta Sororitas army. Equipped with San Leor pattern jump packs, they descend from on high and launch themselves at the enemy lines, using shock and awe to shatter formations before their fellow Sisters open fire. Each Seraphim wields a pair of pistols, chosen from amongst the holy trinity of weapons. Bolt pistols are used to spit hails of death as the Seraphim arc through the sky, hand flamers spew burning torrents to immolate packed ranks of foes, whilst inferno pistols fire focused beams of heat that melt through armour and flesh with contemptuous ease. The kit builds five Seraphim. The Seraphim each carry two bolt pistols, though two of their number can instead be equipped with hand flamers while two more can bear inferno pistols. One model can be assembled as a Seraphim Superior, armed with a bolt pistol or plasma pistol in one hand and a choice of bolt pistol, chainsword or power sword in the other. This set is supplied in 107 plastic components and contains 5x Citadel 32mm Round Bases and 2x Citadel 45mm Groove Stem Sets. An Adepta Sororitas Transfer Sheet is also included. Age 12+
Adeptus Custodes - Custodian Wardens Custodian Wardens are known amongst their comrades as level-headed and endlessly patient watchmen. Upon accepting the robes that mark their station they swear binding oaths to fight as immovable sentinels, a living fortress of auramite and sinew that no foe will ever breach. Each Warden’s oaths are personal, written by the Custodian himself after a full year’s contemplation in meditation upon the precipitous ledges of the Gallowtower. To break these vows would be worse than death to these warriors, and their determination to uphold them bolsters their already formidable wills to something of truly frightening intensity. This multi-part plastic kit contains the components necessary to assemble a squad of 5 Custodian Wardens. Easily recognised by the ceremonial robes they wear over their auramite armour, they’re typically splendid to behold – as with all Adeptus Custodes, every surface of their armour is absolutely covered in beautiful sculpted details, with gemstones, eagles, lightning bolts and filigree wherever you look. Each is armed with a choice of either guardian spear or castellan axe, with 5 of each supplied in the kit. The helmets, helmet plumes and thigh plates in the kit are interchangeable, allowing your Wardens to be unique. The kit can optionally build a Shield-Captain, who has a choice of 2 bare heads, a unique chest plate, unique shoulder pads and his own set of ceremonial robes – he is armed with the choice of castellan axe and guardian spear, and holds a misericordia. As well as this, 1 model can be assembled as a Vexilus Praetor – along with the standard weapon choices he carries a splendid ornate Vexilla. This kit comes as 78 components, and is supplied with 5 Citadel 40mm Round bases. Age 12+
Adeptus Mechanicus Archaeopter A workhorse not only of the toxic Martian skies, but of distant worlds at the forefront of the Tech-Priests' expansion for millennia, the Archaeopter is an agile fixed-wing aircraft. Piloted by a member of the Pteraxii caste, whose legs and scapuli superior are hardwired into its controls, the nano-carbon fibre-weave of the Archaeopter's wings is capable of morphing – a property it shares with the Pteraxii flight packs. This affords great manoeuvrability and enables it to operate within changing pressures as they provide heavy fire support, saturating the foe with fire from their fearsome array of armaments.
Adeptus Mechanicus Electro-Priests (Fulgurite/Corpuscarii) Surrounded by a protective veil of lightning, clutching electroleech staves, the Fulgurite Electro-Priests believe that there is no greater blasphemy than the waste of energy. Striding into battle at the height of religious mania, they are capable of draining the very bioelectricity from their foes, storing it in powerful capacitors as the enemy drops to the ground, cold and inert as stone. This stolen energy will later be used to power their holy march across the galaxy, everything behind them falling into permanent darkness. The Fulgurite Electro-Priests come armed with electroleech staves - five of these are included, complete with their power pack assemblies. Ten different head crests and five different heads are in the box, each featuring the gruesome, eyeless faces of the Electro-Priest’s ecstatic trance. This eighty-two component, multi-part plastic kit contains everything needed to build five Corpuscarii or five Fulgurite Electro-Priests. These detailed miniatures are supplied with five Citadel 32mm Round Bases. Age 12+
Adeptus Mechanicus Ironstrider Ballistarius/Sydonian Dragoon With a distinctive two-legged walking tank-shape, the artillery platform known as the Ironstrider Balistarius is a fearsome sight indeed. Gyroscopically balanced, with downlinks providing them with the sum knowledge of their enemies, the deadly accuracy of the Ironstrider Ballistarius would be the stuff of legend, were any survivors ever left to recall it. As a mobile artillery weapons platform, the Ironstrider Ballistarius can be fitted with one of two armament options: a twin-linked cognis autocannon or a twin-linked cognis lascannon. The split-toed legs can be posed in two different configurations, with suspensors that can be modelled at differing angles, and the entire surface of the machine crawls with sensors, data collection modules and antennae. The gunner has four head options; three hooded and one rebreather. This multi-part, 80-component plastic kit contains all the parts necessary to build either one Ironstrider Ballistarius or a Sydonian Dragoon, and features a small transfer sheet and a 105x70mm oval base. Age 12+
Adeptus Mechanicus Kastelan Robots A huge, ancient robot built ten thousand years ago, the Kastelan Robot is a perfect example of the Adeptus Mechanicus’ repurposing of technology. Nearly unstoppable, their only flaw is that of any mere machine; they will follow instructions to the letter, even if this results in their own demise. A specialist Tech-Priest - the Cybernetica Datasmith - must constantly update and reprogram the Kastelan via order dataslates, lest this enormous, clanking robot simply stride blindly into a nearby chasm. Make no mistake, however; when his controls are set to destroy, the Kastelan will destroy. This ninety-five component multi-part plastic kit contains everything you need to make two Kastelan Robots and one Cybernetica Datasmith. The Kastelan Robots are armed to where their teeth would be, if they had teeth - options include two sets of power fists, two sets of twin-linked phosphor blasters and a choice of carapace-mounted weaponry (incendine combustor or yet another phosphor blaster - two of each are supplied). The Cybernetica Datasmith is armed with a gamma pistol, dataspike and a servo arm assembly featuring a rivet gun. A prehensile socket drill allows him to reprogram the Kastelan Robots on-the-fly. He also features a choice of two heads. The Kastelan Robots are supplied with two Citadel 60mm Round Bases, and the Cybernetica Datasmith includes one Citadel 32mm Round Base. Age 12+
Adeptus Mechanicus Sicarians (Infiltrators/Ruststalkers) Now more machine than man, the Sicarian Infiltrators are a hideous, frightening strike force - the height of Adeptus Mechanicus posthuman engineering. Enemies fall, deafened and blinded by the scree of a brutally disruptive audiovisual assault; battles are often decided before even a single kill is confirmed. This multi-part plastic kit contains all the parts necessary to build five Adeptus Mechanicus Sicarians - either Sicarian Ruststalkers or Sicarian Infiltrators, including one princeps. Each model features extensive body modification - flesh has given way to machine, and what little remains is encased in pressurised armour. Sensors, pressure gauges and data arrays cover their surfaces, and an included five sets of legs add a variety of posing options, making your squad truly your own. The Sicarian Infiltrators are the scout class; almost their entire human heads have been replaced with an intricate domed helm allowing a three-hundred and sixty degree view of the battlefield. Two weapon options are available to each model - ten sets of stubcarbine and power sword, or ten sets of taser goad and flechette blaster; a total of twenty weapons in the box. Their princeps carries a stubcarbine and power sword, with an included infoslave skull - every movement recorded and analysed for the optimisation of battle. The box contains 117 components, and is supplied with five 40mm Round bases. Age 12+
Adeptus Mechanicus Skitarii (Rangers or Vanguard) Harnessing the energies of forge worlds within their curious weaponry, the Rangers of the Skitarii are implacable and relentless hunter-killers. For them, an engagement is not over until their enemy is destroyed - even if this means stalking them across galaxies and over decades. Skitarii Rangers, featuring cowls and gasmasks, stalk their prey with galvanic rifles. Each trooper is sealed in heavy, industrialised Skitarii warplate, emblazoned with the symbol of the Adeptus Mechanicus, bristling with data-collecting sensors, antennae and environmental monitors. Mindful of the harsh terrain of Mars, their legs have been removed from the knees down, with bionic replacements lending each model an air of cold, cybernetic augmentation The unit can include an Alpha, armed with either a radium or arc pistol and a close combat weapon (either a power sword, taser goad or arc maul) and three models can carry special weapons - available to you are a transuranic arquebus, an arc rifle and a plasma caliver, the last of which includes a specific head and backpack. One model can be made into an Alpha, fitted with an enhanced data-tether or an omnispex - the box truly portrays the compulsive data-gathering nature of the Adeptus Mechanicus. This multi-part plastic kit contains everything needed to make either ten Skitarii Rangers or ten Skitarii Vanguard. Included in the box are 124 components - twenty-three heads, eleven of which are Skitarii Rangers, twenty-five weapons, a small transfer sheet one Citadel 60x35.5mm Oval Base and ten Citadel 25mm Round Bases. Age 12+
Adeptus Mechanicus Sydonian Skatros A Sydonian Skatros is a sinister cybernetic sentinel, stoic and unmoving until the moment an enemy strays into range of their huge rifle. Mechanical, stilt-like limbs allow them to traverse hazardous terrain and survey the environment, shrouded by a smog of incense-exhaust. With protocol-driven precision and an advanced scanner known as the achillan eye, they lock on to their foes’ weakpoints and unleash pinpoint fire that sows panic and agony – all the better for eroding enemy morale. This multipart plastic kit builds one Sydonian Skatros, an augmented sniper created by the Adeptus Mechanicus. This Skitarii sharpshooter can be armed with one of two long-barrelled guns – a radium jezzail, which fires radioactive bullets that pierce armour and poison flesh, or a high-powered transuranic arquebus. Each weapon comes with its own bionic loader-arm, as well as an ammunition pack for the Skatros' belt, which sports a holstered pistol for closer foes. The kit also includes a choice of two different headset designs for the Skatros – a sinister mono-visor, or a pair of staring goggle-lenses – which can be worn over their cyborg facemask or pushed up onto their forehead. This kit comprises 21 plastic components, and comes with a Citadel 40mm Round Base. This miniature is supplied unpainted and requires assembly. Age 12+
Aeldari Dire Avengers Box Set The Dire Avengers are first amongst the Aspect Warriors of the Aeldari. They represent the War God's unending thirst for vengeance upon a galaxy of woe, and as such they are merciless to their foes and unstinting in their devotion to their people. The Dire Avengers in this kit are all armed with Avenger shuriken catapults, as well an enough extra parts for each to be equipped with their own ammunition pouches. There are optional parts to make an Exarch who can be armed with a shuriken catapult, two shuriken catapults, a diresword and a shuriken pistol, or a power weapon and shimmershield. Also included is a choice of two Exarch heads (1 helmeted, the other bare) and an optional back banner to further distinguish the unit's leader. As well as this, there is a small statue of Asurmen included on the frame. This multi-part plastic kit contains 42 components and an Aeldari Transfer Sheet with which to make five Aeldari Dire Avengers, or four Dire Avengers and one Dire Avenger Exarch. Add more boxes to your cart to build up a bigger core of infantry for your collection. Age 12+
Aeldari Guardians Box Set So few in number are the Asuryani that every citizen must train for war, in case they should one day need to defend their craftworld. In times of peace these Aeldari pursue artistic and civic Paths, but when called upon, they don their war masks and take to the battlefield. This Guardian militia is a match even for elite Human soldiers, and supports the craftworld's Aspect Warriors as infantry, artillery gunners, or vehicle crews. This kit builds 10 Guardian Defenders, accompanied by a Heavy Weapon Platform. Guardian Defenders are versatile support troops, suited to holding objectives as they unleash withering hails of fire from their shuriken catapults. Their hovering Heavy Weapon Platforms can be fitted with a variety of powerful guns to sunder enemy armour or mow down swathes of infantry. This kit comes with a variety of accessories and 11 unhelmeted heads. You can also choose to build this kit as close-combat focused Storm Guardians. This set comprises 152 plastic components and is supplied with 10x Citadel 28.5mm Round Bases, 1x Citadel 40mmm Round base, and 1x Aeldari Transfer Sheet. These miniatures are supplied unpainted and require assembly – we recommend using Citadel Plastic Glue and Citadel paints.
Aeldari Harlequin Troupe Box Set In battle, Harlequin Troupes move fast and hit hard, relying on speed and skill to annihilate the enemy before they even have time to raise their guns. Once in combat, the Harlequins are in their element, performing a lethal dance of death while their masks shimmer with their foe’s worst fears. This box contains everything you need to make a 6-man Harlequin Troupe armed with sword and shuriken pistol, including the option to include a Troupe Master. There are 6 sets of legs, all perched on outcrops of rock, with which to form the base of your miniatures. You have the choice of 7 different torso fronts and 5 torso backs, along with 3 extra backs sporting Harlequin jackets. You also get 6 swords of two distinct designs, 6 shuriken pistols, 6 harlequin’s kisses, 2 harlequin’s embraces, 2 harlequin’s caresses, 2 neuro disruptors and 2 fusion pistols. There is a power sword as well should you wish to upgrade your Troupe Master. Alongside all of these weapon options there are 2 complete masked heads as well as a further 5 heads with space to add one of the 13 individually designed face masks. Also included are 6 weapons pouches. There is a huge amount of variety for both posing and choosing weapons options and all of the components in this kit are fully interchangeable with the other Harlequin plastic kits. This multi-part plastic kit contains 80 components with which to make a 6-man Harlequin Troupe. Also included are 6 x 25mm round bases and a Harlequins transfer sheet.
Aeldari Rangers Box Set The Rangers are Outcast warriors, wanderers who left the regimented lives of the craftworlds behind them. Adepts in the arts of stealth warfare, marksmanship, and tracking enemies through harsh terrain, the Rangers aid their brethren as scouts and snipers. Veiled by cameleoline cloaks and gloom field generators, they can hide from their foes even in plain sight as they pick them off one by one from extreme range. This kit builds five Aeldari Rangers, stealthy scouts armed with precise Ranger long rifles, perfect for sniping key targets. Each Ranger has two build options for a variety of poses, including using binoculars and aiming shuriken pistols, while one Ranger can be posed deploying a gloom field or wireweave net. There is a choice of 11 heads for the unit: 3 helmeted, 3 helmeted with hoods up, 3 male heads, and 2 female heads. Also included is a shrine to Kurnous the Hunter, an Aeldari deity honoured by the Rangers. This set comprises 63 plastic components, and is supplied with 5x Citadel 28.5mm Round Bases and 1x Citadel 25mm Round Base. These miniatures are supplied unpainted and require assembly – we recommend using Citadel Plastic Glue and Citadel paints. Age 12+
Aeldari Shining Spears Box Set Aeldari mythology is replete with noble heroes at one with their steeds, and in the Shining Spears, the glories of legend are made manifest. These Aspect Warriors live to joust, which they do at breathtaking speeds upon their jetbike mounts. Their chosen weapon is the long and formidable laser lance, which uses a powerful energy blast to burn an opening in the target – instants before the bulk of the weapon slams home with devastating, piercing force. This kit builds one unit of Shining Spears, each armed with a laser lance and riding a jetbike equipped with twin shuriken catapults. One model can be built as a Shining Spears Exarch, who can be armed with a star lance or paragon sabre as well as a protective shimmershield. The Exarch's jetbike can be fitted with a deadly shuriken cannon, and they have a choice of four heads, while each Shining Spear has a choice of helmeted or unhelmeted heads. This set comprises 84 plastic components with which you can assemble three Shining Spears, and is supplied with 3x 60mm flying bases, each with two ball-and-socket stems. These miniatures are supplied unpainted and require assembly – we recommend using Citadel Plastic Glue and Citadel paints.
Aeldari Shroud Runners Box Set Streaking into battle at speeds that render them barely visible to human eyes, Shroud Runners effortlessly outmanoeuvre their enemies while harassing them with pinpoint sniper fire. Each jetbike acts as the mount for a pair of skilled Aeldari Rangers, the pillion rider often entering a marksman’s trance so as to aim and fire while travelling at incredible velocity. This kit builds three Shroud Runners – jetbike-mounted scouts that excel at disrupting enemy lines with their Ranger long rifles and scatter lasers. Options are included to construct riders in alternate poses – one pillion rider can be built firing a shuriken pistol or looking through binoculars, while one pilot can be assembled aiming a shuriken pistol or throwing an Aeldari tracking device as they steer their bike. The kit also comes with a choice of 4 Ranger helmets, 3 unhelmeted male heads and 2 unhelmeted female heads. This set comprises 100 plastic components, and is supplied with 3x 60mm Citadel Flying Bases as well as 1x Aeldari Transfer Sheet which includes 369x decals. These miniatures are supplied unpainted and require assembly – we recommend using Citadel Plastic Glue and Citadel paints. Age 12+
Airfix 'Then & Now' Supermarine Spitfire & F-35B Lightning II inc Paints 1:72 A50190 Since the early days of powered flight, the aeroplane and the intrepid individuals who flew them have captivated the imagination of the world, the most impressive machines ever built by man flown by a talented few. Of all the many aircraft types which have taken to the skies, it is the single seat fighter which has provided the most fascination and in Britain, the Supermarine Spitfire has reigned supreme over the years. An aircraft regarded as the nation's saviour during its darkest hour and one which remained in service throughout the Second World War, the Spitfire is as famous today as it was when the first production fighter arrived at RAF Duxford back in August 1938. The Mark Vc variant of the Spitfire may have been an interim development of Britain's famous fighter, rushed out to combat the latest version of its wartime adversary, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, however, it would prove so successful that it became the most heavily produced of all the Spitfire variants. An aircraft which allowed Fighter Command to go on the offensive, the Spitfire Mk.V would be operated by Allied squadrons all over the world and helped to establish the almost mythical reputation of this famous fighting aeroplane. Bringing the history of the Royal Air Force right up to date, the latest high-tech single seat multi-role aircraft currently patrolling Britain's skies, the Lockheed Martin® F-35® Lightning is a highly advanced fifth-generation combat aircraft, one which is described as a technological quantum leap ahead of anything else currently in the skies. Although just at the start of its service career, can the F-35 hope to come close to matching the aviation reputation of the incomparable Spitfire? Age 8+
Airfix 1930 Bentley 4.5Litre Supercharged A20440V With its front mounted supercharger, the 4.5 litre Bentley became the quintessential British sports car of the 20s and 30s. It was shaped from the earlier 4-cylinder 3 Litre, but produced substantially more power with its blown engine. As such, it was a stunning road car and a perfect contender for endurance racing. Due to its dramatic appearances at Le Mans and successes in speed trials at the Brooklands circuit, racing and winning became synonymous with Bentley during this period and few other models capture this image as well as the 4.5 litre Bentley. The number 9 car featured in this kit, UU5872, is the original Birkin Team Car known as 'Birkin Blower No. 2'. This is the car that made a dramatic appearance at the 1930 Le Mans 24 Hour Race. Age 14+
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 Aston Martin DBR9 Starter Set 1:32 A50110A The Aston Martin DBR9 has proved to be one of the most successful Aston racing cars of all time, achieving class victories at Le Mans, as well as outright wins at various other prestigious GT events. For the 2008 Le Mans 24 hour race, Aston Martin teamed up with Gulf Oils to combine two of the most iconic names in GT racing. Paint Scheme - Aston Martin DBR9, No.009, Aston Martin Racing, Le Mans, GT1 winner, 2008
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 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 AVRO Vulcan B.2 Black Buck 1:72 A12013 Prepare to be captivated as the Avro Vulcan B.2 'BLACK BUCK' makes its return with new components that were not part of the previous Vulcan release (A12011 Avro Vulcan B.2). What's new, you ask? This reintroduction includes Shrike Missiles and ECM equipment, allowing you to faithfully recreate the Avro Vulcan B.2 that conducted in the famous Black Buck raids. Occupying a significant position in the history of post war British aviation, the Avro Vulcan was without doubt one of the most distinctive aircraft ever to take to the skies, with its huge delta wing profile becoming almost as iconic as the elliptical wing of the Supermarine Spitfire. Built to satisfy an extremely demanding Air Ministry requirement for a fast, high altitude strategic bomber, capable of carrying a special payload of 10,000 imperial pounds in weight (a nuclear device), the new aircraft was intended to serve as an airborne deterrent to any future military threat against the UK, with the required specifications representing a 100% increase in the capabilities of any previous British bomber aircraft. When the Vulcan made its maiden flight in August 1952, the Avro team were well on the way to presenting the Royal Air Force with not only the worlds first delta bomber, but also one of the worlds most effective strike bombers. Interestingly, all this was achieved just nine years since the Avro Lancasters of RAF No.617 Squadron had launched their famous raid against the great dams of the Ruhr Valley. As the Avro Vulcan entered squadron service with No.83 Squadron at RAF Waddington in July 1957, Britain now possessed the fastest nuclear capable bomber in the world. It seems strange to describe an aircraft which possessed such potential for untold destruction as Britains most effective peace keeping asset, however, that is exactly what the Vulcan turned out to be. Throughout the aggressive posturing of the Cold War, the Warsaw Pact nations were in no doubt that if they dared to launch an attack against a NATO member country, the consequences of the inevitable retaliatory strike would be catastrophic. Without doubt, during the early years of its service career, nothing represented this doomsday scenario more effectively than the mighty Avro Vulcan. As the Royal Air Force exhaustively trained their new Vulcan crews to provide Britain with an effective Quick Reaction Alert strike force, Avro engineers were already working to improve the capabilities of their original, iconic design. In order to ensure the aircraft continued to maintain its effective deterrent threat and stayed one step ahead of advances in Easter Bloc fighter and surface-to-air missile technology, designers incorporated developments which endowed the aircraft with greater range, speed and altitude performance. The installation of more powerful versions of the Vulcans Bristol Olympus engines would result in a number of unforeseen stability issues with these first bombers, which concerned designers enough to necessitate a re-design of the original wing shape. By the time the definitive B.2 variant of the Vulcan entered service, the aircrafts wing area had increased significantly and although still classed as a delta, would look quite different from the first bombers which entered service. To cope with the increased power availability from subsequent engine upgrades and to cure the instability issues of the original straight wing design, the B.2 wing had two defined kinks in its leading edge, well forward of the profile of the original wing design. Rather than detract from the pleasing aesthetics of the early Vulcans delta wing, the B.2 actually enhanced the profile of the aircraft and even though these changes were obviously made for reasons of operational effectiveness, as opposed to appearance, the B.2 would go on to be considered the most famous (and most numerous) of all the RAFs Vulcans. The service introduction of the Vulcan B.2 in July 1960 coincided with the availability of more capable nuclear weapons for the V-bomber force, both in number and destructive potential. It would also bring about a change in thinking regarding the delivery of such weapons, as significant advances in Soviet anti-aircraft technology now threatened the success of a free-fall gravity bomb mission. A significant new weapon would have to be developed in order to maintain the deterrent threat of the Vulcan and its V-bomber partners. Developed to maintain the validity of Britain's nuclear deterrent threat, designers at Avro produced the powerful Blue Steel air-launched, nuclear stand-off missile, which would allow V-bomber crews to launch their attacks 100 miles away from their intended target and out of the range of Soviet surface-to-air missile batteries, allowing crews valuable additional time to avoid the resultant blast. Further boosting the effectiveness of the V-bomber force, the arrival of Blue Steel raised the nuclear stakes in Britains favour once more and would have caused much consternation amongst the Warsaw Pact nations. The responsibility of providing Britain's strategic nuclear deterrent passed to the submarines of the Royal Navy in July 1969 and saw the RAF performing its final V-bomber Blue Steel mission late the following year. Although taking on a more conventional strike role, RAF Vulcans would retain a nuclear capability and maintain their position as one of the worlds most effective bombers for the next fourteen years, before finally being withdrawn from service. Due to the affection in which this aircraft was held by the British public, the Vulcan Display Flight was almost immediately formed to operate one aircraft on the UK Airshow circuit for a further nine years, before itself being disbanded. To the amazement of the historic aviation world, the last flying Avro Vulcan, XH558, the aircraft which had previously served as the Vulcan Display Flight aircraft, triumphantly returned to the air once more, this time in the hands of a civilian organisation in October 2007. Over the course of the next eight years, the Vulcan thrilled millions of people around the country, becoming something of an aviation national treasure a relic of the Cold War which was held in great public affection. Age 10+
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