Trumpeter's 1/72 scale
Vickers Wellington Mk.XIV

by Roland Sachsenhofer

Vickers Wellington Mk.XIV

Trumpeter's 1/72 scale Vickers Wellington Mk.X is available online from Squadron

After being withdrawn from frontline combat in RAF Bomber Command, the Wellingtons dutiful life was not over.

For the use with Coastal Command earlier versions of the Wellingtons had already been adapted by installing radar, searchlights and “navalizing” the weapon load.

The best maritime version of the Wellington was the Mk.XIV. This Wellington was equipped with radar ASV-Mk-III and a powerful Leigh-light was installed under the rear fuselage. The engines had been upgraded to the mighty 1.735-hp-Hercules-XVII.

Remarkable 841 Wellingtons Mk.XIV had been built until 1945, proving that this type was not only an outstanding bomber but did well fulfilling the strenuous work of naval surveillance

My model depicts a Vickers Wellington Mk. XIV of the 458 Squadron in mid-1943, being flown from bases in Algeria.

Trumpeter's kit of the Wellington Mk.XIV has its merits but also some very remarkable shortcomings. One of these is the heavily overdone representation of the geodetic construction. One of the first things I did was sanding down all those hills and valleys to an extent I could live with. Another drawback is the incorrect depiction of this versions bow section. There should be no strut above the position of the gun mounting- I have to confess I let this part in its incorrect form but drilled a hole and scratched the mounting of the gun. A fiting plastic part for the weapon itself was found in my spare box.

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If you are interested in the building process and in the models parts, please have a look here at Scalemates: https://www.scalemates.com/profiles/mate.php?id=10148&p=projects&project=22788

or have a look at JAM: http://www.razyboard.com/system/morethread-vickers-wellington-mk-xiv-trumpeter-172-raidenjack-2086023-6358167-0.html

As ever, remarks will be appreciated: ro.sachsenhofer@gmx.at

Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2017 by Roland Sachsenhofer
Page Created 6 December, 2017
Last Updated 6 December, 2017

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