Vickers Wellington 1/72 Scale Model

British Mk IC - This is a model of a long range heavy bomber based in Africa or the Middle East in 1940 - 1941. The Wellington, affectionately called the "Wimpy," was Britain's primary heavy bomber at the outbreak of WWII in 1939. But heavy losses from modern German Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters during daylight raids, prompting the RAF to switch to night bombing by 1940. The British stuck to this strategy with their heavy bombers over Europe until the end of the war. The Mk.X variant, introduced in late 1942, was considered to be the best version, as it featured more powerful engines and light alloy construction. It was also produced in the greatest numbers, accounting for about 3,800 of the approximately 11,500 Wellingtons built by the fall of 1945. By 1943, however, the Wellington had been largely replaced by the RAF's new four-engined heavy bombers: the Avro Lancaster, the Handley Page Halifax, and the Short Sterling. Despite this, it continued so see some front line duty in the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia until late 1944. But by then it was mostly relegated to special duties, like coastal patrols.

More Photos: Left, Right, Top, Front Angle Left, Front Angle Right, Rear Angle Left, Rear Angle Right, Above Left, Above Right

Air War for Burma: The Concluding Volume of the Bloody Shambles Series; The Allied Air Forces Fight Back in South-East Asia, 1942-1945, Christopher Shores

Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete, Christopher Shores

Bomber Command 1939-1945: Photographs from the Imperial War Museum, Ian Carter

Air War Over Italy, Andrew Brookes

Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II, David Mondey

Dust Clouds in the Middle East: The Air War for East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Madagascar, 1940-42, Christopher Shores

Fighters Over the Desert: The Air Battles in the Western Desert. June 1940 to December 1942, Christopher Shores

Fledgling Eagles; The Complete Account of Air Operations During the "Phoney War" and Norwegian Campaign, 1940, Christopher Shores

Fortress Ploesti: The Campaign to Destroy Hitler's Oil, Jay Stout

Hidden Victory: The Battle of Habbaniya, May 1941, A.G. Dudgeon

RAF Bomber Command and Its Aircraft, 1936-1940, J Goulding

Wellington in Action, Squadron/Signal Publications