Unboxing the Airfix Vickers Wellington GR Mk.VIII

The Wellington was a long range medium bomber designed and developed for the RAF during the 1930s at Vickers Brooklands factory. Using the fabric-covered geodetic lattice structure originally developed by Barnes Wallis for airships, the airframe quickly gained a reputation for strength and ability to withstand impressive amounts of damage from enemy fire when the Wellington went to war in 1939.

Serving alongside the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley and the Handley Page Hampden, the Wellington suffered badly in unescorted daylight raids at the start of the war, but once moved to night operations, it was able to operate effectively and despite being withdrawn from frontline roles after 1943 it was still being produced at the end of the war, the only RAF bomber to be in constant production throughout the conflict.

It was an adaptable aircraft, some marks were powered by Merlin engines instead of the original radials and others were fitted with radar for anti-submarine work with Coastal Command.

The Wellington was a much loved and popular aircraft which was referred to by the nickname 'Wimpy' after a well-known wartime cartoon character.

Specifications:
Maximum Speed: 235mph
Range: 2,550 miles
Wingspan: 86ft 2in
Length: 64ft 7in
Armament: 6-8 .303in Browning Machine Guns and 4,500lbs of bombs.