Airfix D-Day Air Assault (A50157A) - 1:72

[Paul A H]

D-Day Air Assault (A50157A)

1:72 Airfix

 

 

This release represents a continuation of Airfix's long-standing policy of drawing on their vast and diverse back-catalogue to produce themed box sets to commemorate historical events. Many of the current sets have been around for a while, to mark both the 70th and 75th anniversary of D-Day/VE Day. This set is the counterpoint to the Sea Assault set we reviewed a few months ago and contains a Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib, An Austin Tilly and BSA motorbike, a Beford fuel truck, a diorama base and some RAF figures. Unsurprisingly for a company with Airfix's history, these sets tend to contain a mixture of the old and new, although this particular set is skewed toward the new end of the spectrum, with just the figures representing the 'classic' Airfix range. As this is a starter set, the usual acrylic paint, brush and adhesive are also included.

 

Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib

 

The Hawker Typhoon is a relatively modern kit, dating from 2013. What you get here is the same as the stand-alone kit, which is to say a very nice model. For a full run down of this part of the set, please refer to my full review here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Tilly and BSA M20 Motorcycle

 

 

The Austin Tilly was a small utility (hence 'Tilly') vehicle based on a civilian car platform that was adapted for military use. Generally low powered and with limited off-road capabilities, Tillys were nonetheless incredibly useful vehicles that were produced in their thousands. Austin were not the only company to manufacture such a vehicle; Morris, Hillman and Standard all produced Tilly versions of their road cars for similar purposes. The M20 was the most widely produced military motorcycle of WWII, with many preserved examples in private hands today. This is another relatively new kit that was released at the same time as the Bedford refueler detailed below. The mouldings are clean and crisp and it looks as though it will build up into a well-detailed kit. The interior contains basic details such as seats and a steering wheel, while the front wheels can be posed in a turning configuration if desired. The doors are moulded separately and can be finished in the open position. The BSA motorbike is a very simple two-part model but the front wheel and handlebars can also be posed if desired.

 

Bedford MWC/MWD

 

 

 

The Bedford MW was a light truck produced in large numbers throughout WWII and beyond. Although it lacked four-wheel-drive, its powerful engine, short wheel base and relatively light weight combined to give it surprisingly sprightly handling. Variants included general cargo, tanker and gun tractor versions. This kit is a miniaturised version of Airfix's excellent 1:48 Bedford MW. It can be built in either tanker or general cargo versions, with or without a canvas cover for the load area. Detail is generally very good, with interior parts and a full engine and drive train. As with the Tilly, the wheels can be posed in the turned configuration if required.

The rest of the set is composed of the figures, diorama base and decals. The figures that are supplied with this set are of the soft plastic type, the moulds for which I believe date from the 1970s. Detail is acceptable considering these aren't multi-part figures, and although they wouldn't be my first choice for use in a diorama, they will fill up the scene nicely. How well the supplied acrylic paint will adhere to the plastic is another question altogether. Last but not least is the big sheet of vacuum formed plastic upon which everything else sits. This is in the form of a revetment for the aircraft, as well as a road with space for the vehicles. The base will probably benefit from some additional details to bring it to life.

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

This set is the usual mixture of ancient and modern, although with much more of the latter than the former. The modern parts are very good indeed, while the figures are, well, not. Hopefully Airfix will eventually tool some new, polystyrene figures one day as these old soft plastic versions have ended up lowering the tone of a number of sets like this. That said, when mixed together in a great big box with an exciting picture on the front they are still capable of providing some enjoyment.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of 

[JohnT]

Nice review Paul. I suspect your well held reservations regarding the quality of the figures will not be noticed by a fair percentage of the buyers who will be kids crossing the toy/ model threshold. If Airfix packages like this ends up in yet more young people buying and engaging in modelling then that’s a bonus for us all in the long run
 

 

[john224]

Wasn't the Bedford MWC a Water Tanker?  (Not a fuel truck)