Airfix 1:72 Vickers Wellington GR Mk.VIII #A08020

[Steve147]

I recently purchased this kit second hand.  Unfortunately on opening the box, there were no instructions or decals.  However, I managed to download the instructions from Scalemates.  I then contacted Airfix to see if they could provide me with the decals. After a couple of days, I received a reply asking for my address and telephone number "to help speed up the enquiry".  That was on 9th February.  To date, I have had no further communication from them (I emailed them a couple of days ago, but nothing).

If, for some reason, they cannot provide the decals, does anyone know where I can purchase decals for the kit?  I do have a load of spare decals from other kits, so could probably find a few basic decals, but would prefer to have the whole set.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dave Swindell]

Hannants has a load of Wellington decals, some include MkVIII wimpeys

https://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?scale_id=956&search_direction=asc&search=wellington&product_type_id=2677

[Steve147]

@Dave Swindell Thank you for replay.  Those decals at Hannants cost about half the amount I paid for the kit!!!So I'm a bit reluctant to buy them.   

 

***UPDATE*** 

 

After contacting Airfix again last Monday (26FEB), I got an email today with the following message:

 

"Hello there,

Thank you for your email, please allow me to apologise that you have not yet had a response from us. Your request has now been added to a picking list and will be picked and packed as soon as possible, I would imagine the parts will be with you within the next two weeks. Please allow me to apologise for this delay, caused by demand and a staffing issue. 
If the kit you have is outside of warranty, or you are requesting a part from a newer kit to replace a part from an older one, there may be a charge for the part you are requesting. If this is the case, we will get back to you with payment information.
If we are unable to find the part, and have no stock we will endeavour to get in touch with you. If we have not contacted you again, and the part has not arrived within two weeks of this email, please get back in touch with us on this same email thread whereby we will look into your issue for you." 

 

I've completely built and painted the aircraft, albeit that I need to put the fuselage instrument panel on first (hence why I need the decals), before gluing the fuselage together, put the wings and a couple of other bits on as well, and then touching up the paintwork.

Airfix don't have this particular model in stock (whether its been discontinued or not, they don't say).  If it was in stock, I would have suggested that they get the decals from another kit and post them to me and sort replacing those at their own leisure! (or advertise the kit as 'without decals' at a discounted price).

 

Thanks again.

[Dave Swindell]

36 minutes ago, Steve147 said:

@Dave Swindell Thank you for replay.  Those decals at Hannants cost about half the amount I paid for the kit!!!So I'm a bit reluctant to buy them.   

***UPDATE*** 

After contacting Airfix again last Monday (26FEB), I got an email today with the following message:

Hi Steve, info offered as an alternative option to source decals to complete the kit, either purchase or via a wanted ad for part/leftovers on here, appreciate there may be costs involved and not ideal if Airfix don't come through, but it does give the otion of completing the kit. Hopefully from their response Airfix will come through, albeit a bit belatedly 🙂

[Steve147]

******UPDATE******

 

Well, the decals finally arrived today.  I guess the moral is, "everything comes to those that wait", though well over 6 weeks in waiting does seem a bit much. 

In future, I'll double check that things like instructions and decals are in the box when buying second hand again, before purchase.

Many thanks and Happy Easter.

 

 

 

Edited March 21, 2024 by Steve147

[Steve147]

@dogsbody

I spoke too soon.

Yesterday, I just put the instrument panel decal on, completed the kit, and touched up the paintwork where necessary.

This morning, I start to put the decals on, only to discover that Airfix had sent me decals to their 1/72 Wellington Mk II, and not the GR Mk VIII I had requested!!!

So, rather than contact Airfix (would it be worth it, as I doubt a set of decals with one missing wouldn't be of any use if they asked me to return them), and probably wait another 6 weeks, I'll see how many MK.II decals I can match, via the instructions of the Mk II, to the MK VIII. I would expect that most of the common decals are the same, except for their numbering.