Short Sunderland
Exterior Details
Flight Deck Interior Details
Depth Charge Compartment Details

White Ensign Models

Reviewed by Brett Green

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White Ensign Models might be better known for their model ship kits, accessories and paints, but they also offer aircraft products.

The latest maritime aviation subject to receive the WEM treatment is the Airfix 1/72 scale Short Sunderland Flying Boat. This is an old kit, but the outline is basically accurate. Its sheer size makes it an impressive specimen when finished. However, in common with most kits from the 1960s, the Sunderland kit is greatly lacking in detail.

White Ensign Models has addresses this shortcoming with three separately available photo-etched frets:

7202 - Exterior Details

The first set is for exterior details, comprising outer wing strut rigging, a static pitot tube and various Yagi antennae. The fret is 95mm x 90mm.

Check your reference to see whether the antennae are installed on the subject that you are building, as they were not installed on all Sunderlands.

7206 - Flight Deck Interior Details

This is a big photoetched set that will really dress up the interior of your Airfix Sunderland. The size of the single fret is 165mm x 145mm.

The photoetched parts replace the entire flight deck, including the floors, stairs, bulkheads, instrument panel, flight instruments, seats, harnesses, throttle quadrants, radios and much, much more. A mooring ladder and bomb aimer's window for the exterior are also included.

Some fancy folding will be required in places, and I strongly recommend that you read the instructions carefully before installing this set. Some extra work will be required to securely mount thin photoetched parts with plastic strip or small blocks of styrene.

An image of this fret may be seen at the top of the page.

7207 - Depth Charge Compartment Details

The final offering for the Sunderland is a detailing set for the bomb compartment. This fret is 112mm x 92mm, and includes the entire bomb compartment plus bomb rack and sway braces.

All these photo-etched frets are beautifully presented and include comprehensive instructions with detailed text and assembly diagrams.

The separate availability of the three frets is thoughtful, as not everyone will want to add bomb bay detail and not all Sunderlands carried the antennae.

If you are an experienced modeller with an Airfix Sunderland stashed away, or if you have never bought one due to lack of available accessories, White Ensign Models' 1/72 scale photo-etched sets will be great news.

Recommended.

Thanks to White Ensign Models for the review sample

The full catalogue of White Ensign Models kits, accessories, conversions and figures may be viewed and purchased at White Ensign Models' website

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2004 by Brett Green
Page Created 28 July, 2004
Last updated 27 July, 2004

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