Airfix Westland Lysander Mk.I/Mk.III 1:48 – build review

Full Review with Dave Coward

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Jump ahead to the Gallery and PDF…

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Before I get started on the build here are a couple of pictures of my finished model…

Background

Packed full of detail, this brand-new mould includes closed or open canopy options, to reveal the detailed internal fuselage structure. The wings can be built with open or closed leading edge slats and dropped flaps. The undercarriage features covered or uncovered wheels, with optional bomb racks and full bomb load. For a full look at what’s inside of the box have a look Geoff’s in-box review.

(Photo: Lysander Mark II, L4767 OO-E, of No.13 Squadron RAF, on the ground at Mons-en-Chaussee, France, as ground crew investigate a deflated tyre on the port undercarriage. The serial number has been painted over for security purposes. Taken between December 1939 and February 1940.)

One of the more unusual aircraft to see action during the Second World War, the Lysander was designed to provide the British Army with a modern aircraft for reconnaissance, observation and artillery spotting. Possessing exceptional short take-off and landing capabilities, the Lysander was just what the Army were looking for.

Unfortunately, many of the design requirements incorporated into the aircraft were the result of outdated thinking. Of 175 Lysanders sent to France with the British Expeditionary Force, 118 would be lost, the aircraft unable to defend itself against Luftwaffe fighters.

References used:

Wingleader Photo Archive Number 32 Westland Lysander

I highly recommend this book as an excellent reference source as it’s designed with the modeller in mind and has some great reference photos and explanations of the various modifications carried out throughout an aircraft’s service history.
https://wingleader.co.uk

What subject and researching it…

The first decision is which of the two subjects covered in the box to build.

I did like the Polish option but in the end I opted for scheme A, the pre-war 16 Sqn aircraft. I liked this because of the wrap around fuselage camouflage and the black/white/silver undersides of the wings and tail which show how the aircraft looked when it was sent to France in 1939. A little bit of research using the Wingleader book and the internet showed some great aerial pictures of these 16 Sqn aircraft which would be invaluable for the build. A couple of obvious omissions/errors that I noted from these photos are:

• The aircraft had underwing roundels
• The stubs pylons and rear fuselage bomb racks were also fitted to the A scheme (16 Sqn aircraft). Some had none, some had just stubs, others had just rear racks and some had both stubs and rear racks
• The single colour camouflage pattern for the left tail plane shown in the instructions was in error. The correct two-colour pattern can be seen on the photo.

Read on…