Kit Review: Airfix 1/48 Westland Lysander
About the Lysander Aircraft….
The Westland Lysander, produced by Westland Aircraft, was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War. After it became obsolete in its army co-operation role, the Lysander's exceptional short-field performance made it ideal for clandestine missions. It utilised small, improvised airstrips behind enemy lines to insert or extract SOE agents, particularly in occupied France with the assistance of the French Resistance.
The first Lysanders entered service in June 1938, equipping squadrons for army co-operation tasks such as message-dropping and artillery spotting. By the time war broke out in Europe, the earlier Mk.I models had largely been replaced by Mk.II versions, with the older aircraft being deployed to the Middle East.
In August 1941, No. 138 (Special Duties) Squadron was formed to carry out missions for the Special Operations Executive (SOE), maintaining clandestine contact with the French Resistance. Among its aircraft were Lysander Mk.IIIs, which flew into and landed in occupied France. While general supply drops were handled by other aircraft in No. 138 Squadron, the Lysanders were used to insert and extract agents, as well as to retrieve Allied aircrew who had been shot down and evaded capture. For these missions, the Mk.IIIs were equipped with a fixed ladder over the port side for quick access to the rear cockpit and a large drop tank under the belly. To remain inconspicuous, Lysanders were painted matte black overall, although some early models had brown/green camouflaged upper surfaces and later models had grey/green upper surfaces. These operations typically took place within a week of a full moon, as moonlight was crucial for navigation. The Lysanders continued these duties until the liberation of France in 1944.
Airfix 1/48 Scale Westland Lysander Mk.I/Mk.III Box Cover
About the Airfix Model
Airfix in late 2024 revealed they were planning to release a Westland Lysander in Early 2025. Made from a brand new tooled mould, the kit promised to be high quality and as soon as I saw it on the Airfix stand at SMW24 (Telford) I knew I had to have one. It comes in Airfix’s red bordered box which is of a really sturdy construction which should keep the spruce inside nice and safe. The box art is of airfix’s usual standard showing the Lysander in flight and would make a good picture to hang on any cave wall. Unlike some of airfix’s kits of yesteryear it comes in sperate bags with only 2 sprues per bag so there is less chance of damage.
The kit comprises:
· 189 x grey styrene parts
· 34 x clear styrene parts
· Decals for 2 x colour schemes
As expected with a brand-new tooling, the moulding quality is excellent, with no signs of flash or sink marks. However, I did notice that some smaller parts appeared slightly stressed, so exercise caution when removing them from the runners. Most ejection pin marks are shallow and out of sight, but there are a few prominent raised ones that will need to be removed. I'll need to check if the ones inside the fuselage in the cockpit area will be visible on the finished model
The surface finish is excellent, featuring delicate engraved panel lines and embossed rivets, along with crisply raised details like fasteners. The subtle fabric effect is beautifully executed, far superior to the “loose” appearance often seen on other kits. This finish is fitting for a well-maintained airframe. The designers wisely opted not to include rib tapes and stitching on the wings, as these details are difficult to mould convincingly at this scale and often appear too heavy.
A picture of Sprue B showing the quality of Airfix’s Moulding
The kit instructions are of a clear and precise manner with easy to follow steps throughout as expected with newer releases by airfix and as normal colours are called out in humbrol (maybe airfix should think of adding a different option).
The construction beginning as in most cases with aircraft kits in the cockpit with the fuel tank being the 1st part and the which the said cockpit is built around.
The Cockpit looks excellent the tube frame is well repesentet and is very much to scale but care should be taken when removing these parts from the sprue also within this area is the seat now here there are two variations one with moulded on harness and one without so you can add your pilot figure without having to remove the seat harness. The moulded on one are really well done and I think will paint up quite nicely. The rest of the cockpit area detail is sharp and crisp and with a quick dry brush the detail will be picked out beautifully.
Once the cockpit is completed we then follow the instructions to button up the fuselage make sure to follow the correct sequence for the subject you wish to build has there are two options throughout the build which you will need to follow. Once this is all buttoned up its time to look to the wings, wheels and control surfaces. Again here airfix has done a cracking job tail give you the option to have it in the flying or the landing/take off position. The wheel spats come with the two different options with or without bomb racks so again be careful of the option you chose.
The engine is really beautifully moulded and is all there apart for some wiring maybe but once built and painted it will look the business.
The glazing of this kit is absolutely crystal clear and really well moulded and should give no issues with masking though a masking set may be the order of the day.
There are two lovely full colour sheets for the marking options which is something that’s been happening with the manufacturer last few kit releases.
The two marking options are:
A. Westland Lysander Mk.I
· No 16 Squadron RAF Old Sarum Sailsbury England 1938-39
B. Westland Lysander Mk.III
· No 306 Polish Fighter-reconnaissance Squadron, RAF Renfrew Glasgow Scotland 1940
The decals, printed by Cartograf, are of exceptional quality, as expected. The glossy items feature pin-sharp registration and minimal excess carrier film, only present where elements are grouped. The colours are vibrant, and the sheet includes servicing stencils along with national and squadron markings. With this in mind, excellent results should be achived straight out of the box.
The new Lysander kit from Airfix is a standout, showcasing their expertise at its finest. It offers extensive opportunities for super-detailing while maintaining a high level of detail, making it accessible for less experienced modellers. With various construction options, it's crucial to choose your colour scheme early and follow the instructions closely. This is definitely a welcome addition to my stash and once built will be a cracking addition to my collection.
Written by Nigel Wells on behalf of The Crafting Well