As was pointed out to me in the cover letter, most of us have the Airfix Sunderland kit languishing away in our lofts or basements, but not on our display shelves. One probable reason is that there have not been any detail sets for it. Well, that is all changed.

White Ensign is broadening their horizons and now offers the first of three sets to enhance your Sunderland kit.

This particular set is for the cockpit and environs. It includes a complete replacement cockpit floor and bulkheads, and that includes a full navigator's and wireless operator's position. These parts also include desks, radio faces, parts for the interior of the extreme nose, a stairway to lead to the lower nose section, bomb aimer's  window and mooring ladder. Some preparation does need to be done to use this set; like extending the existing bulkhead floor supports and making radio boxes out of plastic, but these are minor compared to some other sets.

As you can see from the image, the set is very well detailed and White Ensign has taken the laudable philosophy that it is better to bend a large part than it is to attach a bunch of small bits together. The instructions are most complete and offer totally unambiguous directions on assembling the various parts.

Overall, a truly outstanding set and one that will go a long way to making a real masterpiece out of your long-forgotten Sunderland kit!

Review sample courtesy of those fine folks at White Ensign Models. If you cannot find this set locally, you can order direct from their website.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly by a site that has over 250,000 visitors a month, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.