'Faithful Annie' destined for classic Airfix status

Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix.

During an enjoyable few days spent meeting Airfix fans at the recent Royal International Air Tattoo, many conversations turned to the subject of one of the new tooling announcements made at the beginning of the year and when people could expect to receive another project update. The aircraft which was attracting all this attention may come as something of a surprise to some Workbench readers, as she was colloquially referred to as 'Gentle, or Faithful Annie', and whilst she may not have demanded attention in the same way as something like a Spitfire or Mosquito does, she was without question a military aviation powerhouse and one which is about to become something of a classic Airfix kit release.

The aircraft in question is of course the venerable Avro Anson Mk.I and in this latest edition of our blog, we are delighted to be in a position to bring readers the latest comprehensive project update from a new model kit which really does appear to have captured the imagination of the modelling world. As we continue to chart the progress of this new tooling project, we will be bringing you pictures of test component frames produced from the various newly designed tools produced for this kit, in addition to showing no fewer than three built sample models from these test parts, each one showing this magnificent aircraft in slightly different configuration, using different parts from the various component frames. If you have not already been captivated by the charms of the new Airfix Anson, this latest update might just be the one to win you over.

Avro's multi-role aircraft takes on the world

A first look at test build models constructed from the latest round of test shot components produced using the new 1/48th scale Avro Anson Mk.I tooling.

When hearing the famous aviation name Avro, most people immediately think of mighty bomber aircraft and the distinctive Lancaster and Vulcan designs which occupy such a significant position within the history of British aviation, however, both of these famous bombers came in the wake of another Avro classic, one which was produced in much greater quantities than both of the aircraft which followed it into service, the Avro Anson. A relatively simple and incredibly reliable aircraft, it is thought that during the wartime years, at least 100,000 crews spent time in the Avro Anson prior to their squadron postings, as the aircraft made an incredible contribution to the Allied war effort, albeit in a role which rarely receives the recognition it deserves. 

The Avro Anson started its development as a capable, modern and relatively long range four passenger carrying mail transport aircraft, however, the advanced nature of the aircraft’s design would quickly bring it to the attention of Britain’s military, who could clearly see more aggressive uses for such an advanced aircraft. Unfortunately, as proved to be the case with so many impressive aircraft types developed during the early to mid 1930s, aviation technology advanced at such an astonishing pace during that time, that the Anson had to be rather adaptable in finding its operational niche, but find it this magnificent aircraft most certainly did! 

Carrying the company designation Avro 652, the aircraft which would eventually be developed into the Anson was a fast, relatively long-range, mail-carrying charter aircraft built to fulfil an Imperial Airways requirement. Powered by two Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah radial engines, the new aircraft could boast a cruising speed approaching 170mph and an impressive range of 700 miles, incorporating a host of advanced design features and appeared to be exactly what the airline was looking for.
   
Designed by Avro's hugely talented Roy Chadwick, who would later go on to design the Manchester, Lancaster and oversee the Vulcan project, the new 652 incorporated a welded steel tube frame fuselage construction, onto which wooden formers were attached, so that a final doped outer fabric skin could finally be applied. This method of construction endowed the aircraft with great strength and impressive cabin space, something which would later prove essential when the aircraft embarked on its military career. It would also incorporate a relatively recent innovation - retractable undercarriage. This was operated by a clever gearing system and manual pump handle arrangement in the cockpit, where after around 140 cycles, the main undercarriage legs would move forwards and upwards into a semi-recessed position within each engine nacelle. In fact, this manual retraction took so much effort that some pilots elected to leave the main gear down, trading lower speed and higher fuel consumption for a fatigue free arm.

Perhaps not one of the best known aircraft types of the Second World War, the Avro Anson was nevertheless one of the most important British and Commonwealth machines of the wartime period and was produced in greater numbers than the Lancaster which followed it into RAF service.

From a pilot’s perspective, the view from the aircraft’s generous cockpit was exceptional and must have made the 652 a delight to fly, but as work began on the two aircraft for Imperial Airways, much more was to come for this impressive design. With construction work already underway on the two aircraft for Imperial, the Air Ministry issued proposals for a new general purpose/reconnaissance aircraft and invited Britain’s aviation companies to submit designs. After studying the specifications, Chadwick was certain that his new airliner design was close to meeting requirements and set about building their Type 652A, a military derivative of the existing mail plane design.

The first flight of the Type 652 took place at the company’s Woodford aerodrome on 7th January 1935, with the aircraft exhibiting excellent handling characteristics and generally proving to be a resounding success. The delivery of the two completed aircraft to Imperial Airways at Croydon proved to be a little more problematic, as one of the aircraft actually landed with its main wheels still retracted, due to crew error. Thankfully, due to the design of the undercarriage and the fact that quite a significant section of the wheels remained outside the nacelle, the mistake was not as bad as it could have been - aside from bent propeller tips and the red faces of the crew, the aircraft would quickly be returned to airworthy condition.

Avro Anson Mk.I - A scale modelling tribute

Our new Anson Mk.I kit will hopefully bring some long overdue modelling love for an aircraft which remains largely anonymous to many people, when thinking about aircraft which served during the Second World War.

A stunning modelling representation of this classic British aircraft, our new 1/48th scale Avro Anson Mk.I kit will be a popular addition to our growing range of models in this larger scale and once constructed, will look fantastic when displayed next to our Bristol Blenheim in the same scale. Very similar in size, the fuselage of the Anson is particularly impressive, with its large, box-like structure really standing out in this scale and highlighting one of the most useful features of the aircraft. Able to accommodate a crew of four in some comfort, the size of the aircraft's fuselage allowed all manner of military equipment to be carried, something which would prove crucial when the Anson found its true calling, that of training crews for future Bomber Command service. 

For this particular project update, we are showing the latest test frame components produced from the new Avro Anson Mk.I tooling in all there glory, all six of them. Speaking with the kit's designer Matt Whiting, he told us that he is delighted with how the Anson has turned out and how it has benefitted from all the latest advancements the industry has to offer. As you might expect, the world of plastic kit design and manufacture is continually evolving and just as our designers strive to incorporate ever greater levels of detail and accuracy into their designs, some of the limitations they have to embrace are simply down to the manufacturing process itself and what can and can't be achieved at various scales. As new innovations make their way through to this process, so this unlocks new doors for our designers, who can now push the boundaries of design detail representation and scale thicknessing just that little bit further.

The latest Workbench blog exclusive, this next series of images show the latest component frames produced from the new 1/48th scale Avro Anson Mk.I tooling, every one of them! You can clearly see the impressive levels of surface detailing our designer Matt has managed to incorporate into this kit, which reflects all the very latest advancements the industry has to offer.

With regard to the Anson, the recent upgrading of machinery at the manufacturing facility has allowed even greater levels of detail and accuracy to be incorporated into the kit. Some subtle changes in the way EDM technology is used to cut into the tooling block metal has enabled surface detailing and panel lines to be represented even more accurately, something which is very much in evidence with the impressive new Anson kit. For these early versions of Anson, the wings were produced using a thin plywood skin attached to the ribs and spars and as can commonly be seen on aircraft of this era, the unsupported sections of wing surface covering between these fixings can result in a very subtle, but clearly discernible sagging between rib positions. This phenomenon has been impressively represented on this new Anson kit and it looks truly spectacular.

Following a recent event held at Airfix HQ, the latest Anson frames and test builds were made available for our use and we are delighted to be bringing you this update now. We think you will agree that this new model is already looking hugely impressive and following its release, with surely bring this incredible aircraft some long overdue recognition and how it might finally be viewed as one of the most important British and Commonwealth aircraft of the Second World War, just as it should.

Anson into RAF service

Although originally conceived as a maritime reconnaissance and coastal patrol aircraft, the Anson would find its true calling in a training role, but not before several Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters had fallen to its guns.

The first production Ansons featured a modified fuselage window arrangement, replacing the original twin window layout with an impressive new fully glazed section which ran along the entire front section of the fuselage, revealing the aircraft’s structural framework. Entering Royal Air Force service with No.48 Squadron at Manston on 6th March 1936, the Avro Anson represented quite an advance in capability for the force, whilst at the same time presenting them with their first multi-engined monoplane design to see front-line service. It was also the first RAF aircraft to feature a retractable main undercarriage, making this quite an important British aviation type in a great many ways.

The Anson would immediately attract interest from several overseas air arms, who could all see various operational applications this impressive new British aircraft could perform, with general serviceability and reliability being high on their checklist of appealing features. Keen to cash in on these attractive sales opportunities, some aircraft were diverted from existing RAF orders and sent overseas, with full production forcing the company to open new manufacturing facilities in the North West of England. The RAF Anson Mk.I was equipped with a fixed forward firing .303 machine gun operated by the pilot and a single Lewis gun mounted in the manually traversed dorsal turret. It could also be equipped with a modest bomb load, something which was required by submarine hunting aircraft operated by Coastal Command and whilst there were no reports of an Anson sinking a U-Boat, their presence would keep these feared ocean hunters submerged.

By mid 1938, No.48 squadron had around 80 Ansons on strength and as one of the most advanced aircraft in RAF service and with war now looking increasingly likely, the aircraft were kept extremely busy performing a variety of flying tasks. Foremost in this work was the training of future navigators, as the RAF's 'Expansion Scheme' was now in full effect and large numbers of qualified airmen would be needed in the years to come.

A further selection of test frame images, this time a little closer and in slightly less formal presentation.

By the eve of war, No.48 Squadron had been redeployed to coastal airfields, where they would fly coastal and ocean patrols, a role for which the aircraft had actually been designed. Indeed, just days after the outbreak of the Second World War, a coastal patrol Anson would perform the first aerial attack of an RAF aircraft against a German U-boat in WWII. In this role, the Anson proved to be more than capable, offering its crew an exceptional view of their surroundings and offensive armament which gave the 'Faithful Annie' quite a bite. The aircraft were equipped with a single .303 in Vickers K machine gun in a dorsal turret and a forward firing .303 in machine gun in the port side of the aircraft's nose.

In the maritime role, the Anson could also carry either eight 20lb bombs stowed in wing bomb bays, or two larger 250 lb bombs on racks below the mid fuselage section of the aircraft. It also carried a selection of flares and smoke floats, in addition to an inflatable dinghy, which was stowed in a compartment at the top of the starboard engine nacelle. The Anson served valiantly in this role until more capable patrol aircraft entered service, which possessed greater range and more offensive capabilities, however, at that point, the Anson was free to pursue its real aviation vocation, that of a multi-engined flight training aircraft. 

One incredible incident which showed how despite the excellent field of view the Anson afforded its crews, observation accidents could still happen, occurred in Australia at the end of September 1940. Also highlighting the international nature of the impressive British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, two Avro Ansons from No.2 Service Flying Training School of the Royal Australian Air Force at Forest Hill airfield embarked on a cross country navigational training flight in good weather. Flying at around 3000 ft and in close formation, one aircraft was slightly above and behind the other, but during the first waypoint turn, temporarily lost sight of the lead aircraft, with disastrous consequences. With an incredible jolt and the sickening sound of grinding metal, the two aircraft collided in mid-air, with the Anson which was flying slightly higher coming to rest on the back of the lead aircraft. Incredibly, rather than immediately plummeting to the ground, the pair continued to fly in a relatively stable manner.

Two further views of a test model constructed from the latest set of components produced from the new Avro Anson Mk.I tooling.

With the propellers of the higher aircraft cutting into its formation partner, with the port unit actually striking the cockpit of the lower machine, the pilot in the top Anson feared for the safety of his colleagues, but was reassured when he saw the crew taking to their parachutes just seconds after the collision had occurred. Displaying incredible presence of mind, before the pilot exited his aircraft and noticing his machine was still flying relatively straight and level, he locked the aircraft's controls and pushed the throttles to full power. Although the conjoined aircraft were now in a gradual but steady decent, they were still flying and more than this, the free control surfaces of higher Anson allowed the pilot a modicum of control.

Having instructed his own navigator to parachute to safety, the pilot was himself contemplating exiting the aircraft, but was aware that the town of Brocklesby was below. With the unlikely formation not seemingly in any immediate danger of crashing and with the worry of causing civilian casualties on the ground if he left the situation to fate, he started to think about the ideal outcome for this frightening situation - was there any way he could possibly make a forced landing?

Immediately scouring the surrounding area for a suitable place to bring the aircraft down, he spotted a large field which was far enough from the town, but close enough to humanity that the alarm could be raised and decided that this was his spot. Even having the skill and professionalism to make a couple of wide circuits of the field to lose height and position the aircraft into wind, the pilot made a textbook emergency landing, ensuring that this incredible incident played out without causing any fatalities, or indeed serious injury to anyone. Incredibly, the aircraft were later repaired, with the top aircraft actually returning to flight operations and the other serving as an instructional airframe, but both continuing with their valuable training work. What could have been a tragedy both in the air and on the ground, turned into a fascinating story of heroism, airmanship and good fortune, whilst at the same time highlighting the flight training legacy of this impressive aeroplane.

A final look at a model kit which is about to give thousands of people a much greater appreciation of this famous Avro aeroplane.

This latest Airfix new tooling project will be a fitting scale modelling tribute to this magnificent aircraft and will provide modellers with a really interesting subject to build, one which is about to get some of the aviation recognition it undoubtedly deserves. This latest update highlights the fact that the kit is advancing nicely towards a release date which is currently scheduled for October, however, before then, we look forward to bringing you further updates covering the scheme options to be included with this initial release, a look at the newly commissioned box artwork produced and a first look at a fully built and finished model. A beautiful new model kit, we can't wait to bring you these future updates. 

That’s all we have for you in this latest edition, but we will be back with more project updates for you next week. As always, we are interested to hear your views on all things Airfix and particularly in relation to our Workbench blog, so if you ever feel like dropping us a quick line, please use our workbench@airfix.com contact e-mail address.
 
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