This 1:76 scale Crash Recovery Set vividly depicts the essential support vehicles that were crucial to RAF operations in the 1940s and 50s. The 147-piece plastic kit features a Bedford Ox tractor with a Queen Mary Trailer and a Thornycroft Amazon equipped with a crane, offering an ideal base for crafting detailed diorama scenes of aircraft recovery and maintenance. Designed for modellers aged 8 and up, this Skill Level 3 kit includes two unique paint schemes and provides endless possibilities for creative scene construction.

Key Features

• Bedford Ox tractor unit with Queen Mary Trailer designed for moving aircraft fuselages and large components
• Thornycroft Amazon recovery vehicle with crane for lifting tasks
• 147 intricately moulded plastic parts reflecting authentic historical details
• Two paint schemes provided to depict various wartime airfield units
• Skill Level 3 kit appropriate for modellers aged 8 years and older
• 1:76 scale - perfect for building dioramas alongside Airfix aircraft model kits
• Ideal starting point for recreating bustling wartime Maintenance Unit scenes

History

The numerous wartime airfields and Maintenance Units spread across the UK were bustling hubs of activity during the 1940s and 50s, capturing the imagination of modellers since the hobby's inception. Recreating these scenes as scale model dioramas has been a cherished activity for years, with this classic Recovery Set offering abundant inspiration for creative modellers. The Bedford Ox was among the most adaptable and dependable vehicles in British military service during World War II. Coupled with the Queen Mary Trailer, named for its considerable size and prestigious cargo, it served as the primary means of transporting dismantled or damaged aircraft between airfields and maintenance sites. The Thornycroft Amazon, with its sturdy crane, was equally vital for lifting tasks, moving engines, and handling significant airframe components during recovery and repair operations. These vehicles were the backbone of RAF ground support, working tirelessly to maintain the operational status of Britain's fighter and bomber squadrons. Whether recovering crashed aircraft from rural areas, transporting newly assembled machines to active squadrons, or moving damaged airframes to Maintenance Units for rebuilding, these recovery teams played a crucial yet often overlooked role in sustaining the RAF's operational capabilities throughout the war and into the post-war era. This classic Airfix set encapsulates the essence of these dynamic airfield scenes, allowing modellers to recreate scenarios such as a dismantled Spitfire or a Vickers Wellington fuselage being transported for repair.