Douglas Bader Legends Triple Pack (1:48 Scale)

Douglas Bader Legends Triple Pack (1:48 Scale)

Details:

Bring one of Britain’s most iconic Second World War aviation stories into your collection with the Airfix Legends Douglas Bader Triple Pack A40101. This premium 1:48 scale plastic kit set commemorates the career of RAF fighter pilot Group Captain Douglas Bader, featuring three aircraft strongly associated with his service.

The set includes three complete aircraft kits: the Bristol Bulldog, Hawker Hurricane, and Supermarine Spitfire. Together, they represent the key stages of Bader’s RAF career—from his early training and pre-war service to his operational combat flying during the Battle of Britain and later wartime operations. The full set contains 414 parts in total and is designed as a Skill Level 3 kit, intended for more experienced modellers or those ready for a more detailed build.

Each aircraft is moulded in 1:48 scale, allowing for a high level of surface detail, cockpit accuracy, and historically inspired paint schemes. The set is presented as a commemorative “Legends” release, focusing on both the machines and the story of the pilot who flew them.

Features:

• Official Airfix Legends A40101 Douglas Bader Triple Pack
• 1:48 scale plastic aircraft kits
• Includes Bristol Bulldog, Hawker Hurricane, and Supermarine Spitfire
• 414 total parts across the set
• Skill Level 3 – advanced modelling kit
• Commemorates RAF pilot Douglas Bader (1910–1982)
• Focuses on aircraft spanning pre-war to WWII service
• Designed for detailed historical aircraft modelling

Historical Background

Douglas Bader (1910–1982) was a Royal Air Force fighter pilot who became one of the most well-known RAF figures of the Second World War. He joined the RAF in 1928 and quickly developed a reputation as a confident and highly competitive pilot.

His early career included flying interwar RAF aircraft such as the Bristol Bulldog, a biplane fighter used during the late 1920s and early 1930s. During this period, Bader was involved in a serious flying accident in 1931, resulting in the amputation of both legs.

Despite this, he later returned to operational flying after the outbreak of the Second World War. Flying Hawker Hurricanes and Supermarine Spitfires, Bader became a successful fighter ace, credited with 22 aerial victories and numerous shared and probable kills.

He also became associated with the RAF’s “Big Wing” debate and served in leadership roles within No. 242 Squadron RAF and later other fighter groups. In 1941, he was shot down over France and became a prisoner of war, remaining in captivity until the end of the conflict.

Bader’s story became widely known after the war as an example of determination and resilience, and he was later promoted to Group Captain. He led the victory flypast over London in 1945, symbolising RAF success in the war.