1:144 Roden 353 Short S.25 Sunderland Mk.III/V - British Maritime Patrol Flying Boat Plastic Model kit

The 1:144 Roden 353 Short S.25 Sunderland Mk.III/V is an impressive plastic model kit of a British maritime patrol flying boat with an exceptional service record. This four-engine flying boat is a strong subject for modellers who enjoy Second World War aviation, anti-submarine missions, RAF Coastal Command atmosphere and historic aircraft with a highly recognisable silhouette.

Short Brothers was one of the largest designers and manufacturers of multi-engine flying boats. In the 1930s, the company designed the civilian four-engine S.23, S.30 and S.33 flying boats, known as the C-Class or Empire Class. The experience gained from these aircraft formed the basis for a long-range flying boat for maritime patrol and anti-submarine missions. The prototype first flew on 16 October 1937 as the Sunderland Mk.I and the aircraft entered service in 1938.

The Sunderland Mk.III/IIIA received a modernised fuselage with a redesigned hull step and ASV Mk.III radar in teardrop-shaped fairings under the wings. The later Mk.V was powered by American Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90B engines and fitted with centimetric ASV Mark VIC radar. During the war, the Sunderland operated over the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, from the Arctic to the tropics. German pilots nicknamed it the Flying Porcupine because of its powerful defensive armament. Order today from Most-Models.com and benefit from fast delivery, excellent customer service and a strong range of Roden model kits, British flying boats and 1:144 aircraft models.

Features:
– Roden 353 Short S.25 Sunderland Mk.III/V plastic model kit in 1:144 scale
– Model of a British four-engine maritime patrol flying boat
– Designed for long-range patrol and anti-submarine missions
– Short Brothers was a major designer and manufacturer of multi-engine flying boats
– Development built on experience with the S.23, S.30 and S.33 C-Class or Empire Class flying boats
– Prototype first flew on 16 October 1937 as the Sunderland Mk.I
– Sunderland entered service in 1938
– Mk.II received an upper turret, more powerful Pegasus Mk.XVIII engines and some aircraft were experimentally fitted with ASV Mk.II radar
– Mk.III/IIIA received a modernised fuselage with redesigned hull step and ASV Mk.III radar in teardrop-shaped fairings under the wings
– Later versions had four fixed machine guns in the nose to combat anti-aircraft gun crews on submarines
– 456 Mk.III aircraft were built
– Mk.V was powered by American P&W R-1830-90B engines
– Mk.V had armament similar to the Mark III and was fitted with new centimetric ASV Mark VIC radar
– ASV Mark VIC radar was also installed on some of the last production Mark IIIs
– Mk.V production continued until June 1946 with 155 units built
– New Mk.V engines provided better performance without real loss of range
– Sunderland Mk.V could stay aloft if two engines on one wing failed, while the standard Mark III would constantly lose altitude
– Operated over the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, from the Arctic to the tropics
– German pilots nicknamed the Sunderland Flying Porcupine because of its powerful defensive armament
– Played a critical role in the Battle of the Atlantic
– Destroyed around 28 German submarines and helped to sink seven more
– Earned the nickname U-Boat Killer
– Short Sunderland Mk.III code 3G with tail number DD859 under Flying Officer Albert Bishop sank the German Type XIV supply submarine U-489 on 4 August 1943
– After the Second World War, the Sunderland played an important role in the Berlin Airlift by transporting vital materials to the city
– Sunderland also saw combat during the Korean War and operations in Malaysia
– Last Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft were not decommissioned until 1967
– Sunderland was also used in civil aviation by British Overseas Airways Corporation BOAC
– In late 1942, BOAC purchased six Sunderland Mark IIIs and adapted them for mail transport with basic facilities for seven passengers to Nigeria and India
– Later BOAC conversions carried 24 passengers with sleeping accommodation for 16 and were called Hythe
– By the end of the war, BOAC had 29 Hythes
– Another civil conversion was the post-war Sandringham
– Civilian versions were used for passenger transport until 1974
– Performance data in the input lists a wingspan of 34.39 to 34.4 m, length of 26 m and height of about 10 m
– Maximum speed is listed as 343 km/h at 1900 m and 336 km/h for the Mk.III version
– Flight range is listed as over 4300 km with flight duration up to 15 to 16 hours, while Mk.III technical data also lists a maximum range of 2840 km
– Practical ceiling for the Mk.III is listed as 4800 m and climb rate as 3.67 m/s
– Crew consisted of 10 to 13 people
– Armament is listed as 12 to 16 7.7 mm machine guns and 2 12.7 mm machine guns
– Combat load consisted of bombs and depth charges up to 2250 kg

Add the 1:144 Roden 353 Short S.25 Sunderland Mk.III/V British Maritime Patrol Flying Boat to your cart now at Most-Models.com and build a legendary Flying Porcupine with maritime history, character and strong modelling value.