After months of planning, hard work, discussions, Tristar is now truly back in business, with this original 1/35 kit! : British Paratroops with welkbikes.



Kit contains 2 figures and 2 welbikes sculptured by Cheung Law.The kit is made of 45×2 + 40 pcs. + Photo etched and decal.

The official product release date will be around beginning of October, preview models can be seen at Oosterbeek for the Commemoration and at the Euro Militaire in England.



Background history
The Parachute Regiment has its origins in the elite force set up by the British Army at the request of Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
The Parachute Regiment was created in response to the success of the Luftwaffe’s Fallschirmjager role in the invasions of Norway, the Low Countries and Crete.



During the Second World War, the British Government contracted Excelsior to build a small collapsible motorized scooter that could fit in a parachute airdrop container and be able to be dropped by parachute.
It can be unfolded and ready to driven by the paratroopers once on the ground.

Developed at the Frythe, Station 9 in Welwyn, Hertfordshire, a top secret design and research centre for use by the Special Operations Executive (SOE), it did not receive acceptance by the SOE for its original intended role.
The Welbike was then issued to the Parachute Regiment and used a number of engagements notably at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden and by the Royal Marine Commandos at Normandy.

With a weight of 70lbs, a 98cc engine giving a top speed of some 30mph and a range of approximately 90 miles, the Welbike provided mobility to the airborne soldier once he was on the ground.



Details of model kit
This is the first 1/35 scale plastic kit of Welbike scooter and its special airdrop container. The kit includes 2 detailed WWII British paratrooper figures, 2 scooters and 2 special paradrop CLE containers.
The first figure is lifting the Welbike out from the CLE container. The second figure can assembled riding or pushing the scooter.

The 1/35 dedicated Welbike is made by plastic injection parts with photo etched parts to enhance detail. The scooters can be assembled folded or erected ready for riding.
The wire wheels were constructed by photo-etched combined plastic injected tires. In addition, folded scooter can be stored into special CLE Drop Container.
Stencils of Welbike and its container are included

This kit included special paradrop CLE container. This special container is tailor-made for welbike airdropping. Modellers have the choice to assemble the container in open or close state.

The highly detailed WW II British paratroopers comes with authentic Enfield Mk1 no 4 rifles. The kit includes decal for British and Polish Independent Brigade marking.



Features of the kit

* The first 1/35 plastic injected Welbike with its special air drop container
* Photo Etched wire of wheel included to enhance detail of scooters
* Accurate Welbike with finely detailed 98cc horizontally mounted Villiers engine. Drive chain is represented with PE.
* The Welbike can be assembled in use or stored
* The Welbike Air drop container can be assembled open or closed with accurate detail on both sides
* 1/35 highly detailed WW II British Paratrooper 2 figures with choice of 3 poses. The modeler can choose to assemble paratrooper to retrieve bike .
Furthermore, the modeler can choose to build another paratrooper pushing or riding.
* Photo etched rifle sling included for Enfield Mk1 no 4 rifle.
* Extra photo etched helmet camouflage nets
* Kit includes decals for WW II British Airborne and Polish independent parachute brigade



Tristar remembers that Brummbar and Flakpanzer 38(t) are now back in stock.