Description
Roden Bristol 175 Britannia BOAC 1/144 Scale Model Kit
The Roden Bristol 175 Britannia (312) is a 1/144 scale plastic model kit of the British four-engine turboprop passenger airliner. This release represents the aircraft in British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) service, with markings for G-AOVB, the airline’s first Britannia 312 series aircraft.
The Bristol Britannia was developed during the post-war expansion of commercial aviation, when airlines were seeking larger and more capable aircraft for passenger services. Its four-engine turboprop configuration placed it among the important British airliner designs of the 1950s.
Bristol 175 Britannia Passenger Aircraft
Designed in the late 1940s by Bristol, the Britannia entered series production during the mid-1950s. Its first flight carrying paying passengers took place at the beginning of 1957.
The aircraft was intended to become the flagship of BOAC, Britain’s leading international airline. However, technical problems delayed its development and contributed to a relatively limited production run of 86 aircraft.
Despite these difficulties, the Britannia became popular with passengers for its comfort. The arrival of jet airliners, particularly the American Boeing 707, subsequently reduced its prominence in international passenger aviation.
BOAC operated 33 Britannias, while other aircraft were sold to operators in Canada, Cuba, Spain, Mexico, Israel, Argentina and additional countries.
The Britannia continued in passenger service until the beginning of the 1980s. Some aircraft were converted for transport duties, with examples remaining in operation until the mid-1990s.
BOAC Britannia G-AOVB Markings
An important detail of this Roden release is the aircraft represented by its markings.
The markings originally illustrated on the box and instructions depict BOAC Britannia G-ANBE. However, the kit’s markings have been replaced with those for G-AOVB, BOAC’s first Britannia 312 series aircraft.
This distinction is particularly relevant to modellers collecting individual BOAC aircraft or specific Bristol Britannia variants. The finished model represents G-AOVB rather than the G-ANBE aircraft illustrated on the packaging.
1/144 Scale Plastic Airliner Kit
Roden’s Bristol Britannia is produced in 1/144 scale, a commonly used scale for passenger aircraft models. It allows the completed aircraft to be displayed alongside other 1/144 scale model kits representing different periods of commercial aviation.
The plastic kit requires modelling glue for assembly and paint for finishing.
Kit Details
- Manufacturer: Roden
- Aircraft: Bristol 175 Britannia
- Variant: Britannia 312 series
- Airline: BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation)
- Aircraft registration represented: G-AOVB
- Aircraft type: Four-engine turboprop passenger airliner
- Country: Britain
- Scale: 1/144
- Product type: Plastic model kit
- Manufacturer reference: 312
- EAN: 4823017701748
Paint and glue are required to complete the model. The included BOAC markings represent Britannia G-AOVB, replacing the G-ANBE registration shown on the box and instructions.
