We’ve had the Welbike in our range for a long time but now you can buy it replete with Paratrooper riders! Now your brave Red Devils can get into the action even faster…
The Second World War gave birth to many new ways of waging war and the airborne forces are a good example. To help the airborne soldier deploy once arriving at his target by glider or parachute jeeps were dropped with them and sometimes bicycles. Weirdest of all perhaps was the wondeful Welbike, a miniature motorcycle that could be assembled in seconds and the paratrooper be on his way to take destruction to the Hun…
It was manufactured in Welwyn in Hertfordshire, hence the name. About 4,000 were built and were used in various operations, though the sight of burly paras atop miniature motor cycles must have been an amusing sight for any foe…
Despite being relatively slow it proved a godsend to scattered Paras looking to rejoin their units or to mass at an RV point. Many Welbikes were sold to the public after the war and are fondly ridden today by re-enactors and those who collect old machines.
British, Polish and Canadian Paras were reported to have used the Welbike.
This set utilises the Bolt Action Figure Head system so you get two separate heads with each soldier – one in the iconic Maroon beret of the Red Devils (could easily be painted grey for the Poles) and the other with scrim-covered helmet. There is also a choice of armament – you can equip your brave lads with the trusty Lee Enfield rifle or the brutal but less trusty Sten gun Mk V.
You can now own your own welbikes (well sorta) in a blister of 2 miniatures or go all out and kit up a full section of your Red Devils in style with our 10 model welbike deal here!
Don’t worry – there is more on the way for the Airborne – keep your eyes on the weekly Warlord newsletter to hear about them first!
Dan Hewitson
Tom Mecredy
Craig Nixon