Special Hobby WH-1 Model 139 Dutch East Indies Bomber 1/72 Kit

Build the early Martin WH-1 Model 139 bomber with this 1/72 scale kit from Special Hobby. The model portrays the first version supplied to the Dutch East Indies, powered by R-1820-F53 radial engines and distinguished from the later WH-2 by its power plants and engine cowlings.

This release marks the first appearance of the WH-1 in styrene kit form. Decals and colour schemes cover four aircraft: three machines from the ML-KNIL, the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force, and one striking Thai Air Force example.

A Revolutionary All-Metal Bomber

Martin’s Model 139 represented a major change in aircraft construction during the early 1930s. At a time when fabric-covered biplanes dominated the skies, this all-metal monoplane introduced enclosed crew cockpits and cowled engines.

The new bombers were faster than competing bomber designs and even surpassed contemporary fighters, prompting changes in fighter development around the world. In American service, variants of the Model 139 were designated B-10, B-12 or B-14 by the USAAF according to the engines installed.

The Dutch East Indies WH-1

The Model 139 also achieved export success. The Dutch East Indies received two versions, designated WH-1 and WH-2. This 1/72 aircraft kit focuses specifically on the earlier WH-1 with its R-1820-F53 radial engines.

Three marking options portray blue-and-yellow ML-KNIL aircraft. Two carry segmented roundels, while the third features orange triangles in place of roundels. These variations provide a choice of distinctive Dutch East Indies presentations for the finished model.

Four Colourful Marking Options

The fourth subject is a Thai Air Force WH-1. Thailand ordered Model 139 bombers before the outbreak of the war and later acquired additional former Dutch aircraft that had been captured by Japan.

This Thai machine carries a particularly unusual finish. Its Japanese-Thai camouflage is shown peeling in places to reveal the underlying Dutch blue-and-yellow scheme, creating a layered colour arrangement with a clear connection to the aircraft’s earlier identity.

• Martin WH-1 Model 139 bomber in 1/72 scale
• First styrene kit release of the WH-1 version
• Three ML-KNIL marking options
• Choice of segmented roundels or orange triangles
• One Thai Air Force marking option
• Pre-cut clear-part masks available separately

With its important place in aircraft development and four varied schemes, the WH-1 makes a distinctive addition to an interwar or WWII collection. Discover more releases from Special Hobby.