The Armstrong Whitworth Ensign was designed to fly on air routes across the British Empire in the 1930s. Other priorities meant it was not ready until 1938 and the fourteen that were produced remained in service only until 1946.

The Ensign was ordered by Imperial Airways in September 1934 for services across the British Empire but priority was given instead to the Whitley bomber so the prototype did not fly until 24 January 1938.

It entered service on Imperial’s London-Paris route in October that year.

A total of fourteen were manufactured and eleven were in service at the outbreak of WWII.

Three were destroyed by enemy action in 1940 and the remainder were re-engined with more powerful Wright Cyclone engines.

They then provided air services on many routes until they were retired in 1946.

This model represents G-ADST, ‘Elsinore’, flying for Imperial Airways in early 1939.

Welsh Models 1/144 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in April 2013.