MOTÖRHEAD's 'Bomber' 40th Anniversary Celebrated With AIRFIX's Model Bomber

September 4, 2019

The striking album artwork for iconic heavy-metal band MOTÖRHEAD's 1979 "Bomber" album was carefully created by illustrator Adrian Chesterman. Lemmy, "Fast" Eddie Clark and Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor are shown inside the cockpit of a Heinkel in the Blitz. Lemmy, himself a collector of WWII memorabilia, insisted the plane be German.

Chesterman explains: "I suggested the Heinkel plane. They wanted this photo-realistic effect, so I designed the thing with the detached bomb coming towards you."

"I worked in airbrush in black and white, which I would then tint," he adds. "That's why my work always looked very doomy. To get the lighting right, I got a little Airfix kit of a Heinkel 111, made it up and sprayed it black." He then photographed the model to get the reflections underneath. "When you work realistically, you've got to have a realistic reference.”

The album sleeve made such an impression the band insisted on a remarkable 40-foot Heinkel replica to accompany it on stage for its now-notorious "Bomber" tour.

"It's the most famous cover I've ever done," Chesterman says.

The album was released on October 27, 1979, reaching No. 12 on the U.K. charts.

To mark the LP's 40th anniversary, Airfix will offer a version of its latest Heinkel with the "Bomber" markings included, and with the special anniversary box lid.

Included are the three original markings for the A07007.

Numbers are limited. Order information can be found at this location.

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