DECEMBER 2024 WARBIRDS (3 Viewers)

[wayne556517]

Dear Gunn Aviation Club members Welcome to our December 2024 Aircraft preview newsletter featuring some exciting new products. All our hand carved Mahogany aircraft take in the region of 60 man hours to manufacture plus many hours of drying time which usually equates to a 9 month build time frame. For this reason we only make small numbers of each model and every aircraft is a unique piece. For those of you who wish to spread your budget, please note we do accept stage payments where you can spread the cost over several months. If you require further details of any of the aircraft in todays newsletter please email us on welcome@gunnclub.co.uk. A super big thank you to Mark Dyer who assisted us as always with the finer details.

WOW613 Lloyd C.V Series 82 The Lloyd C.V Series 82 was a Category C aircraft, i.e. a two-seat, armed reconnaissance aircraft. They were frequently used by both the German and Austro-Hungarian air forces. The Lloyd C.V. reconnaissance aircraft were also used by Austria-Hungary for fire control. The design of the new Lloyd was remarkable, especially the wings, which were covered with a 1.2 mm thick veneer and had excellent aerodynamic characteristics. The first Lloyd C.V. Series 46 aircraft entered service with operational squadrons on the Eastern Front in Galicia in September 1917. Initial use of the type was not without problems, and pilots complained mainly about the non-standard controls, which were replaced by standard controls (steering wheel controls, etc.) by November 1917. Subsequently, the Lloyds proved to be robust aircraft with good manoeuvrability. Since production could not meet demand and Daimler engines were also in short supply, it was decided to start a licensed production of Lloyd C.V. series 82 with Benz engines in the WKF company. At the height of their service, up to 12 units (Flik) of the Austro-Hungarian Air Force were equipped with Lloyds. Some aircraft had a small coffin-shaped box enclosing the machine gun on the upper wing, while others had only a cylindrical tank. When the aircraft eventually became unsuitable for front-line use because of their inadequate performance, they continued to be used for pilot training. Technical data: length: 6.85m, wingspan: 11m, height: 2.86m, maximum speed: 178km / h, rate of climb: 3.9m / s, maximum range: 250km, maximum ceiling 5000m, armament: fixed - 2 8mm Schwarzlose machine guns, suspended, up to 90 kg of bombs. This particular machine was flown by Field pilot Karel Janhuber who had more than a hundred successful combat flights added to his tally during the course of the war and received the Bronze, Silver (both 2nd and 1st Class) and Gold Medals for Bravery as well as the Karl Troop Cross. In post-war Czechoslovakia he continued his successful military career and became one of the most accomplished flying instructors. Although having not passed his secondary school leaving exam, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant of aviation in 1938. This 1/30 scale model is limited to 3 in number and is priced at $650 plus postage. Please note the figures and accessories shown are for scale comparison purposes only and are not included.

 

[wayne556517]

WOW655 B17G Flying Fortress 'Flak Eater'
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was a four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Competing against Douglas and Martin for a contract to build 200 bombers, the Boeing entry (prototype Model 299/XB-17) outperformed both competitors and exceeded the air corps’ performance specifications. Although Boeing lost the contract (to the Douglas B-18 Bolo) because the prototype crashed, the air corps ordered 13 more B-17s for further evaluation. From its introduction in 1938, the B-17 Flying Fortress evolved through numerous design advances, becoming the third-most produced bomber of all time, behind the four-engined B-24 and the multirole, twin-engined Ju 88.

‘Flak Eater' (WF-J) was assigned to 364th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group Chelveston (England) on May 17, 1944 and later transferred to 351st Bomb Group at Polbrook on May 23,1945 then scrapped in December 1945.

Our 1/32 scale model is a limited edition of 2 pieces worldwide and is priced at $1675 plus postage. The figures and accessories are shown for scale comparison purposes only and are not included.

 

[wayne556517]

WOW636 Reggiane Re 2005 Saggitario

When we introduced this nifty little fighter last year, the 3 we made were quickly snapped up. We have therefore made 3 more for this of you who missed t but this time in different markings.

The Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer) was an Italian monoplane fighter/fighter-bomber produced for the Regia Aeronautica during the later years of World War II. Along with the Macchi C.202/C.205 and Fiat G.55, the Reggiane Re.2005 was one of the three Serie 5 Italian fighters. The lines of the fuselage were aerodynamically efficient, and the design was intended to exploit the famous Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine. The only drawback was a structural weakness in the rear section of the fuselage. The fighter took part in the defense of Naples, Rome, and Sicily, with the survivors battling above the crumbling ruins of Berlin, in German insignia.


British ace and military observer, Group Captain Duncan Smith, DSO DFC, said, “The Re.2005 was altogether a superb, potent airplane.”
The first pilot to use the Re. 2005 in action was Maggiore Vittorio Minguzzi, commander of the 22nd Gruppo. The unit was based at Napoli-Capodichino airfield for the defense of the city.
Minguzzi received the prototype of the Re.2005 (MM.494) after flight test evaluations in Guidonia and made the first flight with this aircraft on 7 March 1943.


He and the more capable pilots of the Gruppo flew this prototype until March 23 and all had a very favorable and enthusiastic impression of the aircraft.
He then was posted to Napoli-Capodichino where he joined the 362nd Squadriglia. This unit, commanded by Captain Germano La Ferla, was the first to be equipped with the Re.2005.


Minguzzi first used the Sagittario in combat on 24 March, when Naples was attacked and on 2 April claimed a four-engine B-24 Liberator bomber over the island of Ischia.
This claim is not verified against the applicable losses of USAAF. Italian ace Vittorio Minguzzi was impressed with this aircraft after its trials and combat debut on April 2, 1943. He wrote the following;


“The aircraft is in ideal flying condition at an altitude of 7000 to 7500 m (23,000 to 24,600 ft) and can perform repeated attacks on American heavy bombers in all positions and from all directions…
Therefore, I can say that the speed and handling qualities are excellent even at 7,000 m (23,000 ft) and that, compared to the Macchi 202, the Sagittario made two attacks in the time required by the Macchi C.202 for a single pass.”


This statement provides a realistic comparison between the two aircraft: at theoretical speed, the Macchi C.202 was only 30 km/h (19 mph) slower,
but the Re.2005 with the DB-605 engine and a larger wing provided a substantial improvement in high-altitude performance (the difference was less marked at medium to low altitudes, as the comparison with the C.205V showed).


During April, the 362nd Squadriglia received three more Re.2005 of the 0 series, but the number of Re.2005 in the 22nd Gruppo never exceeded eight.


The first confirmed aerial victories came on 28 April, when four Re.2005s of the 22nd Gruppo set out (with a C.202 and a Dewoitine D.520) from Capodichino to intercept a formation of 30 B-24 Liberators, escorted by 30 fighters heading for Naples. The Re.2005 were flown by Maggiore Minguzzi, Capitano La Ferla, Lieutenant Giulio Torresi and Sergente Donati.


The 22nd Gruppo claimed one B-24 (from Minguzzi) and four probable ones (one was later confirmed by an observer on the ground and credited to Donati). Ten more were claimed as damages shared by the entire Group.


More aircraft arrived at 362nd Squadriglia and in the following weeks, this unit showed much more power than the C.202 units, claiming several bombers for the loss of a pair of Re.2005s.
By 25 June 1943, the pilots of Reggiane Re.2005 claimed a total of seven B-24s and many others damaged, but the claimed losses rarely matched the actual losses.


On 2 July 1943, the 362nd was sent to Sicily to deal with the impending invasion and engaged in combat with Spitfires, claiming five shot down from 11–14 July (two were confirmed kills: one reconnaissance Spitfire and one shot down in a strafing attack on Comiso).


A number of other fighters joined the 362A, but when one was damaged in a heavy fall on 21 August 1943, some concerns then arose. On 25 August, MM.092356 (Lieutenant Dario Signorini’s) was lost during another dive and therefore further flights were suspended.
It was found that at speeds above 660 km/h (410 mph) TAS, each maneuver could adversely affect flight control in the tail and then cause damage to the fuselage by flapping .


Re.2005 pilots were prohibited from reaching very high speeds (VNE 800 km/h (500 mph)), but by then, operations were declining as the Armistice went into effect. In July 1943, the Cmdr. of Prato reached a speed of 980 km/h (610 mph) in a dive without loss of control and without flapping end.


The licence produced 1050 Tifone, DB 605 engines were limited to 2650 rpm instead of the usual 2800 rpm with a corresponding drop in power from 1100 to 1007 kW (1475 to 1350 hp). The MM.494 prototype equipped with a DB 605 had a recorded speed of 678 km/h (421 mph) when flying fully equipped, but this speed was achieved by levelling the aircraft after a dive.


The official top speed was 628.5 km/h (390.5 mph) at an altitude of 6,950 m (22,800 ft). The Re.2005 had good handling in combat and, according to General Minguzzi, who flew both the Re.2005 and the Spitfire, the Re. 2005 was even better than the Spitfire in tight corners and handling.


Our 1/30 scale Reggiane is one flown in the defence of Rome and is on display in Italy as the only surviving Reggiane Saggitario in existence.
This model is limited to 3 in number worldwide, priced at $695 plus postage.

The K&C/TG figures and accessories are shown for scale comparison purposes only and are not included.

 

[wayne556517]

WOW637 Reggiane Re 2005 Saggitiario Luftwaffe Version

A few Reggiane were drafted into the Luftwaffe and were well liked by their pilots, this particular machine flew in the defence of Berlin in 1945.

We have 1 model only available in 1/30 scale. Once again priced at $695 plus postage.

 

[wayne556517]

WOW644 Wellington MK1 'R' for Robert The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engined, long-range medium bomber. It was designed during the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge Surrey, led by Vickers-Armstrongs’ chief designer Rex Pierson. A key feature of the aircraft is its geodetic airframe fuselage structure, which was principally designed by Barnes Wallis and is faithfully captured on our 1/32 scale model. Development had been started in response to an Air Ministry Specification, which was issued in the middle of 1932. This specification called for a twin-engined day bomber capable of delivering higher performance than any previous design. The Wellington was used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, performing as one of the principal bombers used by Bomber Command, it normally carried a 6 man crew. It holds the distinction of having been the only British bomber that was produced for the duration of the war, and of having been produced in a greater quantity than any other British-built bomber. The aircraft came to be largely regarded as being an advanced design for its era and proved to have considerable merit during its flight trials. In October 1943, as a propaganda and morale-boosting exercise, workers at Broughton gave up their weekend to build Wellington number LN514 rushed by the clock. The bomber was assembled in 23 hours 50 minutes, and took off after 24 hours 48 minutes, beating the record of 48 hours set by a factory in California. Each Wellington was usually built within 60 hours. A total of 180 Wellington Mk I aircraft were built; 150 for the RAF and 30 for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) (which were transferred to the RAF on the outbreak of war and used by 75 Squadron). Wellington N2980 is now the only remaining 'intact' aircraft of her type that saw action in WW2. The remaining 11,460 which were produced have all been destroyed either in battle, training or recycled for other purposes. Parts of other Wellington's however do survive in various collections around the UK, including a much later Mk X model at RAF Cosford which never saw WW2 action. R for Robert, first flown on 16th Nov 1939, had an eventful, thou short, period of service. Taking part in the infamous Heligoland Bight raid in Dec 1939, during which over half of the force of twenty-two Wellingtons were shot down by German fighters. The squadron's operations record book reveals that the crew thought they may have shot down three enemy ME110 aircraft, although a caveat states that 1 was possible and 2 were doubtful. Wellington N2980 took part in fourteen operational missions to Germany in total which was more than twice the average survival rate of a Wellington at that time. During a training exercise with 20 Operation Training Unit, based at RAF Lossiemouth, on Dec 31st 1939, the bomber was forced to ditch into Loch Ness due to engine failure where it remained, hidden and almost forgotten, for 46 years. In 1976 the Wellington was located in the Loch by a team of American Loch Ness Monster hunters and was successfully salvaged on 21st September 1985 by the Loch Ness Wellington Association. A limited edition of 2 of these 1/32 scale models are available worldwide for immediate delivery, RAF006 female pilot is included free with this model, the other figures shown are for illustration purposes only please note and are not included. This model is priced at $1500 plus postage.

 

[wayne556517]

RESTOCKS! WOW624 Junkers Ju87 Desert Stuka The Junkers Ju 87 Stuka was a German dive bomber and ground attack aircraft employed by the Luftwaffe during WW2. It first flew in 1935 and made its combat debut in Spain in support of the Nationalists. The Stuka sported a distinctive gull shaped wing design and fixed undercarriage spats, to these was fixed the Jericho trumpet which made a wailing noise as the aircraft descended to attack its target, this noise became synonymous with Blitzkrieg propaganda movies. Employed by the Luftwaffe in all its major campaigns, the Stuka fared well right up until the battle of Britain where it was decimated by the RAF’s Hurricanes and Spitfires. However in other theatres the Stuka continued to operate effectively especially in the Balkans and on the Russian front as a tank destroyer. Over 6,500 Stuka’s were made during its service career and our new B version is one of the most easily recognised and photographed variants of the Desert campaign, sporting a distinctive snake adorning the length of its fuselage. A limited edition of 3 of these models are available worldwide for immediate delivery today. We have a limited edition of 3 x 1/30 scale models worldwide, priced at $850 plus postage. The K&C figures and TG accessories are only shown for scale comparison purposes only.

 

[wayne556517]

WOW623 Junkers Ju87 Tank Buster The Ju 87G was a specialized anti-tank version, fitted with two BK 3.7 (Flak 18) guns hung under the wings just outboard of the landing gears. This 37-mm-gun was a formidable weapon weighting over 363 kg (800 lb) and in wide service as ground-based Flak (anti-aircraft artillery) equipment. With the G variant, the ageing airframe of the Ju 87 found new life as an anti-tank aircraft. This was the final operational version of the Stuka, and was deployed on the Eastern Front. The reverse in German military fortunes after 1943 and the appearance of huge numbers of well-armoured Soviet tanks caused Junkers to adapt the existing design to combat this new threat. The Henschel Hs 129B had proved a potent ground attack weapon, but its large fuel tanks made it vulnerable to enemy fire, prompting the RLM to say “that in the shortest possible time a replacement of the Hs 129 type must take place.” With Soviet tanks the priority targets, the development of a further variant as a successor to the Ju 87D began in November 1942. On 3 November, Milch raised the question of replacing the Ju 87, or redesigning it altogether. It was decided to keep the design as it was, but the power-plant was upgraded to a Junkers Jumo 211J, and two 30 mm (1.2 in) cannons were added. The variant was also designed to carry a 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) free-fall bomb load. Furthermore, the armoured protection of the Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik was copied to protect the crew from ground fire now that the Ju 87 would be required to conduct low level attacks. In April 1943 the first production Ju 87 G-1s were delivered to front line units. The two 37 mm (1.46 in) Bordkanone BK 3,7 cannons were mounted in under-wing gun pods, each loaded with two six-round magazines of armour-piercing tungsten carbide-cored ammunition. With these weapons, the Kanonenvogel (“cannon-bird”), as it was nicknamed, proved very successful in the hands of Stuka aces such as Rudel. The G-1 was converted from older D-series airframes, retaining the smaller wing, but without the dive brakes. The G-2 was similar to the G-1 except for use of the extended wing of the D-5. Around 208 G-2s were built and at least a further 22 more were converted from D-3 airframes. Only a handful of production G’s were committed in the Battle of Kursk. On the opening day of the offensive, Hans-Ulrich Rudel flew the only “official” Ju 87 G, although a significant number of Ju 87D variants were fitted with the 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon, and operated as unofficial Ju 87 G’s before the battle. In June 1943 the RLM ordered 20 x Ju 87G’s as production variants. The G-1 later influenced the design of the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, with Hans Rudel’s book, Stuka Pilot, being required reading for all members of the A-10 project. This model is priced at $899 plus postage. The accessories and TG/K&C figures are not included and are shown for scale reference purposes only.

 

[wayne556517]

That's all for this month for our aircraft, we sincerely hope you enjoy the pictures and would love to hear from you if any of these magnificent models appeal to you. Best wishes The Gunn Team

 

[paxtoysoldier]

Always love a Stuka and WW1 planes always interest us.
Wish we had the chuff!
Pats

 

[tmanthegreat]

Wayne, are you a spokesperson for Thomas Gunn now?

Beautiful Warbirds releases this month for sure! I like the B-17, but will hold out for some upcoming releases next year and maybe one day plan to finish my super-detailed HK Models 1/32 scale B-17G kit…

 

[wayne556517]

Wayne, are you a spokesperson for Thomas Gunn now?

Beautiful Warbirds releases this month for sure! I like the B-17, but will hold out for some upcoming releases next year and maybe one day plan to finish my super-detailed HK Models 1/32 scale B-17G kit…

Partner now

 

[Combat]

I always like the variety of Gunn planes including some of the more obscure. The Italian Re 2005 plane is unique. My only knock is that some of these look a bit too clean. More like kits than reproductions of the actual aircraft but still fantastic.