Gunn Warbirds Update (1 Viewer)

[Gunn Miniatures]

WOW260 Focke Wulf T-183 Huckebein

In early 1944, the Reich Air Ministry became aware of Allied jet developments, and were particularly concerned that they might have to face the Gloster Meteor over the continent. In response, they instituted the Emergency Fighter Program which took effect on July 3, 1944, ending production of most bomber and multi-role aircraft in favour of fighters, especially jet fighters. Additionally, they accelerated the development of experimental designs that would guarantee a performance edge over the Allied designs, designs that would replace the first German jet fighters, the Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe and Heinkel He 162 Spatz.

The Focke-Wulf Ta 183 Huckebein was a design for a jet-powered fighter aircraft intended as the successor to the Messerschmitt Me 262 and other day fighters in Luftwaffe service during World War II. It was developed only to the extent of wind tunnel models when the war ended, but the basic design was further developed postwar in Argentina as the FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II. The name Huckebein is a reference to a trouble-making raven (Hans Huckebein der Unglücksrabe) from an illustrated story in 1867 by Wilhelm Busch.

Our last 1/30 scale Huckebein is priced at $650 plus postage and is in the markings of one of the Luftwaffe’s greatest aces Pips Priller.
The website banner price reflects the additional postage cost for your country and therefore there will be no further charges on checkout.














That's all the Warbird excitement for this month, we sincerely hope you enjoy the pictures and would love to hear from you if any of these magnificent models appeal to you. They are all now on our website www.tomgunn.co.uk and can be paid for upfront or over an extended monthly period.

All Gunn Club members qualify for a 5% discount on the website listed price, joining is free so well worth registering.
Our figures for March will be here next week, the newsletter will be out later this week.

Best wishes The Gunn Team

 

[Gunn Miniatures]

WOW153 Brewster Buffalo

The Brewster F2A-2 was an American aircraft modified for export, with the RAF ordering over 200. The RAF designated the plane the B339 Mk. I “Buffalo” and the “Buffalo” name became forever associated with this Brewster aircraft. 167 land based “E” versions were shipped to Singapore and Northern Malaya to equip RAF and Commonwealth squadrons. B339-Es were quite adequate until they encountered the faster and more agile Japanese Zero.

The pilot of this aircraft was New Zealand Ace Flight Officer Noel C. Sharp, who downed 3 aircraft and damaged 2 bombers whilst flying this aircraft. This aircraft was destroyed in the fighting around Sumatra on 7th February with F/O Sharp being killed on 20th February in 1942 flying a Hurricane over Java aged just 20 years old. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1946.

The $ price shown reflects an additional $100 worldwide shipping fee and therefore no extra charges will apply at checkout.

 

[Gunn Miniatures]

WOW151 Me 410 Hornisse

The Me 410 was a follow on design from the unsuccessful Me 210, but the design changes were significant enough for it to be given a new serial number. Its predecessor the Me 210 story reads like a Greek tragedy, with the flawed main character contributing to the suicide of Ernst Udet and the wasted lives of many German airmen. It was the subject of ongoing bureaucratic interference and clashes between high profile political, military and political personalities. Perhaps most importantly, this flying cul-de-sac diverted limited production resources away from proven defensive aircraft in the critical mid and late-war years. However the Me 410 was a much more successful breed and was initially used in a photo reconnaissance role over the UK. Seeing its load carrying potential the Luftwaffe converted the Me 410 to a bomber destroyer and used it with some success against the USAAF daylight bomber formations. It could be fitted with several variations in armament, including a pair of 30mm calibre MK 103 cannon, 2 x 20mm cannon or the very sizeable BK 5 50mm cannon, of which our version portrays.

Our model WOW151 is one operated by ZG 26 which is reputed to have downed 129 Flying Fortresses and Liberators during a series of 5 or 6 interceptions, whilst losing only 9 of their own aircraft. Initially as just described, the Me 410 was very successful against unescorted Allied bombers, which reputedly lead it to becoming one of Hitler’s favourite bomber interceptor aircraft. However with the introduction of the Mustang operating as a bomber escort, the Me 410 soon became a target itself sustaining losses equal to the number of bombers they downed. From mid-1944 the Me 410 was withdrawn from the bomber interceptor role and used in the night-time reconnaissance role only.
The Me 410 had a wing span of 53ft making it equal in size to the Me 110, it also makes it a large 1/30 scale model! Because of the complex glass canopy and frontal observation port this model took something approaching 2 years to manufacture, as some collectors who were aware of its development can testify. Its often joked that we could make the real thing quicker than some of these models! The web price price for this model also includes $150 postage, which is reflected in the banner price. There is no free postage on warbirds due to their large size.

 

[Gunn Miniatures]

WOW055/376/377 Bolton Paul Defiant

The Bolton Paul Defiant was a two seat interceptor that served with the RAF during WW2. It was unique for its time in that it had a rear turret containing the aircraft's armament of 4 x .303 Browning machine guns. Unfortunately it had no forward firing armament which proved to be its Achilles heel once the Luftwaffe found this flaw. However during its early career it scored notable successes against the Luftwaffe who often mistook it for a Hurricane and attacked it from the rear, often with fatal consequences for themselves.

Withdrawn from front line day time duties, the Defiant found its forte employed as a night fighter, where in the right hands it was a formidable opponent as German bomber crews found out to their cost. We have the original 3 versions of our Defiant's once again available and in stock.




WOW055 Battle of Britain 1







WOW376 Night Fighter Version







WOW377 Battle of Britain version 2

 

[Gunn Miniatures]

WOW103 Italian Macchi The Macchi M.5 was an Italian single-seat fighter flying boat designed and built by Nieuport-Macchi at Varese. It was extremely manoeuvrable and agile and matched the land-based aircraft it was sent into combat against. The first prototype of a single-seat sesquiplane fighter was the Type M which first flew in 1917. Developed by engineers Buzio and Calzavera it had a single-step hull and an open cockpit forward of the wings and was similar to the earlier Macchi M.3. It was followed by another prototype with a revised tail unit designated the Ma and further developed as the M bis and Ma bis. The production aircraft was designated the M.5 and like the prototypes was powered by a single Isotta Fraschini V.4B engine in the pusher configuration. Deliveries commenced in the summer of 1917 to the Aviazione per la Regia Marina (Italian Navy Aviation). Late production aircraft had a more powerful Isotta Fraschini V.6 engine and redesigned wingtip floats, they were designated M.5 mod. Macchi produced 200 aircraft and another 44 were built by Società Aeronautica Italiana. The M.5 was operated by five Italian maritime patrol squadrons as a fighter and convoy escort, and some were embarked on the Giuseppe Miraglia. Towards the end of World War I, the aircraft were flown by both United States Navy and United States Marine Corps airmen. Ensign Charles Hammann won the first Medal of Honor awarded to a United States naval aviator in an M.5. Our 1/30 scale model is one of 6 available and was the plane of Sub-Tenente di Vascello Umberto Calvello, an ace with 5 credited victories. He was born May 28, 1897, joining the Italian Navy in July, 1916, serving as an observer on seaplanes. Officially graduating as a pilot on October 3 1917, his victories all occurred in 1918 while with 260 Squadriglia, all over Austrian flying boats. His aircraft carried a personal marking of “Fortunello”, (Happy Hooligan), with 2 slogans. The slogan on the suitcase translates as ‘March, don’t rot’, while the slogan coming from the character’s mouth translates as ‘Watch Out, son of a dog’. Calvello died August 10, 1919, when a plane he was test flying crashed. The $ price shown on the website includes an additional $100 charge for postage and therefore no further charges will apply at checkout. There is no free postage on Warbirds due to their large size.

 

[Gunn Miniatures]

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Dear all, welcome to our March 2023 update for our Mahogany Warbirds. After a recent trip to the Philippines we were able to obtain some restocks of surplus models left in the factory and we were reliably informed they needed a good home! Please see below a list of the restocks, we only have 1 or 2 of each please note.

 

[tmanthegreat]

Dear all, welcome to our March 2023 update for our Mahogany Warbirds. After a recent trip to the Philippines we were able to obtain some restocks of surplus models left in the factory and we were reliably informed they needed a good home! Please see below a list of the restocks, we only have 1 or 2 of each please note.

Ah, these are restocks… That explains it! I was discussing these releases with a vendor on Facebook this morning wondering why the aircraft in this latest update weren’t new models. The TA-183 appeared identical to the one I got from TGM in 2019 and I was wondering why it was available again… It’s a great model, though, so hopefully someone gets it!