JANUARY 2025 WARBIRDS (2 Viewers)

[wayne556517]

Dear Gunn Aviation Club members Welcome to our January 2025 Aircraft preview newsletter featuring some exciting new Aircraft Releases, plus restocks. For the month of January only there is special 20% discount available on all Warbird purchases, simply insert 'WARBIRDS2025' at checkout, please note no other discounts will apply. This promotion ties in with a Facebook and Instagram promotion we have in place as the moment in a bid to attract new customers to the brand, however as existing customers who have supported us over many years we did not want you to feel left out! Discount code expires on 31st January please note. Any goods purchased must be paid for in their entirety in the month of January, there is no instalment option if you opt for the 20% discount. 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 unique. 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 aircraft in today's newsletter, please email us at welcome@gunnclub.co.uk. If you are not having any luck with the discount code which sometimes happens, then please drop us an email and we can process manually for you. As always, a big thank you to Mark Dyer who assisted us as always with the finer details.

Messerschmitt Me 509 Heavy Fighter The Messerschmitt Me 509 was an all-metal fighter project designed to replace the ME 109. It was based on the ME 309, with the engine located behind a pressurized cockpit, similar to the US Bell P-39 Airacobra. The engine was a Daimler-Benz DB 605B driving a three-blade propeller, and the armament consisted of two 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131 machine guns and two 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons. The tricycle landing gear from the Me 309 was retained, which worked better on the 509, due to the lower weight on the nosewheel - the Me 309's nose gear had collapsed during trials. The smaller nose would have improved visibility and would have helped the 509 to become a more potent fighter than the Me 109. The project was canceled along with the Me 309 as the war turned in the Allies favour, but the Japanese made a similar aircraft, the Yokosuka R2Y Keiun which made its maiden flight in May 1945. These hand carved Mahogany 1/30 scale models and are limited to 2 of each aircraft, all models priced at $650 plus postage. WOW628. ME509 - Nightfighter WOW629. ME509 - Striped Camo Please note the figures and accessories shown are for scale comparison purposes only and are not included.

 

[wayne556517]

WOW633 HP Hampden - John Hannah The Handley Page Hampden was a British twin-engine medium bomber operated by the Royal Air Force. It was part of the trio of large twin-engine bombers procured for the RAF, joining the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley and Vickers Wellington. The Hampden was powered by Bristol Pegasus radial engines a variant known as the Handley Page Hereford had in-line Napier Daggers. It was often referred to as the ‘flying suitcase’ due to its narrow width which made flying in the Hampden a cramped experience. The Hampden served in the early stages of the Second World War, bearing the brunt of the early bombing war over Europe, taking part in the first night raid on Berlin and the first 1,000-bomber raid on Cologne. With the outbreak of war in 1939, Hampdens were initially used to perform armed aerial reconnaissance missions, observing German naval activity during daylight. However, despite its speed and manoeuvrability, the Hampden proved to be vulnerable tor Luftwaffe fighters and required an RAF fighter escort for daytime operations. In December 1939 Bomber Command is claimed to have discarded the belief that aircraft such as the Hampden could realistically operate by day and instead chose to predominantly employ them under the cover of darkness during night-time operations. During 1940 Hampdens of 5 Group conducted 123 night-time airborne leaflet propaganda missions, losing only a single aircraft in the process. The Hampden was 53.7 feet in length and had a wingspan of 69 feet. Hampden OL W was the aircraft in which John Hannah received his VC for his brave actions. On 15 September 1940 wireless operator Sgt John Hannah of 83 Squadron took off in Hampden P1355/OL-W to attack German invasion barges assembling near Antwerp, Belgium. His aircraft was badly damaged by flak during the strike, the fuel tanks were hit and a fire broke out in the bomb bay. Hannah, who was just 18 at the time, made his way to the rear of the aircraft to find that the gunner had already bailed out. The young Scotsman tackled the blaze, firstly with extinguishers, and then – even as the floor of the cabin started to melt – by beating at the flames with his logbook. Though badly burned, he succeeded in his efforts, enabling the pilot to bring the crippled aircraft home. John Hannah was awarded the VC, becoming its youngest ever recipient for aerial operations. Hannah was so weakened by his injuries that he was discharged from the RAF, with full disability pension, in December 1942. His health did not improve significantly and he died in Leicestershire on 7 June 1947. His VC is on display at the RAF Museum Hendon. Our 1/30 scale model is a limited edition of 2 pieces worldwide and is priced at $1250 plus postage. The figures and accessories are shown for scale comparison purposes only and are not included.

 

[wayne556517]

WOW652 DFW 230 Glider - LC 18

The DFS 230 glider was used in virtually every significant Axis airborne operation during WW2, including Eben Emael, Crete and the rescue of Mussolini. Initially designed as an assault glider capable of transporting 9 men with exit and entry via a side door. The DFS 230 could land almost
directly on top of its intended target, thanks to its parachute brake and achieved considerable surprise at Eben Emael when used in this role.
Surprisingly the DFS 230 was one of the few armed gliders of WW2 and carried a machine gun on top operated by one of its passengers, another was also placed on the right hand side for the pilot to operate if needed.

The DFS was often a welcome sight for surrounded German troops as its arrival often meant the delivery of fresh supplies and ammunition, it excelled in the supply role particularly in the Demyansk and Kholm Pockets. Although production ceased in 1941 there were sufficient gliders produced to ensure the design saw service right up until the end of the war even supplying Breslau and Berlin in the final days of WW2.

This glider had a wingspan of 72ft and was nearly 37ft long but had a very narrow fuselage. It was not much wider than the humans it was designed to carry, giving it a somewhat streamlined but unusual appearance over other conventional aircraft.

This hand carved Mahogany model is limited to 3 in number worldwide, priced at $750 plus postage.

The TG figures and accessories are shown for scale comparison purposes only and are not included.

 

[wayne556517]

WOW657 Vought SB2U Vindicator, Captain Richard E. Fleming The Vought SB2U Vindicator was an American carrier-based dive bomber developed for the US Navy in the 1930s, the first monoplane in this role. Vindicators remained in service at the time of the Battle of Midway, but by 1943, all had been withdrawn to training units. Deliveries to the US Navy began in Dec 1937, when four aircraft joined VB-3 aboard the aircraft carrier Saratoga, replacing Curtiss BFC-2 biplanes. As well as Saratoga, Vindicators served on the carriers Lexington, Ranger, and Wasp. Air Group Nine, destined for Essex, trained in Vindicators aboard the escort carrier Charger, but they transitioned to the Douglas SBD Dauntless before Essex joined the war. During the attack on Pearl Harbour, seven Vindicators from the U.S. squadron VMSB-231 were destroyed at Ewa Field. VMSB-231 and VMSB-241 were the only two USMC squadrons that fielded the Marine-specific SB2U-3 between March 1941 and September 1943. VMSB-241's Vindicators saw combat at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Airmen with experience in more modern aircraft spoke disparagingly of SB2Us as "vibrators" or "wind indicators" in their later combat assignments. Captain Richard E. Fleming piloted a SB2U-3 Vindicator in an attack on the Japanese cruiser Mikuma on 5 June 1942, for which he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Captain Richard E. Fleming first duty station was at NAB San Diego, Ca. 10 days after Pearl Harbour he flew to Midway Island from Pearl Harbour. Assigned to VMSB-241 as a flight officer, then squadron command when CO Major Lofton Henderson was shot down on the initial attack of the Japanese carrier battle group on June 4th. The next attack Captain Fleming led his squadron to attack the Japanese fleet, he left his formation to dive perilously low to hit a ship. Next day out on June 5th, he led the 2nd division on a mass dive bombing assault on the battle cruiser Mikuma, he scored a near miss on the Mikuma but was hit by heavy anti-aircraft fire and hit several times, he could not pull out of his dive and smashed into the sea, his gunner private first class George Albert Toms was also killed. For this action, beyond the call of duty Captain Fleming was awarded the Medal of Honor. These 1/30 scale models are limited to 4 aircraft and are priced at $999 plus postage. Please note the K&C figures and TG accessories shown are for scale comparison purposes only and are not included.

 

[wayne556517]

OH13 Helicopter WOW666. Bell H-13 Sioux - US Army 9th Cavalry WOW667. Bell H-13 Sioux - Australian Version The Bell H-13 Sioux is an American single-engine light helicopter built by Bell Helicopter. It was the first helicopter to be certified for civil use. The Sioux is a single-engine single-rotor three-seat observation and training helicopter. In 1953 the Bell 47G design was introduced. It can be recognized by the full "soap bubble" canopy (as its designer Arthur M. Young termed it), exposed welded-tube tail boom, saddle fuel tanks and skid landing gear. In its UH-13J version, based on the Bell 47J, it had a metal-clad tail boom and fuselage and an enclosed cockpit and cabin. The H-13 was one of the principal helicopters used by the U.S. Army during the Korean War, with the H-13D variant being the most prevalent. During the war it was used in a wide variety of roles including observation, reconnaissance, and medivac. From its role in medevac flights, it gained the nickname "Angel of Mercy". It was also used as an observation helicopter early in the Vietnam War. The helicopter was used extensive by the US and Australian Army in both Korea and Vietnam. We have 3 US and 2 Australian models only available in 1/30 scale. The majority of the model is hand crafted steel with the blades and cockpit cabin area made from Mahogany wood. This was an extremely time consuming model to handcraft and therefore these will be the only ones we make. Priced at $999 plus postage.

 

[wayne556517]

RESTOCKS We have a few restocks of aircraft, one of each available, WOW482. P47D Thunderbolt - Whooo WOW118. SM82 - German Markings WOW119. SM82 - SM.82 '205-5 Tortoise Shell Camo WOW120. SM82 - SM.82 'I Bach' ‘II Duce’ WOW465. B17 - 909 Flying Fortress

WOW482 P47D Thunderbolt - WHOOO The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was a WW II era fighter aircraft produced by the United States between 1941 and 1945. Its primary armament was eight .50-caliber machine guns and in the fighter-bomber ground-attack role it could carry five-inch rockets or a bomb load of 2,500 pounds (1,103 kg). When fully loaded the P-47 weighed up to eight tons making it one of the heaviest fighters of the war. The P-47 was designed around the powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine which was also used by two U.S. Navy fighters, the Grumman F6F Hellcat and the Vought F4U Corsair. The Thunderbolt was effective as a short-to-medium range escort fighter in high-altitude air-to-air combat and ground attack in both the WW II European and Pacific theatres. The P-47 was one of the main United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) fighters of WW II, and served with Allied air forces including France, Britain, and Russia. Mexican and Brazilian squadrons fighting alongside the U.S. were equipped with the P-47. The armoured cockpit was relatively roomy and comfortable, offering good visibility. A modern-day U.S. ground-attack aircraft, the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, takes its name from the P-47. Our 1/30 scale P-47D-26-RA, was flown by Lt. James R. Hopkins, 509th FS, 405th FG, 9th AF, as it would have appeared at Ophoven, Belgium, March 1945. This is definitely a large fighter aircraft, hence the price, you will not be disappointed. Price for this model is $750 plus $100 shipping.

 

[wayne556517]

WOW118. SM82 - German $1300 WOW119. SM82 - SM.82 '205-5 Tortoise Shell Camo $1300 WOW120. SM82 - SM.82 'I Bach' ‘II Duce’ $1300

WOW118. SM82 - German Luftwaffe

 

[wayne556517]

WOW465 B17G Nine 0 Nine
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 Junkers Ju 88.


The original aircraft, from a group of 30 B-17Gs manufactured by Boeing, was nicknamed after the last three digits of her serial number: 42-31909. Nine-O-Nine was added to the USAAF inventory on December 15, 1943, and flown overseas on February 5, 1944. After depot modifications, she was delivered to the 91st BG in the UK on February 24, 1944, as a replacement aircraft, she was one of the last B-17s received in factory-applied camouflage paint.


Her first bombing raid was on Augsburg Germany, on February 25, 1944. She made 18 bombing raids on Berlin. In all she flew 1,129 hours and dropped 562,000lb (225 tonnes) of bombs. She had 21 engine changes, four wing panel changes, 15 main gas tank changes, and 18 changes of Tokyo tanks (long-range fuel tanks).


Nine-O-Nine returned to the United States after the war in Europe finished, on June 8, 1945 and was eventually scrapped.


Our latest and more than likely last hand carved Mahogany 1/32 scale model 'Nine O Nine' is a limited edition of 2 pieces worldwide and is priced at $1675 plus postage.

 

[paxtoysoldier]

Great release. The Vindicator has my vote. Dad & I tried to make a model of it when I was a kid (the way his bro used to do so well) and, well, it was a mess of glue. My uncle did all the WW2 Navy planes (he loved flying and models and Grandpa was in the Navy). So Dad would love a full group again. We will try to save some war bonds...
Great Work
Paddy for Pat Sr & me

 

[marcou]

Hi

the SM.82s are beautiful but huge !

Marco

 

[Panzer ace]

Those helicopters are incredible, thanks for posting.