Pre-production photos HA8711 Bf 109E-4 Major Helmut Wick.

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA8711 Bf 109E-4 Major Helmut Wick, JG.2, 1940.

Final product photos HA7508 P-26A Peashooter Wheeler Field 1941.

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA7508 Boeing P-26A Peashooter Wheeler Field, Hawaii, December 1941.

At the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii the Boeing P-26 Peashooter had been removed from front line duty and replaced by the newer Seversky P-35 and Curtiss P-36A. The P-26 duties were now mechanic training, spare parts and hack flights between islands. 

On December 7, 1941 there were approximately 10 P-26s at Wheeler Field located on the island of Oahu but after the attack six had been destroyed and one damaged. It is thought that two P-26s got airborne during the raid but doubt they inflicted any damage.

Pre-production photos HA5210 F-14A Tomcat VF-2 Bounty Hunters.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA5210 Grumman F-14A Tomcat Block 85 159625, VF-2 Bounty Hunters, 1976.

Final product photos HA4313 F-86E Sabra flown by Charles "Chick" Cleveland.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA4313A/B (with and without autographed stand respectively) F-86E Sabre FU-760, flown by Charles "Chick" Cleveland, 4th Fighter Wing, Korean War.

In March 1952 Charles “Chick” Cleveland left the 31st Strategic Fighter Wing and deployed to Korea with the 334th FIS/4th FIW at Kimpo AB, South Korea. During his nine month tour flying an F-86E Cleveland is credited with 5 aerial victories as well as 1 probable and 4 damaged. 

Cleveland’s fifth victory wasn’t made official for almost 50 years because his wingman of the day was killed and couldn’t verify this. It was only when Russia admitted aircraft losses on that date that the fifth victory was officially credited.

New Corgi Catalogue January to June 2017.

Looking at the new for 2017 Corgi Catalogue the undoubted standout is the new 1/48 scale tooling of the English Electric Lightning!!! This may well open the door to more new 1/48 molds of British jet aircraft.

Other jets include 1/72 scale Tornado F.3 and Typhoon FGR.4 of RAF No.29 Squadron, 1435 Flight, RAF Mount Pleasant, Defence of the Falkland Islands. 

There is also a significant and diverse WWII component in the form of fighters, bombers and even jet powered nightfighter. Two models are of particular interest to me, the Curtiss Tomahawk IIB, AK402, flown by P/O Neville Duke of RAF No.122 Squadron and Messerschmitt Me 262B-1a/U1, W.Nr 110635 ‘Red 10’, Oberleutnant Kurt Welter, 10/NJG 11.

There is also Hawker Hurricane Mk.I, P3576 (GN-A) flown by Flight Lieutenant James Brindley Nicolson (VC) of RAF No.249 Squadron, a North American P-51D Mustang, 44-14733/CS-L ‘Daddy’s Girl’ piloted by Capt. Ray Wetmore of the 370th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group and a Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4, W.Nr. 3579 ‘White 14’, Fahnrich Hans Joachim Marseille, 1.(J)/LG.2, Calais-Marck airfield.

There are 3 WWII bombers, Heinkel He.III H-6, 1H+BB, 1./KG26, Bardufoss Airfield, Norway, 5th July 1942 – Attack on Artic convoy PQ 17, Vickers Wellington 1C, R1162 / AA-Y ‘Y for Yorker’, No.75 (New Zealand) Squadron, RAF Feltwell, Norfolk, 1941 ‘Soda Syphon Bomber’ unusual for Bomber Command in having nose art and 3rd Doolittle Raider from Corgi, North American B25 Mitchell, 40-2249, "Hari Kari-er".

The is also Douglas C-47 Dakota, ZA947, ‘KWICHERBICHEN’, The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, RAF Coningsby, 2015. The aircraft is presented in the colours of ZA947 which flew numerous flights in support of the D-Day landings, Operation Market Garden and the Rhine crossing.

There is one 1/48 scale WWI fighter, SPAD XIII, S2445, Major Francesco Baracca, 91st Squadriglia, Italian Air Force, April 1918.

Lastly there are two helicopters which should also have appeal for many, Westland Sea King HC.4, ZA290/VC, No.846 Naval Air Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, Falklands Conflict, 1982 dropped an SAS team in Argentina and Westland Wessex HC.2, XV721/H ‘Heart’, RAF No.72 Squadron, ‘Westland Wessex HC.2 35 Years of Active Service’, 1964 – 1999, RAF Aldergrove, Northern Ireland.

http://www.corgi.co.uk/shop/new-for-2017/new-for-2017-aviation-archive.html

Final product photos HA4408 F-35A 34th FS.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA4408 Lockheed F-35A AF13-5071/HL, 34th FS, 2016.

The 34th FS was first formed in October 1944 at Seymour-Johnson Field, North Carolina and has been deactivated and reactivated several times over the years. In 1954 the squadron was reactivated as the 34th Fighter-Day Squadron and finally in 1991 they became the 34th FS “Rude Rams” again. 

Over its lifetime the 34th has flown seven types of aircraft. In September 2015 the 34th FS/388th FW located at Hill AFB, Utah received their first two F-35A Lightning II (13-5071 and 13-5072) with another seventy expected over time.

Final product photos HA3537 CF-18A Hornet "Nightmare 01".

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3537 CF-18A Hornet "Nightmare 01" 188761, 409 Sqn., RCAF, 2006.

CF-18A Hornet 188761 was delivered on April 10, 1986 and operated with the No. 439 Squadron in Europe. In 1987 the aircraft suffered damage but was repaired and returned to service. In 1995 188761 returned to Canada with the No. 441 TFS at CFB Cold Lake. 

In 2004 the aircraft was again damaged and returned to service. On July 6, 2006 No. 416 and No. 441 TFSs consolidated forming the No. 409 Nighthawk Squadron and 188761 received a special No. 409 Squadron scheme, “Night Mare 01” to commemorate the occasion.

Final product photos HA1323 A-10C Thunderbolt II Bagram AFB.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1323 A-10C Thunderbolt II KC/AF90-119, Bagram AFB, Afghanistan, 2014.

In 1982 the 303rd Troop Carrier Squadron became the 303rd FS when it received the A-10 Thunderbolt II. The 303rd FS is part of the 442nd FW (AFRC – Air Reserve Component)  (KC) based at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. 

From April 2014 until October 2014 one dozen A-10C aircraft from the 442nd FW were based at Bagram AB, Afghanistan to form the 303rd EFS (Expeditionary Fighter Squadron). The A-10 was one of the most utilized aircraft for close air support throughout Operation Enduring Freedom.

Final product photos HA1975 F-4F Phantom 38+10 JG71 Richthofen.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1975 McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantom II 38+10, JG71 Richthofen, Wittmundhafen Air Base 2013.

The first of the 175 German F-4Fs touched down at Wittmundhafen Air Base in 1973 with final delivery in April 1976. The F-4F replaced the F-104s that had equipped two interceptor wings, JG-71 Richthofen, JG-74 Molders and two ground attack wings JBG-35 and JBG-36. 

2013 saw the last of the German F-4s so F-4Fs 37+01 and 38+10 were given special paint schemes to mark the occasion. 37+01 was painted gold and blue while 38+10 was painted in Norm 72, the original paint scheme for the F-4F.