Oxford Diecast Grumann Avenger White 83 USS Petrof Bay 1945 (1:72)

Grumann Avenger White 83 USS Petrof Bay 1945 The Grumman Avenger was the British version of the American TBF-1 Avenger and the RAF used these under a lend-lease agreement.  However, our latest release is an Avenger that served with the US forces towards the end of WWII in combat with the Japanese in the Pacific. It was classed as a naval aircraft torpedo bomber and our 1:72 scale Grumman is a replica of the bomber flying with 76 Squadron from the aircraft carrier USS Petrof Bay. It comprised a single engine monoplane with capacity for up to a four-man crew. The livery on this model is quite striking with its midnight blue and dark sea grey two-tone upper side and white underbody.  Graphics are in white, including a four leaf clover on the tail fin. The nose art features a provocative and colourful ‘Blopsy’. The Grumman’s offensive armament comprised two forward facing Browning machine guns and a further rear-facing defensive Browning machine gun in the turret.  These are faithfully reproduced on our model painted black.  Finite details also include the black propellers with their yellow tips, the rust finished exhaust pipes and the silver propeller hub/spinner. - 1:72 Scale

Oxford Diecast DH Mosquito NF MkII P.G.Wykeham-Barnes. RAF No.23 Sqn. (1:72)

This 1:72 scale Oxford aircraft represents a No. 23 Squadron Mosquito which was deployed to RAF Luqa in Malta. The squadron was the first to use the Mosquito in the Mediterranean, having transferred there in December 1942. Its key role was to perform intruder and bomber escort missions attacking enemy  infrastructure in North Africa and Southern Italy, often flying low and fast. The Mosquito’s versatility played a vital part, with great success. Wing Commander Peter Wykeham-Barnes was the commanding officer at Luqa and was to become one of WWII’s famous Bomber Aces, surviving the conflict and highly decorated too. Born on 13 September 1915 in Sandhurst, Surrey, Peter Wykeham-Barnes joined the RAF as an aircraft apprentice in 1932. Later he became a cadet at RAF College, Cranwell and was commissioned in 1937. After a series of deployments at home and abroad, he took over 23 Squadron on Mosquito II night intruders, leading the unit out to Malta. Whilst with 23 Squadron his navigator was 116970 Flying Officer Geoffrey Ernest Palmer, DFC. Together, they were a formidable team with great successes against the Luftwaffe. Wykeham-Barnes ended the war with 3 and 1 shared biplane victories and a total of 14 and 3 shared destroyed. Post-war, he took an Air Ministry post followed by secondment to the USAF in Korea, where he flew night intruder sorties in B-26 Invaders of the 90th Bomber Group, USAF, and was awarded the US Air Medal.  He ended his career in UK defence  as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff and retired as Air Marshal Sir Peter Wykeham, KCB, DSO and Bar, OBE, DFC and Bar, AFC.  He died on 23 February 1995. With so much history behind it, our heroic model appears decorated in the night fighter garb of dark grey and dark green upper side and matt black underside with matt black nose, dorsal patch, guns and rear tyres. On the upper side, the No Step warning signs in red indicate the fragility of the structure in the area between the two engines which would not support any weight.  Also in red are the aircraft identity markings DZ230 and YP-A along the length of the fuselage. The RAF roundel also features a yellow outer circle to make it more easily visible to other friendly aircraft. The island of Malta was awarded the George Cross for its bitter battles against the enemy during WWII and without doubt the DH Mosquito played a great part in its success. - 1:72 Scale

Oxford Diecast Gloster Gladiator RAF 72 Sqn Church Fenton 1937 (1:72)

Gloster Gladiator RAF 72 Sqn Church Fenton 1937 The Gloster Gladiator was a British built single seater biplane fighter manufactured by the Gloucestershire Aircraft Company.  It was used by the RAF and was also exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s.   Although a biplane, the Gladiator was very different from the older types.  It was powered by the 840hp British Mercury VIIIA 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine; it had a top speed of 257 mph and accommodating four Browning 303 machine guns.  RAF Church Fenton in Yorkshire was opened in April 1937 as a result of the RAF’s massive expansion programme and in response to the escalating military activity in Germany under Adolf Hitler. The station was intended as a fighter base to protect the North’s industrial cities and was home to both offensive and defensive squadrons as part of No. 13 Group, including No. 72 Squadron, who had been allocated the Gloster Gladiators. Despite being one of the remaining survivors of a previous aviation era, the Gladiator was also one of the last Allied bi-planes to see service in WWII and its career in the conflict came to an end in May 1940, when it was superseded by the superior and more up to date Hurricane.  However, the Gladiator played an ongoing role in home based reconnaissance duties rather than active combat. Our 1:72 scale replica of K6130 Gladiator Mk I is decorated in all over silver with red and blue markings. The RAF roundel features on the upper and lower wings as well as along the fuselage. Intricate detail includes rust brown exhaust pipe and lighter brown cowling edge. The tyres, guns and engine are black and the wheel hubs are finished in bright red. K6130 was subsequently transferred overseas and on 18th July 1940 while flying over Egypt in cloud, the plane crashed into a hill, killing the RAF pilot and it was totally destroyed. - 1:72 Scale

Oxford Diecast Avro Anson 233 Squadron RAF Coastal Command (1:72)

Avro Anson Mk I 233 Squadron RAF Coastal Command Includes: - Detailed diecast aircraft model - Canopy detail and glazing - Undercarriage detail - Engine and prop detail - Gunner turret - Display stand with name plaque - 1:72 Scale  Aircraft information: The Avro Anson Mk I was originally meant for maritime reconnaissance, taking its first flight in 1935 and entering service in 1936 from which point it was used notably with the RAF, Fleet Air Arm and Commonwealth Air Forces. During World War II.

Oxford Diecast Junkers Ju-87 Stuka Stab III/StG 77 (1:72)

Junkers JU-87 Stuka Includes: - Diecast model - Canopy detailing - Printed detail - Prop and engine exhausts - Display stand - 1:72 Scale Aircraft information and history: Although usually associated with the Wehrmachts feared Lightning War attacks at the beginning of WWII, the Ju87B Stuka was also a highly effective maritime strike bomber. Capable of performing precision dive bombing attacks against any Allied vessel, the Stuka took a heavy toll of shipping in the English Channel, North Africa and in the Mediterranean. The Stuka also saw service with the air forces of Italy, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary, as well as remaining in Luftwaffe service throughout WWII. The attack dive of the Stuka was so severe, that quite a number of automatic features had to be incorporated into the manoeuvre. At an altitude of approximately 15,000 ft., the pilot would locate his target through a bombsight window, which was located in the floor of the cockpit. His engine and propeller had automatic controls, to optimise the aircraft when in a dive, and an automatic trimmer would make the aircraft tail heavy, as the pilot initiated the dive. He would move the dive lever to the rear, which would limit the kick of the control column and quickly begin a defined sequence of actions, which if done correctly, would see his ordnance detonate on his intended target. He quickly set the trim tabs, reduced the throttle and closed the engine coolant flaps. The aircraft would automatically become tail heavy and pitch over in a 180-degree roll, placing the aircraft in a steep nose-down dive at the same time, dive breaks were automatically deployed, to reduce the speed of the dive, to a constant 360 mph. This was the point of no return as the attack sequence had begun. As the strain on the body of the pilot increased, he still had much work to do. The angle of his dive could be checked by looking at a series of red lines on the side of his cockpit window and lining them up against the horizon 60, 75, or 80 degree angle of attack. He would then look forward through the fixed gun sight, to line up his attack, before releasing his heavy main bomb - the optimum release height was indicated to the pilot, by a light flicking on in his altimeter. The bomb was carried on a large U-shaped cradle, which would swing down on release, throwing the bomb safely clear of the large propeller and on to the target. As all this action was taking place, the pilot would have certainly had at least a couple of reassuring glances at the red pins protruding up from the top of the wings, which informed him that the automatic dive recovery system was engaged, should he fall victim to a g-induced black-out. All this would have been taking place in just a matter of a few, frantic seconds! Once the bombs had left the aircraft, it automatically began its dive recovery sequence. This was the point at which the maximum g loading on the crew would be felt and forces in excess of six times the force of gravity were regularly experienced, which could result in vision impairment at the very least. Once recovered and the nose of the aircraft was above the horizon, the dive breaks were automatically retracted, the throttle was opened and the propeller was set to climb the pilot then quickly had to manually open the coolant flaps, to prevent the engine from overheating and then resume flying the aircraft. This was the point that the Stuka was at its most vulnerable, flying at low level, at relatively slow speed and in hostile territory. His rear gunner may still be blacked out and indeed the pilot might still be feeling a little light headed, but every anti-aircraft gun, rifle and enemy fighter in the vicinity would be taking pot-shots at them, from every angle.