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 Spitfire X4590 (609 Sqn) Hendon (1:72)

Spitfire X4590 (609 Sqn) Hendon Our 1:72 scale model of the Spitfire Mk I is a replica of the X4590 registered aircraft built in 1940, deployed to 609 Squadron which operated out of RAF Middle Wallop, from where it took part in the Battle of Britain. X4590 was badly damaged in 1941 but was repaired and put into service as a training aircraft before being retired in 1944. Post war, it was preserved and put on display at the RAF Museum in 1978 where it proudly stands today. The model is decorated in the brown and green camouflage scheme with pale green underside. The characteristic RAF roundels and its RAF PR-F X4590 identity are all faithfully replicated as they appear in real life. - 1:72 Scale

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.

Oxford Diecast DH Mosquito FB MKVI 23 Squadron RAF 1943 (1:72)

DH Mosquito FB MKVI 23 Squadron RAF 1943 Includes - Diecast model - Canopy detailing - Prop and engine exhaust detailing - Fine printed detail - Display stand - 1:72 scale Aircraft information and history: The latest World War II aircraft to land on your Oxford airfield is that of the valiant little De Havilland Mosquito, making another appearance this time as a Night Fighter (NF). Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito was a British twin-engined shoulder winged multi-role combat aircraft which took its first flight in November 1940. By 1941 it was the fastest operational aircraft in the world. The effectiveness of the Mosquito saw its use extended as a high altitude night bomber, as modelled here, where you will notice the authentic lack of gun turrets. At the beginning of World War II, 23 Squadron RAF was equipped with Blenheims as a night fighter squadron before they moved to the highly effective DH Mosquito in July 1942. By 1943 the Squadron and its Mosquito aircraft were based in Luqa in Malta from where they were able to attack enemy airfields and railway targets throughout Sicily, Italy and Tunisia. The model is decorated in a matt black body colour scheme with dark red markings. Note 23 Squadron's YP Squadron code which was used between September 1939 and May 1945, printed on each side of the fuselage with the RAF roundel in between. The roundels also appear on the upper wings, together with an interesting rectangular notice on each side of the cockpit canopy indicating No Step! Heaps of history here for aviation enthusiasts concentrating on World War II.