Aviation Archive range gains a pair of Mighty Twins

Welcome to the latest edition of Corgi Die-cast Diaries, your regular blog review of all the news, updates and topical stories from the captivating world of Corgi die-cast model collecting.

With several important new model releases having arrived in our warehouse over the past few days, we will be using this latest edition of our Corgi blog to get everything back on track, as we take this opportunity to introduce you to no fewer than three spectacular new model arrivals. Our ever-popular Aviation Archive range will be firmly in our review crosshairs to begin with, as two of the most potent twin engined aircraft of the Second World War have just had scale die-cast representations of each type released into the range. As you would expect, we will have a selection of exclusive product images from both included with this update, in addition to looking at why both are considered formidable combat aircraft in their own right.

We will be following this up by featuring a stunning new Mustang model release, but are we talking classic WWII fighter Mustang, or the desirable four wheeled variety? Well, you’ll just have to read on to find out.

We have a new model release edition of Die-cast Diaries for your enjoyment this weekend, so why not find a quiet spot, grab a cuppa and enjoy a little Corgi quiet time with us!

Beaufighter – An airborne battering ram

Expert presentation, our new Bristol Beaufighter TF.X model release benefits form our distinctive D-Day style packaging.

Although it’s often the famous single engined fighters of the Second World War which tend to capture the imaginations of enthusiasts and the wider general population when it comes to building or collecting scale models, it could be argued that their larger, twin engined cousins were often the more capable and certainly the more adaptable aircraft when looking purely in terms of operational effectiveness. With that being the case, we are delighted to confirm that the Aviation Archive range has just welcomed the latest examples of two of the very best exponents of these aircraft to its ranks, one model tooling which was only introduced into the range in 2019, with the other being a classic dating back to 2006.

The Bristol Beaufighter was originally conceived as a heavy fighter, similar in concept to the Luftwaffe’s Messerschmitt Bf 110 Destroyer, however, the strength and adaptability of Bristol’s new twin soon highlighted its ability to take on more roles – this was a true multi-role aircraft. Occupying a similar role position, the Luftwaffe’s Junkers Ju 88 may have started its operational career as a fast strike bomber, but again showed itself adaptable enough to be able to take on many other roles. In fact, the Ju88 was unquestionably the most versatile Luftwaffe aircraft type of the Second World War and might even have a claim to being the most versatile twin engined aircraft of the war both Axis and Allied.

It’s therefore fitting that our latest examples of both aircraft types have been released at the same time, one making a contribution to D-Day operational planning, whilst the other marked the Luftwaffe’s concerted attempt to create a cohesive and effective nightfighter defence force.

Let’s take a closer look at each model now.

Bristol Beaufighter TF.X, NE775 - 'X2', No.455 (RAAF) Squadron, the 'ANZAC Strike Wing', RAF Langham, Norfolk, June 1944.

Throughout the history of British aviation, it has to be conceded that some of the most important military aircraft have been the product of private company ventures, the result of ideas from the minds of forward-thinking professionals who were in positions to be able to influence the development of such ideas. One such individual was Leslie George Frise, design leader at the Bristol Aeroplane Company, who set about developing a long-range fighter derivative of Bristol’s new torpedo strike aircraft which was in production for the Royal Air Force at that time, the Beaufort. The team at Bristol knew that once Britain had managed to repel the Luftwaffe onslaught which now seemed inevitable, the RAF were going to need a heavily armed aircraft which possessed much greater range than that of either the Hurricane or the Spitfire, allowing wide ranging strike missions to be mounted against enemy targets.

As this project would proceed as a private company venture, their new heavy fighter would have to use many components and the same assembly jigs as the existing Beaufort production lines, however, to endow the heavy fighter with superior performance, it was to be powered by two Bristol Hercules radial engines, providing the new aircraft a 50% performance boost compared to its predecessor. The new Bristol Type 156 was soon christened the Beaufighter and following the outbreak of hostilities at the start of the Second World War, a significant order for just under 1000 aircraft was placed by the Air Ministry.

Early Beaufighters were used successfully in a night-fighting role, however, the aircraft would go on to find its operational niche as a long-range, hard-hitting Coastal Command strike fighter, terrorising Axis shipping attempting to operate along the Norwegian and Danish coastlines. Bristol's long-range fighter concept provided the RAF with an aircraft capable of allowing them to strike back at the enemy and one rugged enough to thrive in the hostile environment of a coastal strike fighter, earning a reputation as an accomplished multi-role aircraft in the process.

A later development of the Beaufighter and arguably the most effective variant of them all, the TF.X (Torpedo Fighter) was optimised for low altitude operations and had the ability to carry rockets, bombs and an underslung torpedo, in addition to its already heavy machine gun and cannon armament. Aircraft in a strike group would usually be armed with one of these ordnance options, but never all three on the same aircraft, with each crew knowing what part they would have to play in the coming attack.

All the model images shown here feature a final production sample of this hugely collectable new Beaufighter model.

With swarms of aircraft descending on their shipping targets, the fighter/rocket equipped aircraft would attempt to neutralise enemy defences prior to the bomb and torpedo equipped aircraft running in to finish them off, with the speed and determination of these attacks proving extremely effective, once the Beaufighter was assigned the task. These missions could be a little frenetic to say the least, with a great many aircraft wheeling about in the same airspace at the same time and the threat of collision being very real for the duration of the attack.

No.455 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force began operations in the European Theatre of Operations as part of RAF Bomber Command but would transfer to Coastal Command at the end of April 1942. Still flying the Handley Page Hampden at that time, crews were immediately required to train in the delivery of airborne torpedo attacks, in advance of flying anti-shipping operations against Axis shipping operating in Norwegian coastal waters. Flying from their home base at Leuchars in Fife, their Hampdens were not particularly suitable for this type of mission and initial success rates were disappointing to say the least, with many crews paying the ultimate price for their aircraft's lack of capability.

Things would improve markedly from December 1943 onwards, when the unit exchanged its Hampdens for Beaufighters, with crews immediately developing tactics to maximise the impact of their capable new aircraft. Operating in tandem with No.489 Squadron RNZAF, the two formed the 'ANZAC Strike Wing' and operated using the combined strength of both squadrons to launch devastating attacks against Axis shipping in the North Sea. Beaufighters configured as heavy fighters would attack and neutralise enemy anti-aircraft defences, before the bomb and torpedo equipped aircraft swooped in to deliver their destructive blows.

The Strike Wing's tactics proved so effective that their services were soon required elsewhere and in the months leading up to D-day, the ANZAC Strike Wing moved south to RAF Langham in Norfolk, flying similar operations to clear the sea lanes of the English Channel, paying particular attention to Germany's E-boat fast attack craft, which posed a real threat to the success of Allied invasion plans. Following their D-Day deployment, No.455 Squadron headed back to Scotland, this time to RAF Dallachy, where they joined two other Beaufighter equipped units and formed an even larger Strike Wing, much to the dismay of any remaining Axis shipping running the Norwegian coastal routes.

The aggressive tactics adopted by the Beaufighter equipped ANZAC and Dallachy Strike Wings may well have earned these units a fearsome reputation, however, they were flying extremely hazardous missions and unless every crew member knew exactly what was required of them, there was the distinct possibility that some of them would not be making the flight back to base. Their German shipping targets were usually extremely a well defended, with escort vessels throwing up plenty of defensive firepower in the face of a Beaufighter onslaught.

Flying over large expanses of ocean in order to reach their targets, once contact had been made with enemy shipping and the strike wing had pressed home their attacks, if they managed to escape with an airworthy aircraft, they still had the return journey over the North Sea to negotiate. If any aircraft had sustained damage or later developed a technical issue, the crew would be taking to their life raft and hoping for a quick rescue by an Allied vessel, as a night adrift in the North Sea was not an experience anyone cherished. These were amongst the most dangerous flight operations undertaken by Allied airmen during the Second World War, but this was a battle that had to be won and Beaufighter crews would be given every opportunity to develop their attack tactics and hone their combat skills.

Despite suffering heavy losses, the determination of the ANZAC and Dallachy Strike Wing crews made a significant contribution to eventual victory during the Second World War, with the Bristol Beaufighters of Coastal Command underlining the effectiveness of the long-range heavy fighter concept discussed in the Bristol design offices some years earlier.

With D-Day planners worried about the possibility of both U and E boats infiltrating the busy English Channel sea lanes during the invasion, six Beaufighters from No.455 RAAF were flown to RAF Manston to be closer to their operational area should their services be required and would mainly fly night patrols along a course from Fécamp to Dunkirk, looking for any signs of enemy shipping activity.

Junkers Ju-88C-6 Nightfighter R4+HH, Gerhard Böhme, 1./NJG.2, Catania Airfield complex, Sicily, 1942

Nocturnal Nightmare. As one of the Luftwaffe’s most versatile aircraft, the Junkers Ju 88 easily made the transition from Schnellbomber to nightfighter and actually excelled in the role.

Championed as the Luftwaffe’s Schnellbomber, the impressive Junkers Ju 88 may have made its first flight in late December 1936, however, due to problems associated with the advanced technology the aircraft used and constant high-level interference, the aircraft would only make its Luftwaffe introduction during the opening stages of the Polish Campaign and that was just a single squadron of aircraft. Despite these delays, the Junkers Ju 88 would go on to prove itself an extremely effective multi-role aircraft and was probably the closest thing the Luftwaffe had to the British Mosquito they so coveted. A large and capable aeroplane, the Ju 88 would see service in a variety of bombing roles, including that of a dive-bomber, as well as proving effective as a heavy fighter and maritime patrol aircraft. Indeed, had more of these aircraft been available to strike units during the Battle of Britain, the devastation wrought upon the UK would have been much more severe, even if the outcome itself might probably have remained the same.

Its squadron introduction was not without its challenges however, and as crews struggled to adapt to what was rather an advanced aircraft, some were reported to be more afraid of the Ju88 than they were of enemy fighters and requested transfers to Heinkel He-111 or Dornier Do-17 units. The situation proved so concerning that the early A-1 variants immediately underwent upgrade to the interim A-5 model, which featured longer wings, additional equipment and a welcome power increase provided by the Jumo 211G-1 engines, a move which certainly addressed many of the early problems.

Such a beautiful aeroplane – could the Junkers Ju 88 be described as the closest aircraft the Luftwaffe had to the RAF’s Mosquito?

This did, however, produce the strange situation where the fully upgraded A-4 machines entered service after the A-5 had been thrust into combat. Eventually, more than 15,000 of these extremely capable machines would be produced, in a production run which spanned from 1936 right through to the end of the war, with the Ju88 earning a reputation as one of the best Luftwaffe aircraft of the Second World War.

Unfortunately for Ju 88 crews, an emphasis was always placed on offensive capabilities rather than the aircraft being able to effectively defend itself and with all four crew members positioned in the front cockpit area of the aircraft, coming under any form of enemy fighter attack was challenging for them at best. In fact, former Ju 88 crews commented how the sound of the aircraft’s own defensive guns served more as a morale boost for them, as opposed to something for the attacking enemy to fear.

Referred to as the ‘Maid of all work’ by crews, it really did seem as if the Luftwaffe had an operational requirement, the Junkers Ju 88 would find some way of performing it, so versatile was this magnificent aircraft. As a heavy fighter and nightfighter, the Ju 88 proved to be exceptional and even though the aircraft was subjected to almost constant modification and upgrade throughout the war, some of the resultant aircraft were formidable in their roles, ensuring that many proposed specialist designs were cancelled before the projects could even get off the ground.

In its C-6 variant configuration, the Junkers had been optimised for the heavy fighter role, also easily making the transition to supporting the Luftwaffe's nightfighter force. Initially, single engined fighters were used to defend German territory at night, however, due to the limitations of the German night defence network, they had neither the range nor firepower to pose a serious threat to British night intruders. The Junkers Ju 88, however, was a very different proposition, with its size, speed and firepower making this the consummate nocturnal hunter and many a Bomber Command aircraft would fall prey to their guns.

A beautiful new addition to the Aviation Archive range, these images of our latest Junkers Ju 88 release all feature a production sample of a model which is already available.

The Luftwaffe airfield at Catania on Sicily was the principal airfield in the region and would be used as the staging point for a great many Axis airborne operations across the Mediterranean and into North Africa. The airfield was also home to the nightfighting Junkers Ju 88 heavy fighters of I./NJG2, even though their fighters would regularly be deployed across the entire Mediterranean Theatre. This aircraft was recalled to Catania during the Summer of 1942, presumably to provide night defence support for the proposed Axis invasion of Malta, as increased Allied night air incursions were expected. Once in theatre, Allied bombers soon discovered that they were facing a redoubtable nocturnal opponent.

Beautiful examples of both these magnificent WWII twin engined multi-role aircraft, both this Junkers Ju 88C-6 and the Bristol Beaufighter we featured previously are available now.

Muscular Mustang a modern motoring marvel

Rhapsody in Orange Fury, this second release from our new Ford Mustang Mk.6 tooling is an absolute cracker!

Okay, we’ve been rumbled – we were talking Ford Mustang in our blog introduction and not the North American fighter which inspired its name, even though both are equally iconic. A rather unexpected Ford new tooling addition to the Vanguards range, the Mustang Mk.6 is real a brute of a muscle car, beautiful in its purposeful lines and a real head turner from any angle. The Mk.6 variant was the first version of the car to be marketed and sold globally, with factory produced right-hand drive cars built alongside those destined for the US home market. An incredibly successful addition to the Vanguards range, we are now please to have two examples of this American classic in stock and as you can see from the image above, this one is resplendent in an Orange Fury finish.

The latest iteration of Ford Mustang styling is definitely something of a design return to form for Ford and was originally unveiled in December 2013, a car many people would simply love to own, particularly as this is a modern twist on the car’s original iconic design. Although you should never generalise on matters such as this, would you describe the Ford Mustang as being a car which would appeal to men, and a certain type of man at that? Perhaps a style conscious sports star or an actor/stuntman who works on action movies, or are we making too many assumptions here?

Whatever the target audience, there is no doubting that the latest version of this American classic is one which Steve McQueen, who as we all know was the ‘King of Cool’, would have looked right at home driving, therefore making this a car many millions of people will aspire to owning. If you want a car that looks the part, look no further than a Mustang Mk.6.

VA15502 - Ford Mustang Mk6 GT Fastback finished in Orange Fury.

The V8 Mustang GT modelled here was purchased new in December 2019 by Nottinghamshire-based motoring TV presenter and journalist Paul Cowland, who has always loved American muscle cars. Despite growing up in a family that ran a car dealership and working in the motor trade himself for over thirty years, it’s the only car he has ever bought new as a retail customer.

He ordered it from Sandicliffe Ford, on Nottingham’s ‘motor mile’, and it was available at a favourable price because it enabled the dealership to hit their bonus targets for the year. Had Paul waited to register it on a new 2020 number plate, it would have cost considerably more. Paul wanted an orange manual V8 with a rear wing and Recaro seats, so Sandicliffe located this car in the Ford dealership network, then fitted a strut brace, gearbox quick-shift and subframe alignment kit.

He also wanted a passive suspension example so he could fit Bilstein B16 coilover units, which he did shortly after taking delivery. He has since added a Milltek performance exhaust and had the engine remapped by V8 tuning wizard Paul Spinks at Wortec, which added around 25bhp but, importantly on a road car, vastly improved the low-end torque making the DOHC unit feel more like a traditional OHV V8. Paul describes this Mustang as his ‘forever car’ as it is very much the fulfilment of a childhood dream.

Adding a splash of colour and no little style to any Vanguards model collection, this second release from our new Ford Mustang Mk.6 tooling is available now.

So, there you have it, a trio of tantalising new model releases from our Aviation Archive and Vanguards ranges, each one a beautiful scale representation of the famous machine which inspired their immortalisation in die-cast and each one as collectable as they are appealing. Each model also has an interesting story to tell, the question is, which one will appeal to you most?

All three models are in stock and available now.

That's all we have for you this time, however, please join us again in two weeks’ time for another exclusive insight into the wonderful world of Corgi. Between editions, we are always interested to hear your views on all things Corgi, so if you feel like dropping us a line to comment on anything blog, collecting or Corgi model related, or perhaps to suggest a topic you might like to see us cover in a future edition, please do get in touch at diecastdiaries@corgi.co.uk.

If you can’t wait for the next blog, you will find plenty of Corgi model collecting discussions taking place on our official social media channels, access to which can be obtained by clicking on the respective links at the foot of the Corgi website homepage.

Link access to Corgi social media sites.

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

Instagram

Thank you for continuing to support your Die-cast Diaries blog. Our next edition is scheduled for publication on Friday 22nd March.

The Corgi Team