Defiant addition and prototype Raptors
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.
After a short holiday blog hiatus, we have to say that it feels great to be getting back to the business of sharing the latest selection of updates and exclusive imagery with our loyal Corgi readership. In this latest update, we welcome the impending arrival of a firm Aviation Archive favourite to this popular range, an aircraft type which has to be described as one of the most interesting British designs of the Second World War, but one which often divides opinions on its operational effectiveness, the Boulton Paul Defiant. We will be following this with an exclusive first look at our new Vanguards Ford Ranger Raptor tooling and how a recent development acquisition at Corgi HQ is helping the team to further enhance the appeal of these beautiful little models.
Staying with the world of Vanguards models, we have the latest update from our recently announced Ford Focus Mk.3 tooling and an exclusive reveal of the stunning scheme the initial release from this tooling will be presented in - it is an absolute stunner and there is no disputing that. We continue our tradition of keeping you informed on current new tooling projects by exclusively revealing a first look at CAD rendered images from our Ford Transit Custom project and we end in the best way possible, by placing all Corgi collectors on standby for the impending launch of the next Corgi model range. How can we possibly cram so much Corgi goodness into a single edition of our Die-cast Diaries blog?
The RAF's unique bomber killer
The Boulton Paul Defiant may have been a contemporary of the Spitfire and Hurricane, but it was a very different looking fighter.
Since 1998, collectors of the Aviation Archive range have been able to have scale examples of some of the most iconic aircraft in the history of flight in their display cabinets, all beautifully finished and all possessing the appealing weight associated with die-cast models. Some of the most popular model releases over that time have been examples of aircraft which fought during the Second World War, machines which still hold an enduring fascination for many and are made all the more appealing when they are displayed together in scale, where we can clearly see the relative size and design differences between the machines used by different air arms.
When it comes to aviation individuality, there are few aircraft types which can rival the British Boulton Paul Defiant in the appearance and interest stakes, a single engined fighter aircraft which was equipped with a bomber type gun turret and one which was intended to make Britain's skies inaccessible to enemy bomber incursion. The unique appearance of the aircraft has ensured it has always been a favourite subject with modellers in both plastic and die-cast, and since it was added to the Aviation Archive range in 2010, it has certainly been one of our most popular releases. For this reason, it is somewhat surprising to learn that there have only been five releases from this tooling to date, with the previous model produced almost seven years ago - we have definitely been without a Defiant for far too long. Thankfully, we are about to address this situation and the sixth release from the Defiant tooling is arguably the best yet.
Although the Boulton Paul Defiant fought alongside the Spitfires and Hurricanes of Fighter Command during the air battles above the Dunkirk evacuation beaches and the Battle of Britain which followed, the fighter enjoys nothing of the widespread public recognition its two contemporaries can claim. Surprisingly, the Defiant actually made its first flight and subsequent RAF squadron introduction quite some time after both the Hurricane and Spitfire, something which may explain its limited success when used in the day fighter role during the Second World War. The idea behind the Defiant’s unusual design came from inter-war thinking that future air combat would be fought by fast, heavily armed bomber formations, which would not need the protection of dedicated fighter cover.
A much loved tooling within the Aviation Archive range, it has been seven long years since collectors have had the opportunity to add a new Boulton Paul Defiant model to their collections, but we are about to rectify this in some style.
All these images feature an advanced production sample of this beautiful new model, which is scheduled for release at the beginning of next month.
In order to combat this, the Defiant, equipped with its quad dorsal turret mounted machine gun armament, could engage these bombers with a beam attack, similar to how battleships might engage an enemy ship, or from below, where the bomber was most vulnerable and where the fighter could concentrate the firepower of its four .303 in Browning machine guns. This same thinking also dictated that this new bomber defence fighter would not need forward firing armament, as the high closing speed of modern monoplane fighters would render frontal attacks useless, so the Defiant incredibly ended up being a fighter aircraft with no forward firing armament at all.
Having a similar profile to the Hawker Hurricane which preceded it into service, the Defiant initially scored some significant combat successes against Luftwaffe aircraft, even the much vaunted Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter. Attacking the Defiant as they would a Hurricane, Messerschmitt pilots soon realised their mistake, as they lined up to press home their flank attacks, only to be met by a hail of bullets. The shock of this misidentification was soon relayed to other pilots and the Defiant would soon become easy prey for the highly manoeuvrable Messerschmitts, which would attack the turret fighter from the front or from below, where the British aircraft simply could not defend itself.
Withdrawn from the day fighter role during the Battle of Britain, the Defiant would go on to prove itself a more than capable nightfighter, where its crews helped to establish Britain’s fledgling nightfighter force, claiming many Luftwaffe victims in the process. Nocturnal Defiants were later equipped with airborne interception radar equipment to increase their effectiveness and later still, used to carry powerful electronic countermeasures equipment, as the air war took something of a clandestine turn. Ultimately though, continued development of the Luftwaffe’s bomber force saw the Defiant becoming increasingly ineffective, with the type finally being withdrawn to secondary roles from 1942 onwards. Despite this, the Boulton Paul Defiant definitely remains one of the more interesting aircraft of the Second World War.
For a crew to attain the coveted status of air ‘Ace’ whilst operating the unique Boulton Paul Defiant turret fighter, they must have been an incredibly cohesive team, something which Flying Officer Frederick Desmond ‘Hawkeye’ Hughes and his gunner Sergeant F Gash most definitely were. During the height of the Battle of Britain, the pair claimed two Dornier Do17 bombers destroyed during the same sortie, however, these would prove to be their only successes during daylight operations. With the Defiant becoming increasingly vulnerable to enemy fighter attack, the type was transferred to night defence duties, where it was to prove much more successful. Searching for targets in the dark, an extra pair of eyes and the flexible firing positions afforded by the powered turret soon began to pay dividends, as German night raiders were intercepted and destroyed with increasing regularity.
Boulton Paul Defiant N1801 was the first aircraft specifically allocated to pilot Desmond Hughes and as such, he was allowed to embellish it with his own personal markings. A son of the small coastal town of Donaghadee in County Down, Northern Ireland, Hughes painted the Red Hand of Ulster in a white shield on his aircraft’s port-side engine cowling, which also sported five victory markings painted under the canopy. As one of the five RAF squadrons funded by India’s Madras Presidency, N1801 proudly marked this association by also carrying the name ‘Coimbatore II’ on the engine cowling, making this a highly distinctive nightfighter. From the memoirs of Desmond Hughes, he describes how he used this aircraft until the squadron upgraded to the more powerful Defiant Mk.II, but how N1801 was extremely reliable, with its Merlin engine never so much as coughing at him during operation.
Fighting by moonlight, the Defiant would help to establish a cohesive system of night defence, following the end of the Battle of Britain.
Frederick Desmond Hughes would go on to post further success in the night air war flying Beaufighters and Mosquitos, eventually ending the war as one of the RAF’s most decorated airmen and able to boast a victory tally of 18.5 enemy aircraft destroyed. Adding further interest to the exploits of this exceptional airman, another story associated with Hughes is that he was one of the first WWII airmen to take his pet dog on an operational sortie with him. His beloved mongrel ‘Scruffy’ was dressed in flying overalls for warmth during his unusual trip and is thought to have enjoyed at least one night sortie in an RAF Beaufighter.
This stunning addition to the Aviation Archive range is now only a couple of weeks away and if history is anything to go by, only the sixth release from our Defiant tooling will disappear just as quickly as its model predecessors. As the mount of a Defiant ace pairing, this new model is sure destined to be regarded as a classic Aviation Archive release.
Ford's Ranger Raptor - Work hard, play rough
Don't mess with me! The new Vanguards Ford Ranger Raptor will be muscling its way into many a Corgi model collection in the near future and doesn't it look great.
As part of our commitment to keep collectors informed about the current new tooling and development projects we have on the go, even those which are not yet at the stage where we are ready to add them to the website for pre-order, we started the year with something of a bang for Vanguards fans. In addition to all the delights included in the January to April 2022 model range, we also took this opportunity to tell everyone about our new Ford Ranger Raptor tooling, an exciting new range of models which will bring this muscular series of work/utility/aspirational vehicles to our popular range of 1/43rd scale models. We may not be in a position to add these models to our website just yet, but we do have a significant project update for you now, the latest in a long line of Die-cast Diaries exclusives.
The purposeful Ford Ranger Raptor series is a range of vehicles which began as a successful series of compact pickup trucks, but as its name suggests, are a range which is a little more ‘exciting’ than your average pickup truck and one which people of a more adventurous nature might well aspire to owning.
If you have an opportunity to look through the promotional material supporting the current range of Ford Ranger vehicles, it leaves you in absolutely no doubt that this muscular vehicle is targeted at several market opportunities. Clearly, businesses which require the lugging of heavy loads, often in off-road conditions, will be the main target for Ford here, whether that be as a hard-working agricultural vehicle with endless applications, or as a go-anywhere mode of transport for people working in more rural locations. Having said that, once cleaned up, this stylish pick-up would certainly not look out of place in any city centre, as it takes its driver to their latest business meeting, with its stylish exterior matched by interior fittings which make this almost as luxurious as any executive car.
The selection of models shown here all feature the recently received prototype model of the new 1/43rd scale Ford Ranger Raptor model and whilst there is still work to do, we are delighted with how the design has turned out.
And then there is the Raptor - all of that and so much more! A top of the range vehicle, the Raptor is a real head-turner and one which you could imagine being driven by ‘cool people’, or those wishing to appear so. Owning a Raptor is a real statement of style and adventurous nature, people who don’t necessarily like to conform, or have interests which may be a little more active than most - even if you are not a rock climber or former Premier League footballer, if you own a Raptor, people will think you might well be. The ultimate incarnation of the Ford Ranger line, the Raptor is aimed at those who are looking to combine the ability to take their lives ‘off the beaten track’, without having to compromise on either luxury, performance or style.
With the ability to go where other forms of transport wouldn’t dream of venturing, the Raptor has been designed to excel in these challenging environments and is described as a street legal derivative of an off-road competition vehicle - how could you not want one of those? Even though it possesses all the credentials to be an off-road winner, it is surely on our normal roads where this vehicle will find its strongest sales support, as it is the very embodiment of a ‘don’t mess with me’ vehicle. With its stunning good looks and purposeful styling, you would expect to see footballers, athletes and aspiring boxers behind the wheel of a Raptor, because just like them, this beast has been bred to perform.
This next pair of images are quite historic for the Corgi brand and show the first time our in-house 3D printer was used to produce prototype parts for a Vanguards project. The team will be making full use of this innovation in the months ahead and it should present them with even greater flexibility when working on new and existing tooling projects.
Allowing almost instantaneous physical access to the parts a designer has been working on, access to this incredible machine will definitely benefit the Corgi range moving forward.
For those of us who will have to make do with a smaller and slightly cheaper version of this distinctive vehicle, the Vanguards range will soon be coming to our rescue and this exclusive update includes a series of development images which show that the Ranger Raptor is advancing nicely. More than this, these images show a significant development in the way future Corgi models will be designed and an important new tool in the search for even greater detail and accuracy. The first two images in this section show the first time our new in-house high quality prototyping 3D printer has been used to produce parts for a new Corgi Vanguards model, with the first image showing the part actually in the machine. The second montage shows the part produced and whilst the team are still very much in the learning phase with regard to this process, it does offer some exciting benefits.
Having the ability to do this work in-house should not only speed up the design and development process associated with new model tooling, but it will also allow the Corgi team to check aspects of the design as they go along, make modifications to existing toolings more easily and to test the validity of design ideas, before they are actually committed to the production of tooling. We still maintain our existing system of prototyping and probably will for some time to come, however, this is a significant development for the Corgi brand and one we will be seeing much more of in future blog updates.
A final selection of images showing the prototype model (still in cured resin) of the new Ford Ranger Raptor model, with the last image showing just how impressively large it actually is.
The full Ford Ranger Raptor prototype models we are showing here were all supplied by our existing prototype model specialist and clearly show we have much to look forward to when these exciting new models are eventually released, with the models exhibiting lots of impressive detail, even at this early prototyping stage. From a collector's perspective, perhaps the most interesting image in this selection is the one which shows the Ranger Raptor within a standard Vanguards display case and how there isn't much room to spare in there. This is a very big model and one which is going to have real presence on our display shelves - better make some room, the Raptor will be muscling in before we know it.
We are very much looking forward to adding the Ford Ranger Raptor to a forthcoming Corgi range and giving the models their own product pages on the website, but until then, we will endeavour to bring you further project updates as they become available.
Is this the Ultimate Fast Ford?
A first look at the metal engineering sample from our new Vanguards Ford Focus Mk.3 tooling in all its glory.
Whether you would describe yourself as a Ford fan or not, there can be no disputing the impact this famous company has had on the world of motoring and how some of the cars released during its long history can comfortably be described as iconic, without causing too much debate to the contrary. The unrivalled success of Ford has not only ensured sales success on the roads of the world, but has also seen many Ford models making their way into the Vanguards range of scale models, with each successive release finding continued favour with our army of collectors. Some collectors do berate us somewhat for having something of a Ford obsession, but with popular cars still to be added to the range and a seemingly insatiable collector appetite for new Ford model subject matter, can you really blame us for providing our audience with the models they want to collect?
Delighting Ford fans and the wider Vanguards audience, whilst accepting that we were not going to appealing to every model collector, the launch of this year's January to April included details of our intention to add four new Ford tooling projects to the Vanguards range, including those which were already under development, but not yet ready to take their place on the Corgi website. At the head of a trio of more contemporary Ford designs, the popular Ford Focus Mk.3 will have been of interest to many, particularly as that update also included development CAD screenshots showing two high performance versions of the car.
The third generation of this incredibly popular range of cars brought new styling and added refinement to a range of family cars which may well be intended for the motoring masses, but always possessing a bit of that famous Ford motorsport success in their DNA. Incorporating all the latest styling and technological innovations the motoring world has to offer, the ethos behind the development of this car was that it should be a popular option in multiple markets all over the world, with minimal market differences making for a more streamlined manufacturing process. A car which has genuine widespread appeal, the Focus occupies a particularly competitive sector of the motoring market, one it shares with the likes of the Volkswagen Golf, Mazda 3 and Vauxhall Astra, however, whilst these are strong competitors, the Focus often heads the charts for both performance, desirability and sales.
Like a visit to the die-cast model car showroom, here we have a selection of images taken at different angles, but all showing the recently received engineering sample from the new Ford Focus Mk.3 model tooling and a stunning impending addition to the Corgi Vanguards range.
The third generation Ford Focus first appeared on Britain’s roads in 2011 and we think that our 1/43rd scale die-cast representation of this relatively modern classic will make for an incredibly popular addition to our Vanguards model range, and one which will benefit from all the latest advances in design and manufacturing innovation.
Marking an important stage in the development of this new model tooling, the images shown here feature the engineering sample of the first release from this new tooling, a rather special version of the Focus Mk.3. The engineering sample is the first time the Corgi team have the opportunity to assess the tooling in full intended manufacturing guise, with the metal components actually in metal. Up until this point, we have still been in the realms of prototyping, so this is a big step forward, although we do have to stress that the model is still in development, with this model intended to allow the Corgi team to further perfect their design, before releasing it for production. Although we may sound like a stuck new tooling record here, we are showing these images of a model which may still be subject to further alteration, so please don't take them too literally. Having said that, we are rather pleased with how the Focus Mk.3 turned out.
As this first post summer holiday blog is something of a Corgi celebration, we wanted the exclusives to come thick and fast in this edition, so here we go with yet another one - confirmation of the scheme in which Vanguards VA15301 will be released in. Representing one of the most desirable cars Ford have ever produced and the absolute epitome of the super-hatch concept, our first release will be this striking Ford Focus RS (Mk.3) in stunning Nitrous Blue. Arguably the favourite modern Ford for many thousands of motorists, this 2.3ltr, 350 hp, 0-60 in 4.7 seconds beast has all of Ford's extensive motorsport pedigree crammed into its eye-catching bodyshell and with active four wheel drive for better traction and acceleration, has the performance to back up its sporty appearance.
Announcing its arrival in some style, the first release from this new tooling is an absolute stunner and one many Vanguards collectors will be looking to get their hands on.
This particular car also has quite a significant position within Ford motoring heritage, as it was the first right-hand drive example to arrive in the UK and we think we are right in saying, was the very car motoring magazines and TV programmes like Top Gear used when reviewing the car. It is now one of the cars preserved for posterity at the Ford Heritage Centre, where our development team were able to obtain the design references they needed for this impressive new model tooling.
In this stunning Nitrous Blue scheme, this new Ford Focus is simply irresistible and there are a few members of the Corgi team who are already intending to add this beauty to their own collections. A car which is aimed at those for whom driving is a passion and not just a function, we think our model tribute to arguably Ford's ultimate fast hatch is destined to be something of a classic release. When this happens, please don't forget where you heard about it first!
A Vanguards 'sneak peek'
A sight for sore eyes, our Ford Transit Connect model tooling project is advancing through the development process on schedule and we look forward to bringing you a comprehensive update soon.
Although this is yet another blog exclusive, we have included so many in this latest edition, that we thought we had better use an alternative description this time and sneak peek seemed to fit the bill nicely. One of the four new Ford Vanguards models we informed collectors about with the announcement of our first model range at the start of the year, the Ford Transit Custom may have come as something of a surprise for some, but when you consider that these are some of the most versatile vehicles on Britain's roads, perhaps they shouldn't have been. A range of vehicles which possess seemingly endless options regarding body style, powerplant, fitting layout and application, not only are these a common sight on Britain's roads, but they are also really quite attractive and definitely not your average van.
By way of one final Vanguards project update, we wanted to share the above computer rendered image with you, one which shows a trio of differently configured Ford Transit Custom models and an image which is a representation of the new tooling design files produced in support of this project. We are going a little out of sync in showing these images now, but as you are aware of this model's existence, we thought you might like to see where the project is currently up to. We will have an early development and design review of the entire project in a future edition of Die-cast Diaries, but for now, just call this a little extra Vanguards treat.
New Corgi range launch imminent
We end this latest update in fine style, perhaps the best possible way for a Corgi blog to end and that is by bringing you news of an impending new collection of Corgi models. This year, we tried something a little different with regard to announcing our range and that was to launch our new models at three points during the year, as opposed to a full range announcement just after Christmas. Although we can all struggle with change from time to time, this new scheduling seems to have been received rather well in the main and one of the benefits of this change is that we are now on the verge of unleashing yet another selection of new models onto the die-cast collecting world.
We know we have been rather excitable with our unveiling of model exclusives in this edition, but we have to stop somewhere and we are afraid that is right here. Other than the new tooling project updates you already know about, if you want to find out about our latest collection of models, covering the period September to December 2022, you are going to have to check the Corgi website at 10am (BST) on Monday 5th September for all the juicy details. As usual, in addition to adding all the new models to the website on the day, our Brand Executive David Mather will guide everyone through the new range with his now traditional video overview, which will be available on the official Corgi YouTube channel. For those who like to save a copy of each new Corgi catalogue, it will be available as a pdf download from the Corgi website at range launch and a small supply of printed copies will be included with web orders dispatched following range announcement, whilst stocks last.
From a blog perspective, we will post our own review of the new range in our next edition, looking at some of the highlights in addition to bringing you all the latest development updates. We don't have to wait long now, so make a note in your diaries for Monday 5th September and the latest Corgi range launch event.
That's us back on track again with the blog, so we will be with you again in two weeks' time, where we look forward to bringing you all the latest Corgi model developments and updates. in between blogs, we are always interested to hear your views on all things Corgi, so if you would like to drop us a line to comment on anything blog or model related, or indeed to suggest a topic you would like us to include in a future edition, please do so 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.
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Thank you for continuing to support our Die-cast Diaries blog. Our next edition is scheduled for publication on Friday 9th September.
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