Marauding update and a wonderful world of Vanguards

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.

We have something just that little bit different for Corgi fans this week, whilst still maintaining the subject variety we always like to bring you. We begin by posting the latest update from a new tooling project which is already looking like being one of the model releases of the year, our scale die-cast tribute to one of the most effective Medium Bombers of the Second World War, our new 1/72^nd scale Martin B-26 Marauder. With an exclusive selection of pre-production sample images to bring you, this is one update no self-respecting Aviation Archive collector is going to want to miss, an update of mighty Marauding proportions.

We will be following this with something a little more unusual, as we enter the magical world of reader Dave Allen, a man who likes to display his Vanguards model collection in a most appealing way. Please join us as we delve into his 1/43^rd scale world of wonders and find out what drives him to display his models in such a unique and thoroughly engaging way and why he chooses to share images of his display for fellow collectors to enjoy?

We have much in store for Corgi fans this week, so we’d better make a start straight away.

Aviation Archive prepares to welcome the B-26 Marauder

An exclusive first look at the new box artwork produced in support of this magnificent Marauding new tooling release.

Since the very first 1/72^nd scale Aviation Archive aircraft model collectables started to appear in model and hobby stores in the year 2000, these beautiful little metal model aircraft have become something of a phenomenon, providing real impetus to a hobby which was going nowhere at that time and providing collectors without the skill, time or inclination to build plastic model kits with the opportunity to still create an impressive collection of the aircraft they were so passionate about.

Any Aviation Archive collector will also be able to suggest some of the most significant models released during the 24 year reign of 1/72^nd scale models being the undoubted front runner in this particular die-cast race, but would probably include such models as the Avro Lancaster which first appeared in 2001, the Sea King from 2002 and the Fairey Swordfish from 2006, a die-cast model which included wire rigging for the first time. As this impressive range continues to evolve, we are confident that we are about to add to this list of Aviation Archive ‘classics’ in some style, as we prepare to welcome our new Martin B-26 Marauder to the range, a model which collectors have been asking to join the range for many a year and a new tooling project which upholds the proud traditions of this popular range – it really is a beauty.

In what will be the latest in a long line of exclusive unveilings the Corgi blog has brought its loyal fans over the years, we are delighted to now be in a position to share the very latest model images from this project with you now, pictures which all feature the pre-production sample model produced from the tooling, a model which the team have been thoroughly inspecting for several weeks now. As you would expect, the final model release could feature quite a few alterations from the one featured in these images, however, this is an important stage in the development of this fantastic new model and as such, we had to share them with Aviation Archive fans.

Let’s open our development manual on the new Martin B-26 Marauder one final time.

A significant project undertaken by the Corgi team, the B-26 Marauder is a highly anticipated new tooling addition to the Aviation Archive range.

Without doubt one of the most distinctive aircraft to engage in combat during the Second World War, the Martin B-26 Marauder was a high-speed medium bomber designed for the United States Army Air Force, at a time when the air forces of Europe had already introduced several capable new bomber aircraft types into service. Despite their intention not to be drawn into the conflict on the other side of the Atlantic, America was still under pressure to introduce a modern and capable new strike aircraft, so when a new design from the Martin Company was circulated, one which promised hugely impressive performance, the US Government ordered it straight off the drawing board, and crucially, in advance of any prototype aircraft having flown.

If that were not worrying enough, perhaps the more concerning development came some time later, when due to timing pressures, the first production aircraft were delivered straight to the USAAF prior to the usual completion of testing, evaluation and integration procedures. This decision would have almost disastrous consequences for the new aircraft, tarnishing its reputation and almost consigning it to the aviation history books before it had flown a single combat mission.

A high wing monoplane, the B-26 Marauder was powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engines, the most powerful units available to the designers at that time, engines which would provide the Marauder with great speed, compared with contemporary aircraft of the time. The highly advanced nature of the design saw the introduction of many new technologies, however its relatively small wing and ever-increasing operational weight requirements gave the B-26 a high wing loading, something which made handling extremely challenging for novice pilots to master. This would ultimately result in a high number of fatal accidents occurring during the aircraft's introduction and whilst engaged on training flights.

These handling challenges proved so significant that the B-26 Marauder quickly inherited the unpleasant nicknames of the ‘Widow Maker’ and ‘The Flying Coffin’ and almost brought about its premature withdrawal from service. There were reports that some crews actually handed in their wings after refusing to fly the aircraft, such was its frightening reputation. Thankfully, the adoption of some design modifications and radical alterations to the flight training programme, resulted in a significant change of fortune for the B-26, ultimately transforming the reputation of the Marauder from something of an aviation nightmare, to one of the most celebrated and successful combat aircraft of the entire Second World War.

The first batch of new Marauder images featuring a pre-production sample from the new B-26 tooling.

Catalogue and website image produced for the launch announcement of this exciting new addition to the Aviation Archive range.

Under the leadership of famous American aviation celebrity Jimmy Doolittle, he would head something of a high-profile charm offensive for the Marauder, flying it to discover where the potential problems lay and more importantly, how to overcome them. He discovered that the aircraft was extremely capable, however, because it was rushed into service and without establishing a robust pilot conversion program, the damage had already been done and was effectively self-inflicted.

This perfect storm resulted in a situation where pilots were uncertain, if not afraid of flying the Marauder and as a consequence, didn't want to take it into combat. On the advice of Doolittle, an official Air Force instructional film was produced to show pilots and ground crews how to handle the aircraft correctly, something which served to allay many of the fears they may have had and provide some of the basic conversion support the aircraft's rushed service entry had bypassed.

The Marauder would go on to establish an excellent operational reputation, particularly when used in the medium altitude bombing role - it would ultimately go on to post the lowest combat loss ratio of any USAAF bomber used during the Second World War. Martin B-26 Marauder units would go on to fly thousands of strike sorties against a great many targets in preparation for the D-Day landings, attacking anything from rail marshalling yards and airfields, to Axis defensive fortifications and V1/V2 rocket sites, mainly from altitudes between 10,000 and 15,000 ft.

Martin B-26B-15-MA Marauder 41-31576/AN-Z 'Dinah Might', Flown by Major David Dewhurst, 553rd BS/386th BG, USAAF 9th Air Force, Station 164 Easton Lodge, Essex, D-Day 6th June 1944.

Martin B-26B-15-MA Marauder 41-31576/AN-Z 'Dinah Might', was given the critical task of leading an anti-beach fortification raid against Widerstandsnest 5 (Nest of resistance, or strongpoint) overlooking Utah beach only a couple of minutes prior to the troop laden landing craft heading for the landing beaches on D-Day itself, one of the final missions to take place prior to the landings. Flown by Major David Dewhurst, the experienced Commander of the 553rd Bomb Squadron, US 8th Air Force, this was one final opportunity to neutralise German defensive fortifications, therefore giving troops a better chance of making it off their assigned landing beach in the terrifying minutes and hours to come.

Dewhurst's aircraft, which was named 'Dinah Might' after a Bing Crosby tune of the day, would release its bombs at exactly 06.24.30 on D-Day, with navigation and timing being critical to the success of the mission and the safety of the men waiting to make their historic seaborne assault. Dewhurst would eventually complete 85 combat missions over Europe, prior to the end of the Second World War, making it back home to the US.

The details behind this final pre-beach landing bombing raid of D-Day clearly illustrate why the Utah Beach D-Day Museum have chosen to present their Marauder in this historic scheme and why it forms such a poignant centrepiece for their impressive museum. 'Dinah Might's' target on that fateful morning in June 1944 was only metres from where this magnificently preserved aircraft is displayed today, even though it's actually only a representation of the actual wartime aircraft which led the raid.

Another selection of images featuring the pre-production sample model.

Martin B-26B Marauder 41-31576/AN-Z 'Dinah Might' would continue flying operationally for just over five months following the two raids she completed on D-Day, making her final bombing raid on 18th November 1944. By this time, the Marauders of the 386th Bomb Group had moved to the former French Air Force base at Beaumont sur Oise, north of Paris, as these hard-working strike aircraft continued to be in great demand, as Allied ground troops pushed the occupying Germans back towards their homeland.

This time piloted by Captain Robert Harris and his crew, 'Dinah Might' was assigned the lead position in the high-level flight of a force which comprised 36 Marauders, all loaded with sixteen 250 lb general purpose demolition bombs and sent on a mission to destroy a significant storage depot near St. Wendel in Germany. After taking off at 11.15 hrs, forming up and joining up with their fighter escort, the formation of aircraft headed straight for their target and an expected shrapnel filled welcome at the hands of Luftwaffe flak batteries around the target area.

Approaching the target at around 12.40hrs, they did find the expected welcome from enemy flak units, however, cloud cover was found to be obscuring the target, so this was definitely not going to be a milk run. As they searched for a gap in the clouds, they even contemplated attacking their secondary target, but again, cloud cover was obscuring their aiming point there too. Finally at around 12.54 hrs, the target cleared sufficiently for bombs to be released, but not before several Marauders had been shot down by the accurate anti-aircraft fire.

In the high group, 'Dinah Might' had not escaped the attentions of the flak batteries and even though her bombs had been released, a huge sheet of flame was now engulfing the port wing of the bomber, as a shell had passed straight through the wing, causing critical damage. With the aircraft now doomed, all the pilot could do was to hold his ship straight and level, giving his crew enough time to bail out, all the time hoping it didn't simply explode. With everyone safely out, Captain Harris made good his own escape and managed to catch the final moments of his aircraft as his parachute inflated. He saw a large explosion rip the entire port wing away from the aircraft, sending the burning wreckage on an earthward spiral to its destruction.

A virtual Marauder development walk through, starting with a CAD screenshot, moving on to a PP sample shot and ending with the latest box artwork image graphic.

The attack against the storage depot near St. Wendel proved to be a costly mission for the 386th, as three Marauders were shot down over Germany, a further one was completely destroyed in a landing accident back at base, with two more sustaining heavy damage whilst attempting to land. Of the 36 aircraft which set off, 25 of them had sustained some degree of battle damage. The crew of 'Dinah Might' were all taken into captivity and incredibly, every one of them had already completed at least 65 operational missions or more by that stage of the war.

Flown by heroic crews who faced incredible dangers every time their aircraft left the runway of their home stations, we like to think that in their own small way, our models help to preserve their history and the sacrifices they made on our behalf, in a scale die-cast way. At the very least, we hope they allow the famous aircraft which fought for mastery of the skies during two world wars, or helped preserve the peace before and after conflict, can take their places in display cabinets the world over, jumping out of history and reference books to provide us with a scale representation of these aircraft in a way only die-cast models can.

Our new Martin B-26 Marauder is moving towards its initial release in fine style and whilst this looks likely to be in the summer, we hope to bring you a definitive release date in a forthcoming edition of the blog.

Creating an impressive world of Vanguards

Welcome to Dave Allen’s impressive Vanguards world.

A couple of blog editions ago, we included something of a teaser taster of a feature we were intending to bring our readers in a forthcoming edition and from the two images we posted at that time, many people will no doubt have been looking forward to finding out more. We are delighted to say that that moment has arrived and thanks to the skill and creative talents of reader Dave Allen, we’re all about to be transported into a wonderful world of Vanguards model displaying.

When we first saw Dave Allen’s fantastic Vanguards diorama images, we knew we just had to try and get in touch with him, to find out a little more about how and why he chooses to display and photograph his model collection in this way and significantly, why he also allows anyone with an interest in doing so, to have access to his fantastic images. We initially began by asking Dave how and when all this started, and he told us that it was really all down to his dad and how he was simply following in his footsteps.

When he was a youngster, Dave’s dad was an enthusiastic railway modeller who liked nothing more than building and extending his layout, but all based around an impressive diorama. Dave would go with his dad to model railway shows around his local area and whilst not devoting all his free time to modelling, does remember building the odd Airfix kit and regularly helping his dad on his layout. Dave’s dad was in the process of re-vamping his railway layout in his garden shed when he tragically passed away, and as we might well imagine, his loss hit Dave really hard, and he couldn’t bring himself to go in that shed for quite some time.

Months later, Dave bumped into a friend who also happened to be a keen diorama modeller and in an attempt to try and get back on track and to help provide a welcome distraction from everything that had been going on, his friend implored Dave to get back into modelling and specifically, to complete the work his dad had started on the layout, something he duly did. At first, Dave altered things around a little and created a little distribution depot diorama for the Corgi truck models he had in his collection, however, everything took a dramatic turn for the more ambitious when he started converting things to display his growing Vanguards model car collection.

Restoration project Vanguards style. That fence might have to come down though when road testing it.

A montage image showing two different views of the full diorama layout in Dave’s garden shed.

Dave told us that even though he only had a small Vanguards collection at that time, he only really seriously started collecting these models in around 2020, just prior to the first national Covid lockdown being announced. Whilst Dave wouldn’t really class himself as a modeller, or indeed as actually possessing any particular artistic talents, he did have memories of his old modelling days spend with his dad to call upon and now had plenty of time on his hands with which to perfect his craft. From a therapeutic perspective, Dave said that working on his display diorama proved to be a really positive thing for him and being in the shed which brought his dad so much pleasure was a way of staying connected in some way, a continuation of that shared family interest.

With the layout appearing to be of gargantuan proportions, we wanted to ask Dave where he gets his ideas from when it comes to creating the scenes and photographing them?

He told us that whilst the layout may look massive, it really isn’t all that big, even though he has managed to incorporate several different scenes in its design. Set up in his dad’s old shed, the layout is constructed in an L shape arrangement to allow him easy access, with the boards measuring approximately 10ft by 6ft and how once he got stuck into it, how the diorama quickly began to take on a life of its own. He colloquially refers to it as his ‘Estate’, but wouldn’t say that it was based on either the hometown of his youth, or even the place where he currently lives. It would probably be more accurate to describe the layout as a collection of different scenes he may have come across during his life, ideas he just wanted to try out, or just a result of his fertile imagination, but as he the time available and his skills kept improving, everything just seemed to keep growing.  

When making changes to the layout now, he usually works on individual sections, either adding to, or modifying and existing scene, but rarely adding a new section to the overall diorama. Dave described how in his opinion, the key to diorama success is making everything as true to life as possible, not having everything perfect as if it had come straight from the pages of a glossy magazine, but including the things you might see lying around any town or city in the UK.

This might include such details as misappropriated traffic cones, overgrown grass verges, graffiti, litter and the everyday items you tend to see discarded in the most inappropriate places. When you add in the Vanguards models, it’s these little details which really bring the models to life, transforming them from appealing collector pieces into little pieces of die-cast modelling art. The fact that this magic all happens in the shed where Dave’s dad used to enjoy spending so much of his time makes it feel like they’re still spending time together doing the thing they love, which is a rather nice thought.

From our perspective, we thought it might be Dave’s obvious flair for photography which really added the drama to the scenes he creates, so we wanted to probe a little more into this, what his set-up was and what equipment he uses. When he’d stopped laughing, Dave told us that he definitely wouldn’t describe himself as a photographer or even a keen amateur and how he only uses his mobile phone for taking the pictures he publishes on-line, and that’s the way he intends to keep things.

He did go on to say that in his opinion, the secret to the appeal of these pictures was to get the phone camera down to baseboard level when taking your images, as this takes you much more convincingly into this miniature world, a little trick he learned whilst visiting all those model railway shows with his dad many moons ago. If you get down to eye level on any diorama, it’s almost like you’re in the scene yourself and definitely provides the viewer with a much more impactful perspective.

In addition to this, once you’re viewing from this level, the pictures can lose or reveal whichever features you want them to, either making the subject car the total focus of attention or taking the viewer on a visual journey around the little diorama details placed across the wider scene. Dave might move models to a different section of the layout, or crop the pictures for creative effect, but each and every image is taken using the camera on a mobile phone and he is rather pleased with the results he achieves.

As Dave clearly has a flair for diorama modelling, we wanted to ask him how often he adds to the layout and whether it requires much ongoing maintenance to keep in tip top condition. Again, Dave seemed a little taken aback by the question and we got the impression he really believes he’s not doing anything particularly special – we beg to differ Dave!

He told us that adding to the layout is something of an ad hoc process and usually only happens when he gets the urge to do so. He usually finds himself adding little extra bits of detail to various sections of the diorama for added realism, however, he tends to base most features around relatively timeless scenes which can be used effectively as a backdrop for a great many photographic scenarios, without requiring the need for constant change.

This was certainly the case with things like the residential street and the off-street garages which will no doubt look familiar to a great many readers, however, something like the car showroom has changed its look and purpose quite a few times over the past few years, simply because it lends itself to be used in a variety of different ways. Dave told us that his Starbucks used to be a garage, but looking at the image Dave sent us, you never would have guessed it. In any case, he said that in a moment of mad inspiration, any building might be used as the basis of a modified development, even though full re-purposing of a feature is quite a rare occurrence.

In summary, Dave informed us that it was probably more likely that a section of the layout would be re-purposed rather than engage in a wholesale addition to the diorama and how he has yet to run out of photography locations for his models.

From a modelling perspective, Dave told us that he is more of a resourceful and imaginative (a bit tight, Dave’s word, not ours) diorama modeller, as opposed to one who likes to spend all this time and money at the local model shop, and he much prefers using his DIY skills to re-purpose things he has lying around, or raining the contents of his modelling spares box to fashion the details he needs. He told us that he has lots of ‘Stuff’ and perhaps the most enjoyment he gets out of all of this is how he manages to make these random items look like something completely different, yet totally believable on his scale diorama world – this is what brings him the most satisfaction.

From a Vanguards model collection perspective, in addition to allowing him to present his ever growing collection in a unique and appealing manner, the release of each new model throws up a host of different display opportunities, although it does have to be said that in every case, he instinctively knows exactly where he’s going to photograph any new release on his ‘Estate’ layout.

As Dave mentioned the subject of Vanguards releases, we couldn’t let him go without asking him which of the current crop of models was his favourite and in addition to this, which one was his favourite of all time?

For the recently released models, Dave told us that he loves the new Rover 75, partly because he’s aware of just how long it took for this particular model to come to market, but also because he just loves the colour. As for a legacy Vanguard, he knows this decision won’t strike a chord with every die-cast collector, but he would personally go for the Daimler Sovereign, purely because this is such a classic British car and still looks great to this day. One thing is absolutely certain, both of them look fantastic on Dave’s diorama.

We think you will agree that for a man who claims not to have any particular modelling skills of photographic talent, Dave Allen isn’t doing a bad job in displaying his Vanguards model collection in an unusual, yet thoroughly engaging manner and we’re extremely grateful for him allowing us to share his story with the Die-cast Diaries audience. One thing we are certain of is how his dad would be very proud to see his son carrying on an impressive family tradition, even if there isn’t a Class 55 Deltic parked up outside Dave’s Starbucks!

Thank you Dave - it was a pleasure speaking with you and once again, thank you for allowing us to include the fantastic selection of images you sent us as part of this latest Corgi blog.

Aviation Archive models about to go out of service

We end this latest edition of Die-cast Diaries by featuring a quartet of relatively recent Aviation Archive model releases which all share one common theme – they’re all just about to sell through and disappear off the Corgi website for good. Following a recent period of particularly hectic ordering activity on the Corgi website, we have noticed that quite a number of models are now in grave danger of disappearing from the site for good, and as most are relatively recent releases and are therefore in danger of catching one or two collectors out, we thought it might be a good idea if we brought this fact to your attention.

All four models are now only available in extremely limited quantities and in fact, two are only now available via the Corgi website in single digit quantities. We don’t intend to include much supporting detail for each model within this feature, just a title and model image, leaving the rest to you.

We start with a model which has only been on the website for a few weeks, but is now just about to set off on its final sortie.

AA34710 GAF Canberra Mk.20, South Vietnam, 1969

AA29301 BAe Harrier GR7A, RAF No.1 Sqn, Operation Herrick

AA28603 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X, NE775/X2, 455 Sqn RAAF, June 1944

AA36617 Lockheed P-38L Lightning, 'Putt Putt Maru', 1945

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.

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Thank you for continuing to support your Die-cast Diaries blog. Our next edition is scheduled for publication on Friday 5^th April.

The Corgi Team