RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted December 31, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 31, 2014 Have just been looking at the Corgi range for 2015 and much to my delight found that at last they are doing this model http://www.corgi.co.uk/shop/new-for-2015/aviation-archive-1/short-sunderland-mkiii-ej134-461-squadron-raaf-1943.html In case you have never read the story this web site is well worth perusing http://www.n461.com/ Its a great read - surely one of the greatest single aircraft air battles and most unlikely survivals of the war. Is in Ivan Southall's book They Shall Not Pass Unseen which I first read as a lad - left a lasting impression. Cheers Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Downendian Posted December 31, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 31, 2014 Thanks Phil for the links. My Dad built me an airfix Short Sunderland when I was a kid, and he recounted this same story, one I've not heard since. Fascinating and exhilarating tale well worth a 30 minute read. Neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted December 31, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 31, 2014 Thanks Phil for the links. My Dad built me an airfix Short Sunderland when I was a kid, and he recounted this same story, one I've not heard since. Fascinating and exhilarating tale well worth a 30 minute read. Neil Cheers Neil - glad it struck a chord, remember seeing it in the Airfix instructions too Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim49 Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 I remember the Airfix kit too........and the price of 12/6. I accept that the Corgi model will be better detailed than the original Airfix offering but £139.99!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jim49 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted December 31, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 31, 2014 Know what you mean Jim but its a lump of solid metal Havent got time to build Airfix kits and do model railways too -its my 60th next year so I could drop a few very (un)subtle hits! Cheers Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted December 31, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 31, 2014 To me this is THE announcement of the Hornby group for next years new products and eclipses their railway announcements. And I say that as somebody that thinks their railways announcements this year have been very positive and a very good program. The Sunderland is a glorious looking machine, we regularly have a day out at Hendon and walking through the Sunderland never loses its appeal no matter how many times I've done it. Although it is not cheap, it will be a hefty beast and compared to typical model railway releases it seems pretty reasonable all told. The old Airfix kit can be made into a decent replica with work but the tooling shows its age. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Italeri make a plastic kit with some brass etched parts which I've had sat on my desk for a year now... Still need to start building it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Its a great read - surely one of the greatest single aircraft air battles and most unlikely survivals of the war. Is in Ivan Southall's book They Shall Not Pass Unseen which I first read as a lad - left a lasting impression. Cheers Phil Unfortunately the book appears to be unavailable via Amazon and other retailers - Trawling second hand bookshops this afternoon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted January 2, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 2, 2015 You will struggle - copies are neither common or cheap! But if you enjoy reading this era its well worth tracking down Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted January 2, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 2, 2015 Italeri make a plastic kit with some brass etched parts which I've had sat on my desk for a year now... Still need to start building it IIRC thats a Sunderland 1 with the two open cupolas on the dorsal surface rather than the power operated turret? Was looking at one the other day, imagine it would make up rather nicely. The Corgi MK3 also has all the appropriate ASV radar gubbins which the Mk1 lacks. Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnd Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Who remembers the Hendon machine when it was on display at Pembrook Dock near the castle. It was the highlight of many a holiday spent in that part of Wales in the 1960's, somewhere I have pictures of it with steps to the rear door (going in) the exit from memory was at the front. To me Pembrook dock seems the right place for it not some inland museum ( sorry Hendon ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurenceb Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 When the Airfix model was first made the ASV gubbins was still on the secret list so they were not allowed to include it.Still an impresive model. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 I remember the Airfix kit too........and the price of 12/6. I accept that the Corgi model will be better detailed than the original Airfix offering but £139.99!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Airfix kit is still available too and at £19.99 doesn't sound very expensive either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pH Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Unfortunately the book appears to be unavailable via Amazon and other retailers - Trawling second hand bookshops this afternoon There's one on Abebooks at the moment, from Australia. As Phil Bullock says, not cheap! My uncle had been a flight engineer on Coastal Command Liberators, and we had a couple of 'aircraft recognition' models as ornaments in the house - a Liberator and a Sunderland. I have no idea where they went. In fact, with my dad and two uncles having been in the RAF, we had quite a few 'souvenirs', all now gone unfortunately. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted January 2, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 2, 2015 And here too! http://regimental-books.com.au/they-shall-not-pass-unseen-461-squadron-raaf-1st-edition-p-1705.html Makes the less than 20 sqiddlies I paid for my copy off Ebay look a real bargain Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dava Posted January 3, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 3, 2015 Truly amazing story of N/461. Sunderlands were the ultimate flying boat. There are some good books, you have to track them down but there was an Aeroplane icons special in WHSmith last time I was in the UK. Corgi did a 1\144 diecast model which is quite good, the 1\72 will be massive & bigger than the Catalina I picked up in Modelzone for $30 or so. As for real ones, you could go in the cockpit of the Sandringham conversion at Solent sky in So'ton, its very atmospheric as unrestored. The one at Duxford is also good. I'd love to see & hear one fly- ML814 in Oshkosh is the only hope. Dava Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Downendian Posted January 3, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 3, 2015 Having primed some interest in this a really good story of the "flying Porcupines" as the Luftwaffe called them is here http://www.letletlet-warplanes.com/2013/10/07/short-sunderland-the-flying-porcupine/ There is no mention of the N/461 story, but there is of an earlier 1940 Norweigan encounter with six Ju-88s. Hmm plenty of prototype pictures there - shall I recreate Dad's excellent 1960s airfix kit knowing I can pick one up for less than £20? Neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted January 3, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 3, 2015 Having primed some interest in this a really good story of the "flying Porcupines" as the Luftwaffe called them is here http://www.letletlet-warplanes.com/2013/10/07/short-sunderland-the-flying-porcupine/ There is no mention of the N/461 story, but there is of an earlier 1940 Norweigan encounter with six Ju-88s. Hmm plenty of prototype pictures there - shall I recreate Dad's excellent 1960s airfix kit knowing I can pick one up for less than £20? Neil That's a great link Neil - many thanks for sharing What a classic aircraft - one of only two front line aircraft serving with the RAF that was in service on both 1st September 1939 and 9th May 1945 and still serving its original designed purpose - rather says it all I think. Have been in the airframes at both Solent Sky and IWM - both of which give an excellent impression of what it must have been like to fly in one. Would love to see one airborne again but suspect that's a bit too much to ask... Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 White ensign models make an etched upgrade kit for the airfix model including the radar antenna and the wire bracing for the pontoons / floats Think they do similar for the interior Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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