We'll open the first of our six end-of-the-year flying selections with the smallest in scale. From Gemini Aces by way of the Airplane Shop, it's the 1:72 scale Spit IX with invasion stripes we featured on April 18th--still at $18.95.
She's on CAP here:
http://www.airplaneshop.com/productd...e=GEMACE&id=13
Carousel 1 is no longer making planes, but they produced some of finest 1:48 scale warbirds on the market. We feature three of these, each still priced my Historic Aviation at $34.95.
Earliest of these historically is the Messerschmitt Bf 109E flown by 21-victory ace Lt. Franz von Werra.
Replicating the Bf 109E flown by 21-victory ace Lt. Franz von Werra - who was called "The One That Got Away" for his daring escapes from POW camps and his brazen attempt to steal an RAF Hurricane Mk.II - in the Battle of Britain, this limited edition, 1/48 scale die cast model features fine surface details; a fully outfitted cockpit with glazed instruments, an opening canopy and a removable figure of Werra; optional-position landing gear with real rubber tires; a rotating propeller; authentic JG 3 markings; and more. 9¼" wingspan; includes a display base.
Still somewhere over the Channel on this vector:
The Doras were the best offering in an excellent, if unfortunately limited Carousel 1 line of warbirds. We feature two of these at year end, beginning with the FW 190D-11--Karl-Heinz Hofmann, JV 44, April, 1945. This bird was featured from different vendors on January 31st and on May 30th.
JV 44 was a special fighter unit of top Luftwaffe pilots assembled during the final months of World War II. Replicating the long-nose "D" variant of the FW 190 flown by Karl-Heinz Hofmann of JV 44 in April of 1945, this limited edition, 1/48 scale model features engraved panel lines, a detailed cockpit with a sliding canopy and a pilot figure, optional-position landing gear, photo-etched radiator details and a rotating propeller, wing-mounted machine guns, authentic JV 44 markings and more. 8½" wingspan; includes a display base.
As the war comes to its end, she's still flying here:
My personal favorite among the Doras is the FW 190D-13--Franz Goetz, JG 26. It was a pick from different vendors on both June 27th & October 17th.
This limited edition, 1/48 scale die cast model of a long-nose "D" variant of the FW 190 features engraved panel lines; a detailed cockpit with an opening canopy and a pilot figure; optional-position landing gear; an external fuel tank; photo-etched radiator details and a rotating propeller; the markings of Franz Goetz, the 63-victory ace who was the last commander of JG 26; and more. 8½" wingspan; arrives ready to display on the included base.
Find one here before they are gone:
We don't forget the flyboys of World War I, as represented by the 1:48 Corgi colorful Albatros D.V flown by Friedrich "Fritz" Ritter von Röth - a "Blue Max" recipient. Appearing among our picks on November 21st, she is still available from Historic Aviation for just $26.95.
Replicating the colorful Albatros D.V flown by Friedrich "Fritz" Ritter von Röth - a "Blue Max" recipient who, as Germany's highest-scoring balloon buster of World War I, recorded 28 confirmed victories, including 20 balloons - of Jasta 23B in early 1918, this limited edition, 1/48 scale, die cast model features superb details such as real wire bracing; a detailed cockpit with a pilot figure; two forward-firing LM 08/15 machine guns; a rotating propeller; authentic markings, including lozenge camouflage; and more. 8" wingspan; includes a display stand.
Flying over the trenches here:
http://www.historicaviation.com/prod...ubcategory=WWI
We saved a big bird for last--and a very fine one at that. It's the Hobby Master 1:32 scale
SBD Dauntless USN VB-2 USS Lexington, CV-2 Early 1941, which was featured on March 7th for the still available price of $118.99 from Michigan Toy Soldier.
Flying over these neutral skies:
http://www.michtoy.com/item-HMT-HA02...arly_1941.html