Review by Jeremy Welsman
Photography by Simon Fenwick & Jeremy Welsman

Flying Legends 2011 has come and gone. Not only is it one of the great air shows but for many who attend it’s a golden opportunity to increase their collections of die-cast aircraft. The array of trade stands have a vast choice and there’s nothing quite like finding a model of the very aircraft that you’ve just seen displaying.

By way of a different slant on the traditional air show review I thought it would be interesting to relate those aircraft displaying at this years event to their model equivalents.
So lets see what the model manufacturers have to offer. By far the most prolific manufacturer in the field of aviation die-cast is Corgi, and their aviation archive series will comprise the majority of the models in this piece.

Well, that’s quite enough of a preamble so let’s start with the “heavies” that have displayed this weekend.

The BBMF Lancaster has displayed in several liveries during it’s long career and this has been reflected in the variety of Corgi renditions over the years. The current guise of the “Phantom of the Ruhr” has been produced as a retailer’s (Modelzone) commission in 1/72 scale, reference AA32614, and released as a set with the BBMF Spitfire and Hurricane as AA39911. The Lanc’s previous livery of “Mickey the Moocher” has been produced, again as a set, in 1/72 with the Spitfire and Hurricane, referenced AA32602. Mickey the Moocher is also represented in the smaller scale of 1/144, AA47306, and in Corgi’s Warbirds series aimed at the younger collector, WB99609. Again in 1/144 scale the mighty Lancaster has been produced in it’s former display liveries of “Johnny Walker” AA47301 and as “City of Lincoln”, the latter once again sold with the BBMF Spitfire and Hurricane AA49501.

Another much loved heavy on the air show circuit is the iconic B17-G “Sally B” which Corgi have marketed in 1/144 scale. The most significant version, at least as far as the funding of the original aircraft is concerned is reference AA48202 which is only available from B17 Preservation, the organisation whose hard work and fund raising keeps this marvellous old warbird flying. (Note to self - pick one of these up when next at Duxford). Sally B also appears, again in 1/144 under references AA48206, and in the Warbirds series as WB99612. Finally AA49502 is a set that comprises Sally B together with “little friends” P47 and P51-D “Big Beautiful Doll” - more of which later.

The last of the heavies is the Junkers Ju52, the versatile and dependable “Tante Ju” which during both wartime and peace served as a civilian airliner, military transport, bomber, and for a time was the personal transport for one, Adolf Hitler. The variant displaying at Duxford is the Lufthansa airliner D-AQUI which Corgi have released in 1/72 under reference AA36905, the Ju52 casting has been put forward by many as one of Corgi’s finest.

Moving on to single engine aircraft now, and firstly, one which suffered a tragic demise at this year’s Flying Legends after a collision with a Skyraider. The P51-D “Big Beautiful Doll” has been an air show stalwart for many years and has been produced by Corgi in both 1/72 and 1/144, the latter of which has been mentioned above as part of the USAAF set. The 1/72 scale has seen BBD released under reference AA49301, one of the very first Aviation Archive models on the market. In recognition of Corgi’s 50th anniversary a limited edition emerged under AN32224, with fixed undercarriage, display plinth and resin scale figurine of the pilot Col. John Landers. BBD has also been produced in 1.72 scale by Dragon, ref 50014, although the author has not seen the Dragon rendition of the P51 it’s claimed to be a superb model and regarded by some as superior to the Corgi version. Lastly, Corgi have produced a “nose art” edition which comprises a large scale nose section to highlight the artwork with a 1/144 scale P51. (CS90362).

Next, another P51-D, displayed this year at Legends as “Fragile but Agile” and one half of the Flying Horsemen pair, but previously was a Duxford resident in the guise of “Twilight Tear” when owned by The Fighter Collection. The model was produced by Corgi with the reference AA32220.

One of the most regularly seen aircraft at air shows is the Old Flying Machine Company’s “Ferocious Frankie” which is portrayed in 1/72 scale by Witty Wings in their Sky Guardians series (WTW 072 004 00A).Ferocious Frankie’s stablemate at the OFMC, the gorgeous Spitfire IX MH434 is also available as a Sky Guardians model (WTW 072 002 00A). The Witty range of warbirds is generally a cheaper alternative to Corgi but unlike most of the Aviation Archive their undercarriage is fixed in the down position, rather than offering the option to display wheels up or down. The fixed undercarriage option is attractive to many die-cast collectors as some models are renowned for being rather unstable on their wheels.

Witty have also produced the The Fighter Collection’s Hawker Sea Fury T.20 WG655 in 1/72 scale (WTW 072 0025 00A), an airframe type that no one else has so far tackled in die cast. The Sea Fury is a beast of an aircraft, derived from the wartime Hawker Tempest and it saw service immediately post war and in the Korean War, and is said to be the first piston engined aircraft in that conflict to shoot down a jet, in this case a soviet built Mig 15.

The Historic Aircraft Collection are regular participants at air shows, in particular those at their home base of Duxford, and this years Flying Legends was no exception with the HAC displaying both the Spitfire Vb, BM597 and the Hurricane XII, Z5140. In 2005 these aircraft flew to Malta to take part in an air display commemorating the wartime defence of Malta by RAF, Fleet Air Arm and allied flyers. The project to fly these planes to Malta was known as “Merlins over Malta” and to assist in funding the project Corgi marketed 1/72 scale models of both aircraft. They were sold as a very limited edition set with pieces of fabric from both planes and signatures of wartime Malta pilots and the present day flyers involved in the project. This much sought after set was referenced AA99183, however a much cheaper alternative was also marketed in the legends range with fixed undercarriage. (AA99182)

Last but by no means least, the venerable Fairey Swordfish LS326 of the Royal Navy Historic Flight gave an extremely dignified display for the Duxford faithful, and is available from…..yes you’ve guessed it, Corgi (AA36309) A lovely model, complete as it would have appeared during the war years with rocket projectiles and airborne radar antennae. Somewhat incongruous I think, radar on a biplane. Despite it’s antiquated appearance the Swordfish was a very effective weapons system, outliving it’s intended replacement the Fairey Albacore.

That’s it then, Flying Legends in die-cast, a truly great air show and an incomparable retail opportunity for the model collector.

Happy Collecting

In concluding a debt of thanks is due to the following, the Tricatus website for plugging the gaps in my die-cast knowledge and Simon Fenwick for reminding me what actually flew at Duxford in July and allowing access to his extensive model collection.. Also, special thanks to Esther, Gabriella and all the team at Duxford, especially the patient guides who did the escort duties on the flightline.