[Hornchurch]

As Corgi are releasing some Handley-Page Halifaxes to drool over (x 3) in 1/72nd scale, it's created some interest & discussion on various posts, regarding the World's remaining population of this very-rare aircraft.

This is one of only three left in the entire world - composing of as many original parts as possible, including 4 x fresh, zero-timed Bristol-Hercules engines, supplied via the French Air Force in 1987, upon retirement of their fleet of Nord-Noratlas Transport aircraft.

Painted up to represent 'Friday the 13th' - a B.III, that flew with 158 Sqdn from RAF Lisset, in Yorkshire (Northern England).......

The original aircraft completed 128 bombing missions, mostly over Germany - she is easily THE most famous/remembered Halifax of them all.

(N.B. as I'm unable to upload pix, you can view them in 'My Photos' on the Right-Hand side of the banner (in brackets) - or go to the Thread 'Corgi 2007 Releases;Attack On The Reich'...... post No 14, where they are currently displayed as 'thumbnail-attachments').

The original LV 907 was delivered to 158 Sqdn (as a replacement a/c) ON Friday the 13th, hence the grim nickname.......
At that stage of the war, a Bomber Command aircrew's life expectancy was around 6 - 8 weeks (eek !).......& it was widely accepted that ANY British (or Dominion) Bomber Crew had a 25-30% chance of completing a 'Tour' (usually 30 missions - though it was 45, for 'Pathfinder' Crews).

Faced with those grim statstics, the crew of LV 907 painted their a/c with bad-luck charms, such as the Grim-Reaper's Sickle, an upside-down Horse-shoe....& even went as far (at one point) as to paint a massive White Tombstone on the side of '907's nose, with EACH of the Crew's names (it was removed shortly after, as other crews reported that it glared in, or nearby, searchlights, attracting attention).
Yet their 'gallow's humour' paid off - they survived, & LV 907 became the top-scoring Halifax of the War.

N.B.
The pix are currently in the 'Corgi 2007 Releases/Attack On The Reich' thread (post No 14), or can be viewed in the 'My Photo's' brackets, on the right-hand side of the top-banner

[ZS-VAN]

Cool pics mate! I didn't realise that there were only three left in the world. Might have to get one then.

[mustangdriver]

Does it usually ssit out side, or is it in a building somewhere? That is a sharp looking aircraft.

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by ZS-VAN

Cool pics mate! I didn't realise that there were only three left in the world. Might have to get one then.

ZS ' come on guy, don't be greedy - If you 'get one', that only leaves er, TWO for the rest of the world !!!!!!!

They're rarer than hens teeth, as it is !!!!!!!!

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

Does it usually ssit out side, or is it in a building somewhere? That is a sharp looking aircraft.

Hi mustangdriver - Ironically enough, NO.

With the British/Yorkshire weather being what it is, she is usually kept under cover, in her large semi-circular hangar, so it's a rare treat to see her outside, (hence WHY I chose those photo's).

She resides at the Y.A.M./Yorkshire Air Museum, at Elvington, which is famous as a genuine W.W.II Halifax base (though LV 907 herself flew from Lisset, also in the Northern county of Yorkshire).

I agree with you about 'sharp' - she is one seriously rude looking airplane

[mustangdriver]

Thanks for the cool info and pics Hornchurch. It is great that they have it indoors. I wish Corgi would do this one as a subject.

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

Thanks for the cool info and pics Hornchurch. It is great that they have it indoors. I wish Corgi would do this one as a subject.

It's an almost sure-fire certainty that they will........

THE most famous Halifax of all - she's the Halifax equivalent of 'Memphis Belle' - 'S' for Sugar Lanc, OR 'Witchcraft' (top scoring 2nd Air Division B.24 in the E.T.O.)......
although curiously enough (to my knowledge) NO-ONE has covered that subject yet....... even kit-decal maufacturers, yet there are numerous photo's of that famous old-girl - a 130 mission B.24 with great markings !!!!!!!!!!!

Really strange that no-one's attempted her before (some-one needs a wake-up call...........

But Corgi, being originally a British company, covering many overlooked British a/c, are BOUND to replicate 'Friday the 13th', a few years down the line;Reason ????.... the Elvington Halifax, LV.907's stunning history,

the COUNTLESS paintings & art-prints THAT almost always depict LV.907 (i.e. the STUNNING print of 'A Friday In Winter' by Keith Woodcock - use Google Image search)......

the (expensive) Royal Doulton Plate... 'Halifax Over Whitby Abbey' (again, use Google Image search).......

ALL of the above prove the timeless poularity of this often-replicated subject - and ALL Corgi have to do, is use the Cyril Barton/Attack Over The Reich example, with LV.907's markings = RESULT.

[no4mkit]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

i.e. the STUNNING print of 'A Friday In Winter' by Keith Woodcock......

ah yes, my favorite KW print Hornchurch! ...currently hanging on the wall to my right, along with "Yorkshire Relish"! Woodcock is superb!!

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by no4mkit

ah yes, my favorite KW print Hornchurch! ...currently hanging on the wall to my right, along with "Yorkshire Relish"! Woodcock is superb!!

You have GOOD taste no4 - Good taste indeed.


.
(& evidently from previous posts & observations - the most knowledgable guy I've conversed with on H.P.57's !!!!!!!!! - Let's hope Corgi get the early version's nose right AND with the correct turret - Blimey, it's currently in the lead in Cardinal's Poll, DESPITE those apparent/obvious blunders !!!!!!!).

[no4mkit]

Thank you sir - as do you!

Incidentally I also have Woodcock's "Halifaxes" and "Stirlings Ready", both beautiful winter scapes of the subject aircraft at rest. Don't get me started on Stirlings though - very pleased with Corgi over the Halifax casting so I wait till next year to start the chant for the Elephant...

I think Corgi has some serious challenges ahead with getting the details right on the myriad of Halifax variants. All we can hope is that they get the major attributes such as turrets, engines, fins and noses correct cause their almost doomed to fail somewhere. I had a discussion with some members of the Halifax restoration team in Canada back in the early stages of work on NA337 when it's final configuration was still unclear. The question was, would NA337 be restored to it's original A Mk. VII config or to a more standard BIII as flown by most Canadian Halifax crews. Somehow the subject of exhaust configuration came up and when I commented on the different arrangement between the MkIII and MkVII I was somewhat shocked at their disbelief. They are in fact different, so if the experts can miss a detail such as this (Sqn Signal Halifax in Action is full of mistakes in this regard too), what chance does Corgi have? There's just so many pitfalls out there.... will they put Dowty U/C on the Mk. V.... Gallay vs Morris Block radiators... almost feel sorry for them! Like I said, just have to hope the major details are right.


So beyond the three announced, "Friday 13th" is a certainty, but what else do you think? A Coastal Command GR V maybe... a D-Day striped A mkV (towing a Horsa prob too much to ask)... a SEAC BIII.... an RCAF or RAAF BIII with Preston-Green ventral turret....

...I better stop dreaming!