Airspeed AS.51 Horsa serie

[diamant]

Hi guys

Many thanks for your comments on the Bristol 138.

Here are a couple of photos showing the progress of building the canopy of the Airspeed Horsa TL349 (Comet canopy).

Cheers

Santiago

[diamant]

Hi guys

Here are two photos showing the progress on the latest models. They are ready for applying the decals.

Cheers

Santiago

[diamant]

Hi

We have decided to include one more Airspeed Horsa to this series. In this case it is the Airspeed Horsa S.51. Prototype DK353 December 1942.

Here is the photo showing how it looks like so far

With this model the final number for this series will be 13 Horsas.

Cheers

santiago

[diamant]

Hi guys

The lastest Horsa has been painted and she is ready for applying the decals.

and here is a photo showing all the 13 Horsas ready for applying the decals

Cheers

Santiago

[diamant]

Many thanks Prisca

Thanks to Luis our friend we now have the decals to complete the Horsa series. We have a 3 draw views in color for each glider made by Jed as well as big part of the investigation.

We are preparing the invasion!!!!!

Cheers
Santiago

[diamant]

Hello to all of you

We are getting this series ready. My father is applying the decals on the Horsas. Our good friend Luis made them specially for us.

These are the Horsas included in this series. We do not have enough words to thanks to Jed and Alastair for helping us during all the process of reasearch. Actually they did almost all the job, including visiting the IWM for photo and film references.

Here are the gliders included in this series

1) Airspeed Horsa Mk I DG597 1 First prototype used for RATOG trials

2) Airspeed Horsa Mk I DG604 1 Airbones Forces Experimental Establishment - Sherburn-in-elmet, near leeds, Yorkshire - 01/09/1942 - Dropping test of panniers from Horsa

3) Airspeed Horsa Mk II LJ271

This glider was originally built as an AS.51 Horsa Mk.1 but was converted and used the prototype for the AS.58 Horsa Mk.2. This scheme is
based on how it looked while at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Fanborough during arrester parachute trials in August 1945.

4) Airspeed Horsa Mk II TL472 1 Aquir Palestine 1946, Overall Silver as an experiment to reflect heat and keep the interior cool in the heat of Middle East.
This unique glider was photographed at Aquir, Palestine in 1946. It was painted all over in aluminum dope in an attempt to reflect heat and
reduce the internal temperature. It was lost in a landing accident 29th August 1946 casuse by a dive approach which exceeded the max speed
for the flaps. The caused one flap jack to fail, the glider to start to roll and eventually one wingtip hit the ground.

5) Airspeed Horsa Mk II 19 - DP288 1 1943, H Glider Conversion Unit, Painted in pattern colour 1 but with all black tail and ruder.

6) Airspeed Horsa Mk II TL145, 21 HGCU, 1946.
This glider was photographed at the 21 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit, posible at RAF Elsham Wolds in early 1946.

7) Airspeed Horsa Mk I DP740, GPEU, May 1943.
This glider was photographed at the Glider Pilot Exercise Unit based at RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire in May1943.

8) Airspeed Horsa Mk II RN316, B Squadron, 1945.

This glider represents a Horsa used during Operation Varsity flow from RAF Earls Colne by B Squadron of the Glider Pilot Regiment.

9) Airspeed Horsa Mk I LH469 “93” – LZ/X – Operation Deadstick, Caen Canal Bridge. The third glider to land at the Caen canal bridge on the 5th/6th June 1944. Piloted by SSgt. Geoff Barkway and SSgt. Peter Boyle.

10) Airspeed Horsa MkI PW773, Operation Mallard, 6th June 1944.
One of many gliders that landed at Ranville, France in the evening of 6th June 1944 as part of Operation Mallard. This particular glider
was carrying men of the 1st Royal Ulster Rifles and crashed into a wall on the western edge of the landing zone.

11) Airspeed Horsa Mk I LF819 -This glider represents one of the Horsas of 1st Independant Glider Squadron who flew Operation Bluebird, part of Operation Dragoon to take the south of France after D-Day. Flying from Tarquinia, Italy to Le Muy, France the squadron was equipped with a handful of gliders painted to follow
the operational desert scheme.

12) Airspeed Horsa Mk I TL349 specially modified and fitted with mock – up of the Comet airliner nose to determine the degree of visibility, particularly in conditions of rain.

13) Airspeed Horsa Mk I Prototype DK353, December 1942
The fourth of five early models built specifically for load and performance trials work. This scheme shows how it might of looked
during late 1942.

and here are the photos of the first two models done.

1) Airspeed Horsa Mk I DG597 1 First prototype used for RATOG trials

2) Airspeed Horsa Mk I DG604 1 Airbones Forces Experimental Establishment - Sherburn-in-elmet, near leeds, Yorkshire - 01/09/1942 - Dropping test of panniers from Horsa

At the display cabinet.

More to follow soon.

Cheers

Santiago

[diamant]

Hi

Here are two more Horsa done.

12) Airspeed Horsa Mk I TL349 specially modified and fitted with mock – up of the Comet airliner nose to determine the degree of visibility, particularly in conditions of rain.

13) Airspeed Horsa Mk I Prototype DK353, December 1942
The fourth of five early models built specifically for load and performance trials work. This scheme shows how it might of looked
during late 1942.

Cheers
Santiago

[philp]

They are looking good.

I have at least 2 planned though might build all 3 of the Caen Canal Bridge birds, especially if I can get enough room to add the bridge.

The other one I want to do is one unloading a jeep and 6 lber on D-Day.

[diamant]

Hi Philp

That is great. I would love to see your Horsas.

Here are 6 more models done.

6) Airspeed Horsa Mk II TL145, 21 HGCU, 1946.
This glider was photographed at the 21 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit, posible at RAF Elsham Wolds in early 1946.

4) Airspeed Horsa Mk II TL472 1 Aquir Palestine 1946, Overall Silver as an experiment to reflect heat and keep the interior cool in the heat of Middle East.
This unique glider was photographed at Aquir, Palestine in 1946. It was painted all over in aluminum dope in an attempt to reflect heat and
reduce the internal temperature. It was lost in a landing accident 29th August 1946 casuse by a dive approach which exceeded the max speed
for the flaps. The caused one flap jack to fail, the glider to start to roll and eventually one wingtip hit the ground.

3) Airspeed Horsa Mk II LJ271

This glider was originally built as an AS.51 Horsa Mk.1 but was converted and used the prototype for the AS.58 Horsa Mk.2. This scheme is
based on how it looked while at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Fanborough during arrester parachute trials in August 1945.

9) Airspeed Horsa Mk I LH469 “93” – LZ/X – Operation Deadstick, Caen Canal Bridge. The third glider to land at the Caen canal bridge on the 5th/6th June 1944. Piloted by SSgt. Geoff Barkway and SSgt. Peter Boyle.

11) Airspeed Horsa Mk I LF819 -This glider represents one of the Horsas of 1st Independant Glider Squadron who flew Operation Bluebird, part of Operation Dragoon to take the south of France after D-Day. Flying from Tarquinia, Italy to Le Muy, France the squadron was equipped with a handful of gliders painted to follow
the operational desert scheme.

5) Airspeed Horsa Mk II 19 - DP288 1 1943, H Glider Conversion Unit, Painted in pattern colour 1 but with all black tail and ruder.

The 10 models completed in our display cabinet

There are only 3 more to go.

cheers

Santiago

[diamant]

Here are the latest 3 Horsas done.

7) Airspeed Horsa Mk I DP740, GPEU, May 1943.
This glider was photographed at the Glider Pilot Exercise Unit based at RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire in May1943.

8) Airspeed Horsa Mk II RN316, B Squadron, 1945.

This glider represents a Horsa used during Operation Varsity flow from RAF Earls Colne by B Squadron of the Glider Pilot Regiment.

10) Airspeed Horsa MkI PW773, Operation Mallard, 6th June 1944.
One of many gliders that landed at Ranville, France in the evening of 6th June 1944 as part of Operation Mallard. This particular glider
was carrying men of the 1st Royal Ulster Rifles and crashed into a wall on the western edge of the landing zone.

and these are all the models togethers

All the ones with the P markings (Prototypes)

At the display cabinet

I hope you like this new sub collection.

cheers

Santiago

[philp]

Great job, they look great together.

[diamant]

Many thanks Philp :-)