WOW612 Heinkel 51 Adolf Galland

Description

WOW612 Heinkel He-51

The Heinkel He-51 was a German single-engine biplane fighter, later used for training and was also converted to a seaplane. The prototype’s flight took place in 1933, and the machine entered service in 1935. The He 51 was a conventional single-bay biplane, with all-metal construction and fabric covering. It was powered by a BMW VI engine, with an armament of two 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MGs mounted above the engine.  In total, about 700 aircraft of this type were built, most of them in the “B” version.

Technical data: length: 8.4m, wingspan: 11m, height: 3.2m, maximum speed: 330km / h, rate of climb: 11.9m / s, maximum range: 570km, maximum ceiling 7,700m, armament: fixed-2 7.92mm MG17 machine guns, suspended – up to 60 kg of bombs

The He 51 was used in combat during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). On 6 August 1936, six He 51s were delivered to Spain to fight in the Spanish Civil War with the Nationalists.  Initial operations were successful, with the He 51s defeating older, obsolete Spanish Republican Air Force fighters.  Deliveries continued, and by November two Nationalist squadrons were equipped with the type, along with 3 Legion Condor squadrons of 12 aircraft each, manned by German “volunteers”
The He 51 air superiority was short lived, with the arrival of more modern Soviet aircraft, including the Polikarpov I-15 biplane and Polikarpov I-16 monoplane, together with the Tupolev SB bomber, which was 110 km/h (68 mph) faster than the He 51. The He 51 proved unable to protect the Legion Condor‘s bombers, the He 51 was soon withdrawn from fighter duty and relegated to the ground-attack role by both the Legion Condor and the Nationalists.
Replaced in the fighter role by the Fiat CR.32 in the Nationalist Air Force, with the Legion Condor receiving ME 109s from April 1937.

This 1/30 scale He 51 released by Thomas Gunn was flown by Adolf Galland, the renowned German ace and later general, who flew the Heinkel He 51 aircraft during the Spanish Civil War.
Galland flew almost all of his 300 missions in Spain in a He 51, nicknamed “Limon,” which was painted with his personal symbol, the Maltese Cross, and a Mickey Mouse cartoon on the port side. We have 3 models available priced at $650 each plus postage.

Aviation Club members are being offered this model today with a 5% discount ($617.50) for a limited period. You can also claim your club discount of 10% on top of this at checkout. This will bring the model down to around $550 plus postage. Just insert ‘youtube’ in the discount voucher section at checkout.  

All the TG/K&C figures/accessories displayed in this newsletter are shown for scale comparison purposes only and are not included.