Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA37605
Westland Wessex HAS.Mk 3 Diecast Model
RNFAA No.737 NAS, XM328, RNAS Portland, England, 1978 | Limited Edition
1501
Pieces Worldwide |
|
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Westland Wessex HAS.Mk 3 | | 11" | | 9.25" |
Wessex XM328 was built at Yeovil in 1959 as a pre-production HAS.1 anti-submarine warfare helicopter for the Royal Navy. Between 1965 and 1968 forty-three of the original Wessex HAS.1 variants, including XM328, were upgraded to Mk.3 specification. From 1970, it was stationed at RNAS Protland, in Dorset, with 737 Naval Air Squadron where it was assigned to operate from several of the County Class guided missile destroyers. In their shipborne, anti-submarine role, the HAS.3s could carry two homing torpedoes or four depth charges in addition to their dipping sonar. They could also be fitted with a doormouted machine gun. XM328 remained in service until after the Falklands conflict period in 1982. It sailed with HMS Antrim on her second deployment in the South Atlantic, was transferred to 772 Squadron when 737 Squadron disbanded on 4th February 1983, returned to Portsmouth with HMS Antrim in March 1983 and was flown back to Portland. Then, for twenty years, it was used as a ground training aircraft, by the school of Aircraft Handling at RNAS Culdrose. In May 2004, it was finally withdrawn from use and transferred to The Helicopter Museum at Weston-Super-Mare, where it is on display today.
Designed by Sikorsky as a US Navy anti-submarine military helicopter, the CH-34 Choctaw first flew on March 8, 1954. This prolific aircraft saw action in Vietnam and is one of history's most successful helicopters, flown on every continent with the armed forces of 25 nations. It has served in an anti-submarine role, as VIP transport, for troop and utility transport and as a search and rescue vehicle. Under various designations, Choctaws have been operated by the US Marine Corps, the US Navy, the US Army and the coast guard. The type also served with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as the turbine-engined Wessex. © Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Corgi's 1:72 scale CH-34/Wessex helicopters are wonderfully detailed with two sets of rotor blades—one with drooping blades for ground display and another with blades that are curved upwards for in-flight display. The main and tail rotor heads spin and the "green-house" canopy with separately applied photo-etched metal wiper blades is large, allowing for easy viewing of the cockpit interior and crew figures. The sliding cargo door opens effortlessly to reveal additional crew figures and the interior of the cargo-hold. Each release highlights one of many nose mounted engine configurations and lower fuselage details.
© Copyright 2003-2014 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Corgi "Aviation Archive" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The vast Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight, and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. Famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation are all honored.
Corgi "Aviation Archive" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
- Poseable presention stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
- Detailed, hand-painted pilot and crew member figures.
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Selected interchangeable features such as speed-brakes, opened canopies and access panels.
- Selected moving parts such as gun turrets, control surfaces and swing-wings.
© Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.
