Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA39504
Short Stirling B.Mk III Diecast Model
RAF No.199 Sqn, LJ542 Gremlin Teaser, RAF North Creake, England, 1944

1:72 Scale		Length		Width
Short Stirling B.Mk III		14.5"		16.5"

With its nose rising imperiously into the air, the impressive stature of the Stirling was a result of the massive, lengthened undercarriage the aircraft employed, a design modification needed to give the Stirling a greater angle of attack during take-off. The Stirling's huge bomb bay allowed the aircraft to carry three times as many bombs as the Vickers Wellington and almost nine times the weight carried by a Bristol Blenheim, presenting the RAF with a potent new weapon with which to take the war to the enemy and pointing the way towards the future of night bombing operations.

Stirling Mk.III LJ542 was unusual in that it sported rather elaborate nose artwork, a feature which was nothing like as prevalent on British aircraft during WWII but was in this case particularly impressive. Named "The Gremlin Teaser", the artwork featured a pin-up girl wearing what appear to be strap-on angel wings, the inference thought to be that this angelic figure was flying in defiance of evil, in this age-old wartime struggle of good against evil, something its crew must have felt they were doing on a nightly basis. "The Gremlin Teaser" would end up being a veteran of 60 operational sorties and during her time with No.199 Squadron, was involved in undertaking vital electronic countermeasures missions, particularly around the time of D-Day, confusing enemy defences in advance of the Allied invasion.

Short Stirling B.Mk III

© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.

Corgi's 1:72 scale Stirling is a large model in this scale, cleverly constructed in diecast metal with plastic components used in areas such as turrets and engines for maximum scale detail. The fuselage features transparent side mounted windows and the large cockpit canopy provides for easy viewing of crew figures. Each of the nose, dorsal and aft turrets can rotate and includes elevating machine guns. The central and internal wing bomb-bay compartments are constructed as subassemblies for quick and easy configuration. The model can be display on its gear, or quickly configured for display on its heavily constructed all-metal display stand.

© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.

Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series

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.