Cobi has announced the long-awaited release of the most famous and successful RAF heavy bomber of WWII, the Avro Lancaster, which was used in key missions including D-Day. They are part of Cobi’s historical WWII collection and there will be two models including the famous “Dam Buster.”
The Lancaster was a four-engine strategic bomber, used in WWII, mostly on night-time missions. Over 7,377 were built and over one million people worked on the project. On average, Lancasters completed 21 missions before being lost, with the average age of the crews being just 22. The bombers flew over 156,000 sorties and are littered with impressive statistics.
On D-Day itself, 6 June 1944, “Operation Taxable” saw 16 Lancasters being used to protect allied fighters in the air and troops on the ground. This was done by dropping strips of aluminium foil to block the german radar systems.
The Lancaster was also used in “Operation Chastise” – known more widely as the “Dambuster Raid.” This attack on German dams carried out on the night of 16/17 May 1943 by 617 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, using special bouncing bombs that enabled the allies to destroy dams; power stations, factories and mines.
Here are some more details on the two models, which will be launched in September. The first is the executive Avro Lancaster B III Dam Buster (COBI-5758) in a 1:48 scale, with 1795 pieces including prints, three figures and a display stand. The second model is the Avro Lancaster B III (COBI-5759) in a 1:48 scale, with 1643 pieces including prints and one figure.
For more information please contact Lee from COBI on 0758 485 8978 or l.crocker@cobitoys.co.uk
