Lancaster bombers take to the skies once more

The Dambusters at Hobbies 

Today marks 70 years since 19 Lancaster bombers took off from a runway in Lincolnshire in eastern England, each carrying a purpose built weapon - the bouncing bomb - and dropped them in Nazi Germany's industrial heartland.

Here is a little background information about the Lancasters used, the Bouncing Bomb and Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)

At Hobbies we sell a range of Historic Aircraft in plastic kit form plus all the tools and paint need to finish the kit.

AVRO Lancaster

• AVRO Lancaster 
• Crew: 7
• Size: 69ft (21m) x 102ft (31m)
• Range and speed: 2,530 miles (4,072km) / 287mph (462km/h)
• Bombload: 22,000lb (10,000kg)
• Handley Page Halifax
• Crew: 7
• Size: 71ft 7in (21.8m) x 104ft (31.7m)
• Range and speed: 1,260 miles (2,032km) / 309mph (498km/h)
• Bombload: 12,000lbs (5,450kg)

Tamiya Dambuster/Grand Slam Bomber 1/48th 61111 Plastic Aircraft Kits | Hobbies

• Kit includes parts to depict either a Lancaster B. Mk.III Special "Dambuster" or a Lancaster B Mk.I Special "Grand Slam Bomber" in 1/48 scale. 
• Length: 443mm, Wingspan: 648mm 
• Interiors of cockpit, gun turrets, and bomb bay feature fine details. 
• Nose and tail turrets are movable. 
• Parts for two Merlin engines are included and cowlings may be detached to showcase them even after assembly. 
• Slick tires for landing gear feature realistic weighted effect. 
• Pilot, radio operator, bombardier, gunner, and ground crew figures are included (5 figures total). 
• Comes with marking options for two Dambuster and one Grand Slam Bomber

The Bouncing Bomb

Possibly one of the most genius inventions of world war 2 was the bouncing bomb by Barnes Neville Wallis, Used in Operation Chastise for a raid on German dams at the heart of the industrial sector, the ideas was to deliver a bomb at the correct position on a dam and this combined with the weight of water would cause the dam to collapse destroying all the factory's vital to the German war effort.

Barnes Wallis first began to think of producing a bouncing bomb in 1941. He was aware that in the 19th century the British Navy had bounced cannon balls on water to increase their range. He began by carrying out experiments with marbles and a catapult on a tub of water in his garden. Later he tested his prototype at the National Physics Laboratory in Teddington. These tests were successful and the first bouncing bomb was dropped on Chesil Beach in December, 1942.

Operation Chastise / The Dambusters Raid

In February, 1943 Barnes Wallis was told to prepare these bouncing bombs for an attack on the Mohne and Eder dams in the Ruhr. The Dambusters Raid took place on 16th May 1943. The cylindrical bombs, that spun at 500 rpm, were dropped by Guy Gibson and the 617 Squadron at a height of 60 feet and at a speed of 240 miles an hour. The rotating bomb skipped over the water and exploded while sinking to the base of the retaining wall of the dam. The bombing produced heavy floods and badly damaged German production in the Ruhr.That night only 2 dams were destroyed and 1 badly damaged.

The skill and bravery of the pilots who flew at night, at 100ft (30m) or less over enemy territory is breathtaking. The aircraft that did make it to the dams pressed home their attacks with a reckless disregard for their own safety, seven out of the 19 aircraft which took part in the raid were brought down by German anti-aircraft guns. 

The RAF could not sustain such high losses and the bomb was rarely used again during the war.

So Why not get yourself your very own model of this Iconic WWII Machine Today. Shop online at www.alwayshobbies.com or call 01508 549330.

Hobbies, Supplying Model Maker Since 1895

Occre London L.C.C.106 Double Decker Tram Model Kit 53008 | Hobbies

Hobbies are delighted to be selling the Occre London L.C.C.106 Double Decker Tram Model Kit 53008,  a new model kit made by the Spanish company Ocio Creativo. 

These Kits contain all the parts needed to make an impressive wood & metal model of the classic London Double Decker Tram. 

Occre London L.C.C.106 Double Decker Tram Model Kit 53008

We decided to find a little history and background information about when the old trams last ran the streets of London:

By 1952 trams had already been phased out in several English cities but some of London's old trams were sent to Leeds where they remained in service until 1959.

Ten years after the demise of London's trams, trolleybuses followed them into oblivion.

In the 1970s much of the Kingsway tram tunnel was converted for road use.

During the conversion Aldwych station was destroyed but Holborn tram station remains intact in an unused portion of the tunnel.

Over the years trams have regained popularity in some quarters as an environmentally-friendly means of mass transport.

Manchester has had a tram system since the mid-1990s and in 2000 a combined tram/light railway system started running in Croydon in south east London.

Scene from last tram's journey 

1952: London's trams trundle into history

After nearly a century of service the tram has made its final appearance in London.

The very last tram to rumble along the capital's streets arrived at south-east London's New Cross depot in the early hours of this morning.

It was driven by John Cliff, deputy chairman of London Transport Executive, who began his career as a tram driver.

Trams have carried banners all week proclaiming "Last Tram Week" and special tickets carrying the same message have been produced.

Conductors punched souvenir tickets and enthusiasts drove or cycled alongside the tram - car number 1951 - for the duration of the journey.

The tram's journey time was extended by almost three hours by crowds of cheering Londoners who surrounded it along the route from Woolwich to New Cross.

Noisy and dangerous

At New Cross depot the tram was greeted by LTE chairman Lord Latham.

"In the name of Londoners I say goodbye, old tram," Lord Latham declared as the vehicle entered the tram shed.

The first electric trams appeared on London's streets in 1901 following on from horse-drawn trams which were introduced in 1861.

However, by the 1930s trams were seen as noisy and dangerous to other road users.

In 1931 a commission of inquiry recommended trams be replaced by trolleybuses - electrified vehicles which did not need tracks - but many trams were temporarily reprieved by the outbreak of the Second World War.

The final phasing out of trams follows the closure of the Kingsway tram tunnel three months ago.

The tunnel which begins in Kingsway and extends under The Strand was opened in 1906 and houses two tram stations - Aldwych and Holborn.