Luft-X – The Motor Pool

Luft-X and Wings Receive Valuable Reinforcements

Late yesterday, Historic Sales, the owners of both the Luft-X and Wings of the Great War series, announced an additional aircraft for each of their longstanding series. In the case of Luft-X, the range will now come with its first 1:144 scale model — an Arado E.555 I long-range strategic bomber, meant to wreak havoc on the shores of the US and Canada. Its an impressive model if smaller than their predecessors, largely because of its wingspan, which measures nearly 8-inches in length. While ten different versions of the E.555 were being worked on at the Arado Flugzeugwerke, located at Warnemunde, in Mecklenburg, Germany, none took flight, victims of bureaucracy and precious resources needed elsewhere. In fact, all of the E.555 projects were abandoned, following a December 22nd, 1944, order by the Reich Air Ministry.

For the Wings line, Historic chose a subject that, in actuality, could better be positioned as a WWII aircraft than a WWI model since it was built years after the War ended. LZ 129 was a German commercial passenger-carrying rigid airship, the lead ship of her class, the longest class of flying machine and the largest airship by envelope volume. She was designed and built by the Zeppelin Company (Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH) on the shores of Lake Constance in Friedrichshafen, Germany, and was operated by the German Zeppelin Airline Company (Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei). She was named after Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, who was President of Germany from 1925 until his death in 1934. The Hindenburg famously went down in flames over New Jersey way back in 1937, a victim of its hydrogen-propelled fuel being ignited by an onrushing thunderstorm.

While the finished model won’t sport the German swastika on its tail to remain PC compliant, it will come bundled with decals so that collectors can apply them to make it more historically accurate. Like all of the other aircraft in both series, the new models are composed of resin, making them far heavier than they would ordinarily appear. Both models are slated to take to the skies in January.

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Winter of My German Soldier

**Luft-X’s 1:72 scale German Heinkel P.1078 Interceptor – Heinkel Flugzeugwerke, Warnemunde, Germany, 1945**

Historic Aviation, owner of both the Wings of the Great War and Luft-X lines of resin military aircraft and our principal distributor, announced today that three new models are joining their rapidly expanding resin aerodrome. In the Luft-X range, look for a Heinkel P.1078 interceptor painted in a curious-looking blue, green and white camouflage scheme. Although never greenlighted by the Waffenamt, the P.1078 was created as part of a program to develop a high altitude interceptor capable of dealing with some of the new pressurized bombers believed to take to the skies over the Third Reich, most notably the Boeing B-29 Superfortress.

**Wings of the Great War’s 1:72 scale German Fokker D.VII Fighter – Franz Buchner, Jagdstaffel 13, 1917**

In the Wings of the Great War series, two WWI-era aircraft were given the nod, among them a Fokker D.VII fighter that was piloted by Franz Buchner along with a Junkers D.1 Fighter that was deployed to the Western Front during Autumn 1918. According to the marketing hand out, all three aircraft are being vectored for a February landing.

**Wings of the Great War’s 1:72 scale German Junkers D.1 Fighter – Western Front, Autumn 1918**

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Wings of the Great War Takes Wing Again

We’ll be the first to admit that its been awhile since we received a shipment of models from Wings of the Great War. But as they say, patience is a virtue and we’re happy to report the impending arrival of three previously released 1:72 scale World War I era military aircraft. The list includes a U.S. Air Service Spad XIII Biplane Fighter piloted by famed ace 1st Lt. Eddie Rickenbacker ((WW15001), a German Fokker Dr.I Triplane Fighter commanded by the “Red Baron” himself, Manfred von Richthofen and a 1:700 German Imperial Navy LZ 41 Zeppelin (WW19901), .

While its certainly wonderful to receive some re-stocks, the Company that oversees the production of these models claims that newer aircraft are currently in the works. We’re not certain when some new items will be announced but typically this occurs after a known batch of products, such as the one soon-to-arrive, is finally made available.

**Luft-X’s 1:72 scale German Horten Ho 229 Fighter Bomber – Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, National Air and Space Museum**

Since the Luft-X line is made in the same factory as Wings of the Great War, we are also eagerly awaiting a shipment of their latest warbirds, which includes two versions of the Horten Ho 229 fighter-bomber — a super-sleek fighter-bomber that currently hangs in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, at the National Air and Space Museum.

Look for all of these warbirds to soar over the diecast battlefield next week.

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Product Spotlight: Der Wunderwaffe

**Luft-X’s 1:72 scale German Lippisch P.13a Ramjet-Powered Interceptor**

Its been awhile since Luft-X added some new warbirds to their highly successful range of vengeance weapons Hitler oft touted as saving the Third Reich from disaster. Although the Ho 229 flying wing was resurrected and expected to return to stock this month, we were beginning to wonder if any newer projects were kicking about that would help extend the life and interest in this all-important line. Well, wonder no more because two new models were announced today, both designed to reinvigorate the range and breathe new life into a rather dormant series.

The Lippisch P.12, P.13a and P.13b were related design projects for a ramjet-powered delta wing interceptor aircraft studied in 1944 by German designer Alexander Lippisch. The P.12 and P.13a were unarmed, relying on reinforced wings to ram its opponent. The P.13a and b were to be powered by powdered coal. The DM-1 was a full-size glider, flown to test the P.12/13a low-speed aerodynamics. The design series were unrelated to the earlier P.13 produced by Messerschmitt’s Lippisch design office.

The solid-fuel powered P.13 was one of several distinct Lippisch design studies to be so designated and became identified as the P/13a. It underwent much the same variations of form as the P.12, being presented in a brochure with the large fin and integral raised cockpit, and with an articulated, double-hinged landing skid. The wing trailing edge is angled slightly forwards and the downturned tip surfaces have been discarded. The outer wing sections could be folded upwards for transportation by rail.

A variant with a rectangular canard foreplane was wind-tunnel tested. This was not really consistent with ramming and there are other indications that conventional gun armament was being considered.

Meanwhile, the Heinkel Wespe (English: Wasp) was a project study by the German company Heinkel for a tail-sitting, vertical take off and landing-interceptor aircraft. The aircraft did not have conventional wings, but instead featured a large rotor. Completed in 1945, it remained untested due to a lack of material at the end of the Second World War. A related project was the Heinkel Lerche.

**Luft-X’s 1:72 scale German Heinkel Wespe Vertical Take Off and Landing Interceptor**

The aircraft was to be powered by a turboprop in the center of the airframe which was unusual for having a circular wing and would have had a small frontal area, making it a good platform for attacking bombers. It may have been designed for point defense, but due to the situation in Germany at the time, the engine was not completed and none were ever built.

Both new models are slated to take to the skies this September.

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On to Valhalla! Two Lines Take Their Bows and Sign Up for a Return Engagement

Luft-X 1:72 scale German Horten Ho 229 Fighter Bomber

Two years ago, a pair of highly successful lines we stocked suddenly went dormant, no longer available from our principal distributor or the manufacturer in Asia. The reason the lights went out may never fully be known in its entirety, seeing as how they were privately run companies that seemed to ebb and flow with the fickle fate of the marketplace.

Fast forward to 2021 and I’m proud to announce that both Luft-X and Wings of the Great War are returning to the fold, bigger and badder than ever. In fact, some models are expected to return as early as June, while a handful of previously announced but never released items are slated to finally make a soft landing this September. We’ve updated both sections and are now accepting pre-orders. Get ’em while you can.

Wings of the Great War’s 1:72 scale German Pfalz D.IIIa Biplane Fighter – Carl Degelow, Jasta 7, March 1918

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Tales of Transparency: Line Discontinuance

Wings of the Great War’s 1:72 scale Royal Flying Corps Nieuport 17 Fighter – Lt. William “Billy” Bishop, 60 Squadron, Filescamp, France, March 1917

Until we have evidence to the contrary, we are now presuming that AF-X, Luft-X and Wings of the Great War are no longer being made and have therefore been discontinued by our distributor. Any orders that have been submitted to us thus far for the pair of pre-ordered Wings of the Great War aircraft (WW19002 and WW11004) we were expecting along with any items marked as back ordered will now be cancelled. If our distributor has concrete proof that these lines will be continued then we will re-open the ordering window again and update our site accordingly.

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Luft-X Heads Back to the Drawing Board

The fundamental mission behind the creation of Luft-X is to offer up several of the more exotic aircraft that was under development by the Luftwaffe at the closing stages of WWII. It is therefore a tad ironic that their upcoming Horten Ho 229 fighter-bomber is being wheeled back to its hangar for a new coat of paint, one that is more in keeping with its historic roots and color plates. The new scheme has an earthy look to it (see above), likely treated so it could blend in with trees and other fauna if it was to operate from roadways and rural areas, while its original scheme had a more dazzling look to it (see below).

Their next pair of aircraft are expected in mid August.

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Secret Projects Abound at Luft-X

Earlier this week, we were disappointed to learn that the next pair of Luft-X secret weapons aircraft were being delayed until July. Today, however, we learned that three more aircraft are winging their way off the drawing board and into collector’s homes around the September-October time frame. The trio include a German Messerschmitt Me 329 Fighter (#LUFT005), a German Blohm und Voss P.209.02 Fighter (LUFT006) and a German Focke-Wulf Ta 283 Interceptor (LUFT007). Priced at just $34.99, the Luft-X aircraft were an immediate hit with aviation buffs world wide and the introduction of three more secret weapons of the Luftwaffe will be welcome news to all.

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Luft-X Calls Up Two More Exotic Warbirds

Earlier today, we were informed that newcomer Luft-X will be producing another pair of secret weapons of the Luftwaffe intended for a February release. One will be a Ho 229 fighter bomber, while the second is a Focke Wulf Triebflugel Interceptor.

Constructed out of resin and bearing exacting detail, Luft-X has quickly positioned itself as a dominant force to be reckoned with, willing to take chances by offering replicas of some of the more exotic aircraft of WWII.

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Introducing Luft-X

Earlier today we learned of a brand-new line of scale military aircraft called Luft-X. As its name implies, Luft-X is focusing on some of the experimental aircraft the Luftwaffe was developing towards the end of World War II as a means of drawing parity with the Allied air forces. Two subjects are expected by year’s end: a Gotha Go P.60A All-Wing Fighter (#Luft001) and a Blohm & Voss Bv P.210 Fighter (#Luft002).

Both 1:72 scale aircraft come with display stands and a collectible card, which explains the history and developmental work that went into each creation. Considering their relatively inexpensive cost, this line is an ideal way of filling in some of the holes found in most aircraft enthusiast’s aviation collection. Pre-orders are now being accepted.

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