HISTORY. The series 1 A.S.R. launch was developed from a M.T.B, built by British Power Boats for the Royal Navy, probably designed by Fred Cooper. In 1940 these craft were the backbone of the rescue work in the Channel. H.S.L. 116 was shot up off the Isle of Wight on 8/8/40 whilst on a rescue mission. H.S.L. 107 was probably the most famous of all the launches, for she served throughout the long siege of Malta. She was credited with the saving of over 100 aircrew whilst operating close to the Sicilian coast. During this time she had black and yellow splinter mattresses around the cabin, and she was armed with twin Vickers 303" machine guns. ( see our ASR 128 version twin screw) These craft were well liked by the crews as they were one of the fastest craft afloat, and the internal finish was more akin to a luxury cruiser than a working boat. There is one of these high speed craft that has been restored to working condition by Power boat Restorations. She is often seen at shows giving exciting rides to the public. Details of the kit
Scale 1/24 Length 812mm Beam 152mm Sailing weight 1.8kg
SERIES 1. AIR SEA RESCUE LAUNCH. The model of this craft, one of the fastest A.S.R. to serve during W.W.11, with a top speed of over 40 knots. The hull of this model is moulded in lightweight glassfibre, with a moulded in rubbing strip that forms a seating for the 1.5mm Laser cut deck I HIPS styrene. The complete superstructure and all deck structure parts are in vacformed plastic, and to complement this most attractive model a full set of fittings is included along with propeller shaft, tube and rudder. To assist in the construction a FULL SIZE PLAN is provided along with a complete set of comprehensive instructions, plus a set of decals to give a colourful finished model. As in all of the Deans range, the on the water performance is outstanding.