RS Models 92310 - 1:72 DFS-230A Festung Breslau 1945 WWII German Glider

Plastic Model Kit of the German DFS 230A Assault Glider “Festung Breslau 1945” in 1:72 Scale

RS Models 92310 is a self-assembly model kit representing the German DFS 230A assault glider in its early production version – presented in a thematic boxing dedicated to the final period of World War II, when these gliders were used to deliver supplies to the besieged city of Breslau, one of the German “fortress cities” (Festungen) defending against the advancing Red Army in 1945. The siege of Breslau lasted 82 days – from mid-February until May 6, 1945 – making it one of the longest sieges of the final stage of the war in Europe. Air supply missions to the city’s defenders were carried out from airfields in Germany and Czechoslovakia, including flights performed using DFS 230 gliders.

The DFS 230 was a classic assault glider with a tubular fabric-covered structure, built in a parasol-wing configuration with two struts connecting the wing to the fuselage. The aircraft could carry a pilot and nine fully equipped airborne troops or up to 1,200 kg of cargo – during supply flights to surrounded garrisons they were mainly used to transport ammunition, medical supplies, and other essential cargo. Landings were performed on improvised airstrips or directly on city streets.

Inside the box you will find:

• Plastic sprues with fuselage, wing, and tailplane components
• Clear cockpit canopy parts
• Landing gear components (takeoff trolley and landing skids)
• Water-slide decal sheet for aircraft used during supply flights to Festung Breslau (1945)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model technical details:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalog number: 92310
• Manufacturer: RS Models
• Finished model length: approx. 156 mm, wingspan: approx. 305 mm
• Difficulty level: intermediate

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints, or modeling tools. The model requires assembly and painting.

Building the model:

RS Models kits are produced using short-run technology, so careful removal of parts from the sprues, cleaning mold attachment points, and precise fitting of the main structural components are recommended. The long wing struts connecting the wing to the fuselage and the high parasol wing require particular precision during assembly to maintain proper geometry. The cockpit interior and cargo compartment should be painted before joining the fuselage halves.

Aircraft used during flights to Festung Breslau in 1945 were painted in late-war Luftwaffe camouflage – RLM 70 Schwarzgrün and RLM 71 Dunkelgrün on upper surfaces with RLM 65 Hellblau undersides, sometimes supplemented with additional late-war patches or stripes. Many aircraft at this stage of the war displayed heavy operational wear and signs of hurried maintenance. Recommended paints include Mr. Hobby Aqueous Hobby Color, AK Real Colors, or Tamiya equivalents in RLM shades. A gloss varnish is recommended before applying decals (to prevent decal silvering), while a matte final coat accurately reproduces the finish of late-war operational aircraft.

Essential tools:

• Modeling sprue cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Modeling knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for smoothing attachment points
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for precise installation of the wing struts
• Modeling putty for finishing joints
• Precision modeling tweezers
• Paint brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Modeling wash for highlighting surface details

About the glider – DFS 230 and Festung Breslau:

The DFS 230 (Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug – German Research Institute for Sailplane Flight) was a German assault glider designed by Hans Jacobs in 1933. The prototype first flew in 1937, and the aircraft entered Luftwaffe service in 1939. The glider was intended for airborne operations – it could carry a pilot and nine fully equipped airborne troops (or up to 1,200 kg of cargo) and land directly adjacent to the target with an accuracy of approximately 20 meters thanks to a braking parachute. The structure consisted of a steel tubular framework covered with fabric. The aircraft was usually towed by Junkers Ju 52/3m transport aircraft.

During the final months of World War II, as the Red Army offensive surrounded successive German garrisons, Hitler declared a number of cities to be “fortresses” (Festungen) ordered to resist to the last soldier. Among them was Breslau, declared a Festung on August 25, 1944, and besieged by forces of the 1st Ukrainian Front from mid-February 1945 onward. The defense of the city lasted 82 days and ended with capitulation on May 6, 1945 – two days before Germany’s overall surrender. Air supply missions to the defenders were carried out by the Luftwaffe from airfields in Germany and Czechoslovakia – primarily using Junkers Ju 52 transport aircraft, but also DFS 230 gliders, which were capable of delivering cargo onto increasingly smaller improvised landing strips within the besieged city. After the war, under the agreements of the Potsdam Conference, Breslau became part of Poland and was renamed Wrocław.

Technical data of the original aircraft (DFS 230 A-1):

• Length: 11.24 m
• Wingspan: 21.98 m
• Height: 2.74 m
• Empty weight: approx. 860 kg
• Maximum takeoff weight: approx. 2,100 kg
• Crew: 1 pilot + 9 airborne troops or up to 1,200 kg of cargo
• Armament: optionally 1 × 7.92 mm MG 34 machine gun (B-1 version)
• Maximum towing speed: approx. 210 km/h
• Glide ratio: 18 (empty), 11 (fully loaded)
• Typical tow aircraft: Junkers Ju 52/3m
• Production: more than 1,600 units (1939–1943)

About the manufacturer – RS Models:

RS Models is a Czech manufacturer of plastic model kits operating since the early 1990s. The company specializes in short-run aircraft kits from World War II and the early postwar period – particularly lesser-known Japanese, German, Italian, French, and American prototype aircraft. RS Models kits are produced using short-run technology, giving modelers access to rare subjects unavailable from major mainstream manufacturers. Building RS Models kits is both a rewarding challenge and an excellent way to expand a collection with unique pieces of aviation history.