The twin-engine, single seat German Henschel H.S. 129 is unique in that it was one of the few aircraft of World War II that was designed specifically for the ground attack role.  The design was originally conceived in 1937 following the German Luftwaffe's experience in the Spanish Civil War.  The first H.S. 129 prototype flew in 1939, was powered by in-line Argus engines, and featured extensive armor platting to protect the pilot.  The prototype H.S. 129 was deemed to be underpowered but with the fall of France in 1940 more powerful Gnome-Rhone engines became available, which improved performance enough that the decision was made to put it into production.  Deliveries of the H.S. 129 B began in 1942 and the first units shipped to the Russian front became operational in late summer.  While a handful of H.S. 129s were delivered to North Africa late in 1942, the vast majority was deployed to the Russian Front.  The H.S. 129 B was initially quite successful against Russian armored vehicles.  As the various Russian tank designs improved, however, larger cannon were fitted to the basic H.S. 129 B design to counter increasingly effective armor.  The most heavily armed H.S. 129 was the B3 variant, which carried a 75 mm anti-tank gun with 12 twenty-six pound shells slung beneath the fuselage.  The B2 variant carried four 110-pound bombs instead of a larger cannon.  The H.S. 129 B could fly at speeds ranging between 190 and 253 mph depending on the armament carried.  Standard armament included two 7.9 mm machine guns and two 20 mm cannon.  This older Henschel H.S. 129 ground attack scaled model includes the following features: 1) Authentic markings for a B3 variant flown by IV Panzer Gruppe of Schlachtgeschwader 9 on the Russian front & a B2 variant operated by 4 (Pz)/Sch. GI also operated on the Russian front; 2) Clear plastic canopy; 3) Clear plastic display base; 4) Four 110 pound bombs; 5) Molded in medium gray colored plastic; 6) Recessed panel lines; 7) Rotating propellers; 8) Seated pilot figure and 9) Illustrated assembly instructions.  The box is in good condition.  Never started and 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions inventoried.