toboldlygo

Last time I had a close look at a Wimpey, it had just arrived at Weybridge on a back of lorry from Loch Ness. We connected the electrics to the lorry battery and were delighted to find that the lights still worked.

Its now sitting in Brooklands Museum.

 

The first guy I was working with as an apprentice at Weybridge was Ted Walker. He told me that his first job as a "boy" was to assist in assessing the damage to aircraft that had been returned to Weybridge for repair. His job was to find the bullet hole in the skin and trace where the bullet had bounced off the structure and log each point.

 

These aircraft were very popular with aircrews as they had good survivability in combat. i.e. they could soak up a lot a bullets and still fly home. An advantage shared with the Hurricane that was also being produced on the other side of the track (The Byfleet side of the site).

 

I recall that Barnes Wallis was proposing a bigger version to carry his bouncing bomb. I think it was either going to be a four, six or even eight engined monster. But this design was dropped by the War Office in favour of the new Lancaster which itself was an improved version of the two engine Manchester Bomber. So if you fancy doing some kit bashing there are two prime candidates.

I got told about the lights working, by various ex-Weybridge employees, who ended up at Dunsfold (some via Kingston, others went direct)

Funnily enough the guy who taught me the dark art's of Tinsmithry was ex-Weybridge lad, Jesse (John) James was his name - he was no cowboy though. He was there when R for Robert came 'home' to Weybridge, he recalled how eerie it was.

That bomb bay looks interesting. Leave the doors off and add two torpedoes and you have 38 squadron "torpington". These were used in the med. My old man was on their first torpedo based mission.He was a wireless op/air gunner. Their claim to fame was dropping two torpedoes on Rommels' HQ when an engine went U/S. Baz

With everything I've read about Wellington's the bomb bay was easily adaptable to what type of bomb load - even the prototype Upkeeps.

Apparently my Grandfather (he ended up as a Wing Commander) flew Wimpy's at some point during the war - though I've yet to confirm it.

Nice bit of modelling TBG, I always enjoyed making up these larger aircraft in my younger days. As far as that e-mail is concerned maybe it should be loaded into the Bombay ! )

A one point I wished I had a 4,000lb Cookie to drop on Hornby HQ - it might of shook some sense in to them more quickly

I'm intrigued what the rude email contained, please tell.

I will pm you about it.

Thought you might have.

 

Have you any photos of the Albatross?

Sadly not

I have done the lozenge camouflage on a free flight (rubber band power) Fokker D.VII and on a 1/72 Albatross..

Oo very nice - what did you use to remove the cab and tender lining please? I've a Bachmann Hall I was thinking about repainting, but I don't know of anything that would shift their printed decorations.

Micro-Sol and plenty of cocktail sticks. You need to keep the lining wet with the stuff for a minimum of 15 minutes. It will start to come off at that point and you'll have to repeat the process several times.

Halls well that ends well.

Not necessarily - I've done a lot of research today

Not mine guv, honest.

You have diplomatic immunity Rob

Very nice work and something different on the Me109 front...   Certainly opens up an whole range of captured aircraft operated by the allies. I believe Monty had a Storch at some point?   Cheers,   Mark

Brilliant modelling...

 

Really like the prototype and it complements the Sea Fury nicely.

 

The Airfix Me 109-E box has some nice variants as well...

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

Thanks

It's and interesting aircraft with a troubled development and dwarfs what is fairly large plane (Sea Fury) in itself. I'm keeping an eye for a Sword/Classic Airframes 1/48th Scale Gannet.

It's the collectors club version, so I'll be doing 109-E3 in RAF Markings.

Flaming white hot Take Off rockets next to a high explowsive torpedo, what could possibly go wrong?

Quite a lot apparently!

Lovely stuff...

 

Although the prototype had a bad reputation I do like the Wyvern design...

 

Like the 830 Squadron version with the Suez stripes..

 

Will a Gannet be on the cards at some point?  

 

 

And a Fiesler F156 Storch of course.....

The Suez stripes will appear on one of the FAA kits I have in my stash, but not on the Wyvern as she'll be 831 Squadron (Ark Royal). I must hunt down a 1/48th scale Gannet..

I know a guy who flew these (carrier ops) and surprisingly lived to tell the tale.

A very brave guy then, the Wyvern was an absolute beast to fly - by all accounts.

It makes a change from doing GWR locos.

If I didn't do the planes, the trains would make me go mad - they help me focus better.

Sounds good... Look forwards to seeing it once finish the Wyvern... Cheers, Mark

I have a four loco's to finish, before I can do anymore on the Wyvern and there's still a lot to do on the beast - the kit has over 200 parts!

I do like building kits that I've built in 1/72nd in other scales, hence why I acquired the Lysander. I also have a Me 109 in RAF markings to do in 1/48th, along with a Mosquito in 1/24th amongst an ever growing stash.

I never realised that about the preserved Wyvern... I do love the Lysander. A real favourite of mine. Other than the obvious RAF versions. The Finnish and Free French versions look good and offer something different. The Luftwaffe Fiesler F156 Storch in the same mould is another favourite. Always fancied building the Tamiya 1/48 version with Finnish Airforce markings... The Finnish Me 109 G6’s in night fighter livery are also different with their ‘Bat’ markings. Cheers, Mark

Wow! 

 

Although the prototype didn't have a good reputation the Trumpter kit has. I remember the kit being well received when it was reviewed.

 

Having seen the preserved Wyvern in the flesh it's always been a favourite and one I should build.  Nice work and looking forwards to seeing the finished article.

 

On the subject of the RNAS how about the Revell 1:72 Westland Merlin? 

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

Mark, the one that's preserved at RNAS Yeovilton is a pre-production version - it has a piston engine (rather than the bonkers turbo-prop) and never flew.

I have a Trumpeter Supermarket Attacker on order, plus a Westland Whirlwind (the fighter not the helicopter) and a Lysander(Eduard) all in 1/48th waiting in the wings.

There was a twin-seater reconnaissance? version at Boscombe Down. My father in law used to go out in it. I think they only made a few of these, and I think this one still exists.

There were various two seaters built and a number survive - they were mainly used for training and later some where sold on after conversion for target towing.

Your father probably went up in a T20.

Nice work...

You can see the FW 190 influence in the design from your build photos

Have you ever built a Trumpeter Westland Wyvern? One I always fancied building..

Oops, you'll never guess what I've just ordered

Not necessarily, as training units used the silver scheme.

There are versions of the Revel (Matchbox) 1/32nd Spitfire with the Silver Scheme

If memory serves the Silver scheme is the Mk 24 and the camo scheme is the Mk 22

The device under the nose is in fact the engine air intake. The oil cooler is the smaller 'pod' under the port wing.

 

 

........... jus' sayin'

 

 

Emma

As I pointed out in the opening line of my blog entry, I have the Cold from Hell. It's actually a Vokes Air Filter, but in some literary sources it's referred to as a Tropical Radiator or Filter.

Blog entry has been amended

Great stuff, T-B-G.  I've got a Revell (ex Matchbox) 1/32 Spitfire mk22/24 in the stash. Your build has encouraged me to dig it out. Not as big as 1/24th of course but big enough!  I've now washed the sprues (only 5 of them) so no going back...Wrong make to be a "Hornbys best" I afraid... Like the use of mole grips.

ps does the undercarriage retract on your 1/24th one?  Looks like the legs are pivvoted.

Wonder if I'll get my free Daily Mail one built, we shall see!

Oh go on, you know you want too