Author Topic: Vickers Wellesley bomber model for East Africa (Read 5671 times)

James Morris · « **on:** March 23, 2014, 07:51:29 AM »

As part of my ongoing East Africa WW2 project I decided I was going to need a Wellesley bomber. This slightly bizarre aircraft was virtually obsolete by the start of WW2 but saw service in the whole East Africa campaign, especially at the battles of Gallabat and Keren which Scrivs & I will be gaming at UK shows over the next few weeks (Gallabat at Cannon in Retford on March 30th, then Keren itself at Salute on April 12th, reappearing at Partizan in Newark on June ). I discovered the Wellesley had been designed by Barnes Wallis (of bouncing bomb Dambusters fame) with an unusual 'geodetic' airframe - this pic of a plane damaged over Keren in 1941 shows it really well:

The airframe design meant that the bombs were carried in paniers under the wings rather than in a central bomb bay, as you can see here:

I've done a few planes in 1:72 as they're cheap and easy to mount on a flying stand over a 28mm battlefield, though this time I had to head for eBay to find the kit as only Matchbox ever made one and it was out of production. For a princely £14 I managed to get an unmade copy of this vintage 1975 kit - here it is in its original 3-colour plastic scheme out of the box:

And here's the finished model: (I'm not an aeromodeller so I didn't go so far as to string the radio aerial to the tail - easy to damage in wargaming, as well.)

[bomb blasts by Tom Webster-Deakin]

This shot shows just how crazy the wingspan is!

Cheers

James

carlos marighela · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2014, 08:26:02 AM »

Nicely done and a wonderful bit of nostalgia to boot. I loved those old Matchbox kits. They rather overdid the geodesic effect showing through the fabric but none the less it really looks the part. Now all you need is a Hawker Hind, to strafe the Italians.

Phil Robinson · « **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2014, 08:30:56 AM »

Excellent, the albatross of bombers. Look forward to seeing it on the table.

Vanvlak · « **Reply #3 on:** March 23, 2014, 09:27:12 AM »

Very nicely done - and nice choice, I love aircraft from this period, and the Wellesley's 'double glazing', the wingspan and the bomb panniers give it a unique character.
I second the Hind proposal - although a Gauntlet or Gladiator would be nice too. If they were actually used in East Africa.

OSHIROmodels · « **Reply #4 on:** March 23, 2014, 09:38:00 AM »

Well, isn't that an interesting design

Looks good though

cheers

James

Atheling · « **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2014, 10:51:25 AM »

Really nice work James.....

Darrell.

Genialjim · « **Reply #6 on:** March 23, 2014, 11:17:31 AM »

James,

That’s really nice love that aircraft. Your post inspired me to go and look up your earlier work I remember you showing from your Italian invasion of Abyssinia project http://wabforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=8006. Really inspirational stuff.

Thanks for posting

The Dozing Dragon · « **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2014, 02:26:19 PM »

Very nice indeed.

Arrigo · « **Reply #8 on:** March 23, 2014, 02:56:17 PM »

Looking forward to see it in action in few weeks. As a sidenote my great uncle was in Abyssinia at the time (Italian Royal Army officer), possibly at Keren too.

Arrigo

Yankeepedlar01 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2014, 03:07:37 PM »

Lovely rendition of the plane!

James Morris · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2014, 05:31:00 PM »

Quote from: Arrigo on March 23, 2014, 02:56:17 PM

Looking forward to see it in action in few weeks. As a sidenote my great uncle was in Abyssinia at the time (Italian Royal Army officer), possibly at Keren too.

Arrigo

If you're coming to Salute, please come and say hi!

Cheers

James

Over Open Sights · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2014, 05:45:06 PM »

Simply spelndid!

James Morris · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2014, 07:06:05 PM »

Quote from: Genialjim on March 23, 2014, 11:17:31 AM

James,

That’s really nice love that aircraft. Your post inspired me to go and look up your earlier work I remember you showing from your Italian invasion of Abyssinia project http://wabforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=8006. Really inspirational stuff.

Thanks for posting

Was that really 4 years ago!? I have the Italian planes still, may now need to add a CR42 as well...

Stu · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2014, 10:28:41 PM »

Nice job on the kit!, I've got one sitting in my 'to do' pile ... about five years now I think.

Finisterrae · « **Reply #14 on:** March 24, 2014, 09:31:54 PM »

Looks very nice for a plane that ugly. Very good work at painting the inner structure.

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