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Working on a Wellington Wing Walker - Airfix 1/72 Vickers Wellington

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  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Earth
Working on a Wellington Wing Walker - Airfix 1/72 Vickers Wellington
Posted by DiscoStu on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 11:44 AM

I came across a neat story from WWII where a crew member in a Vickers Wellington put out a fire by climbing out through the astrodome and onto the wing to put out the flames.  As luck would have it Airfix has this exact kit.  So I started this little project.  Hopefully my ambitions won't exceed my abilities.

I started by poking holes in the wings using the reference photos I found online.  Surprisingly there wasn't a ton of damage, but I guess it was enough to sever the fuel lines and cause a fire.  From what I read the Wellington was jumped by a BF-110 night fighter that got off a quick burst before being downed by the "Wimpy's" tail gunner.

 Wellington Project by Stu George, on Flickr

I then went on to work on the interior.  Reference pictures were scarce and seemed to be all over the map, so a bit of artistic license was used.  I painted the nose and tail sections black with a mix of hull red and white to create the "brick red" called out in the instructions.  I added an Eduard color PE set.  Airfix did a nice job with the interior details.  They even show you which parts can be omitted and won't be seen once the fuselage is closed up.  I decided to throw in everything. 

 Wellington Project by Stu George, on Flickr

 Wellington Project by Stu George, on Flickr

 Wellington Project by Stu George, on Flickr

 Wellington Project by Stu George, on Flickr

 Wellington Project by Stu George, on Flickr

"Ahh the Luftwaffe. The Washington Generals of the History Channel" -Homer Simpson

  

 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 12:00 PM

Very interesting story and neat subject.

Pilot Ward was very unfortunately killed two months later on a mission over Germany and is buried in Hamburg.

You'll have to dig up RNZAF decals I guess, nice project.

 

Bill

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Earth
Posted by DiscoStu on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 12:30 PM

The Airfix kit came with markings for Ward's aircraft.  So that should save some searching.  The box art even shows Ward and another member of the crew attempting to put out the fire.  Imagine my relief when, after reading about the incident, the bug hit to build this aircraft that Airfix had one on the shelf and ready to go.

 

"Ahh the Luftwaffe. The Washington Generals of the History Channel" -Homer Simpson

  

 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 12:33 PM

How about that? Yes, I looked up the box art. Somewhere Barnes Wallis must be smiling.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Mopar Madness on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 8:44 PM

I really like how Airfix gives the builder a choice to streamline the kit building process. Nice lattice work in that fuselage. 

Chad

God, Family, Models...

At the plate: 1/48 Airfix Bf109 & 1/35 Tamiya Famo

On deck: Who knows!

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Earth
Posted by DiscoStu on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 7:54 AM

Agreed!  It was a nice touch.  It would be tough to omit a lot of the interior detail on this particular Mk as there are windows everywhere, particularly the long openings along bolth sides of the fuselage (I read that the crew actually broke a window in order to throw coffee at the flames in a vain attempt to put out the fire).  The unused parts within the kit hint at later Mks where those windows are covered up. 

Plus I just couldn't help myself.  I'll gladly spend extra hours on detail pieces that will vanish forever once the fuselage is closed up.

"Ahh the Luftwaffe. The Washington Generals of the History Channel" -Homer Simpson

  

 

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Naples, FL
Posted by tempestjohnny on Thursday, August 29, 2019 5:04 AM
Interior looks great. I too have read the account of this plane and pilot.

 

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