From a long-unseen corner of the bench...

The Rat · February 24, 2018, 03:24:12 PM

...covered in dust and almost forgotten, a partially finished Matchbox Vickers Wellesley.

But what to do with the old gal? Give her a wash, anyway, maybe I'll think of somethi... OOH! Hang on a tic, I've got some Australian decals left over from the Airfix B-25!

The Wellesleys did make a long-distance flight to Darwin from Ismailia, Egypt, so maybe the RAAF brass were sufficiently impressed by that to order a few. By the way, that record still stands as the longest flight by a single-engined aircraft.

comrade harps · February 24, 2018, 04:35:49 PM

Gotta love those super long-span wings!

Could that beat Dolittle's Raiders to Japan? Launch from Oz and recover in China or India, maybe?

The Rat · February 24, 2018, 04:45:10 PM

Quote from: comrade harps on February 24, 2018, 04:35:49 PM
Could that beat Dolittle's Raiders to Japan? Launch from Oz and recover in China or India, maybe?

Not sure if they would want to try that. The B-25 was fast and agile, and could take low-level flight. That's basically how they did the raid. The phrase 'Thirty seconds over Tokyo' wasn't just a book title, it was a testament to how quickly they got over it. The Wellesley would have been ripped to shreds before even getting there, the Zero was a lot faster, and had a higher service ceiling. If it didn't get caught coming in, there's no way it would have made it out.

rickshaw · February 24, 2018, 05:12:28 PM

Quote from: The Rat on February 24, 2018, 04:45:10 PM
Quote from: comrade harps on February 24, 2018, 04:35:49 PM
Could that beat Dolittle's Raiders to Japan? Launch from Oz and recover in China or India, maybe?

Not sure if they would want to try that. The B-25 was fast and agile, and could take low-level flight. That's basically how they did the raid. The phrase 'Thirty seconds over Tokyo' wasn't just a book title, it was a testament to how quickly they got over it. The Wellesley would have been ripped to shreds before even getting there, the Zero was a lot faster, and had a higher service ceiling. If it didn't get caught coming in, there's no way it would have made it out.

Except if they made their attack at night...

The Japanese didn't have night fighters that early in the war.

I seriously doubt the Wellesly could have made it all the way from our Top End to Tokyo. From the Philippines? Maybe. The ultra long range flight from Egypt to Downunder was made at the expense of any bombload and very careful marshalling of fuel.

The Rat · February 24, 2018, 05:53:47 PM

I'm wondering about this scenario: they take delivery, but are obsolete as bombers by the time war breaks out. But with their long range, they are used for land based anti-submarine patrols, to supplement the Short Sunderland.

Edit: I think that's the way I'll go, sea grey over white would look really nice.

The Wooksta! · February 24, 2018, 06:29:38 PM

Erm, Wellesleys WERE used for ASW work - the RAF were using them in the Persian Gulf in '43. Much nicer in EDSG/DSG over Azure Blue. This thread on Britmodeller is somewhat interesting.

zenrat · February 24, 2018, 07:21:16 PM

I'm looking at that and visualising it with the front cockpit faired over and maybe a second engine behind the first.
Vickers entry in the inaugural round the world high altitude air race.

TheChronicOne · February 24, 2018, 07:25:26 PM

I like it!!

It will be interesting following along.

Dizzyfugu · February 25, 2018, 12:22:53 AM

That looks interesting. Maybe a long range sea recce aircraft?

Old Wombat · February 25, 2018, 01:08:21 AM

I still want one to do a wing-swap with a Wellington but they seem to be as rare as rocking horse poop.

Gondor · February 25, 2018, 03:07:56 AM

Quote from: The Wooksta! on February 24, 2018, 06:29:38 PM
Erm, Wellesleys WERE used for ASW work - the RAF were using them in the Persian Gulf in '43. Much nicer in EDSG/DSG over Azure Blue. This thread on Britmodeller is somewhat interesting.

Sounds interesting.... if only you had included the link....

Gondor

The Wooksta! · February 25, 2018, 03:34:35 AM

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235028384-wellesley-x-2-finished/&page=3

loupgarou · February 25, 2018, 07:15:43 AM

Quote from: The Wooksta! on February 25, 2018, 03:34:35 AM
http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235028384-wellesley-x-2-finished/&page=3

The first photo in the link gives me ideas about ussing the Wellesley bomb containers as skis for a COLD war build!

Scotaidh · February 25, 2018, 08:54:51 AM

To my eye, that aircraft needs a larger engine. What about a multi-row radial? There must have been one or two likely types floating about that could have been used. What about the Bristol Hercules sleeve-valve, as used on the Beaufighter? It was available in 1939, so ... a possibility?

kitbasher · February 25, 2018, 09:36:02 AM

Quote from: Scotaidh on February 25, 2018, 08:54:51 AM
To my eye, that aircraft needs a larger engine. What about a multi-row radial? There must have been one or two likely types floating about that could have been used. What about the Bristol Hercules sleeve-valve, as used on the Beaufighter? It was available in 1939, so ... a possibility?

The Hercules was flight tested on a Wellesley.