StevieD Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 My Whitley finished. Depicts the Whitley of Sgt Alexander Hollingworth (RAAF) being readied for its last mission at RAF Dalton on 5 January, 1942. Z9289 was one of three 102 Squadron Whitleys that took off at 4.30am the following morning to attack the Cherbourg docks. Hollingworth’s aircraft developed engine trouble over France and he opted to return to Dalton rather than the nearest airfield. (Some accounts have Hollingworth shutting down the engine although I didn’t think a Whitley could fly for too long on one). Over Derbyshire, with the Whitley losing height, the bombs were jettisoned on moors to the south of Sheffield. The faulty engine then caught fire. Approaching Barnsley, Sgt Hazeldine, Sgt Brain, Sgt Jackson bailed out in the Dodwoth Rd/Locke Park area. Sgt Buchanan left too late and his chute became entanged with the chimney of a waste incinerator near West St. and he was killed. Sgt Hollingworth stayed with the aircraft and died as he put the Whitley down into Cresswell quarry after avoiding terrace houses in Cresswell St. Some aircraft parts including a section of prop and crew documents are now on display at The Barnsley Museum. Thanks to those on here that helped with this. I opted to go with DY -‘G’ as the squadron records didn’t record the a/c letter and ‘G’ is shown on the memorial plaque in Cresswell St. As a strange footnote , the land where Z9289 came down was, in the 17th century, owned by John Hollingworth - an ancestor of Alexander Hollingworth. Thanks for looking. 40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fizzy Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Really nice work, love the diorama, really sets it off well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul A H Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 That is truly superb and a very fitting tribute as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthemodeller Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Moving back story and a cracking model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Superb model, excellent diorama and a very well researched and moving back story,...........great job! Cheers Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimHead23 Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Fantastic! Really nicely composed diorama and a moving story behind it. Very well done that man! Regards Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stringbag Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Very nice indeed. Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Beautiful and a fitting tribute. Love the diorama to bring to life the fateful last moments before leaving Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeR Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Really nicely done! Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick32 Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Very nice! Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mancunian airman Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Beautiful redition of the aircraft, well presented as well with the figures and equipment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Lovely job on your Whitley. The background story helps to bring to life the horrific odds against bomber crews during the war. Very well done. Craig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight_Flyer Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Very nice and a cool dio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 A superb dio, a fitting tribute as well, Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent K Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 That really is wonderful, both the quality of the build and diorama as well as the story behind it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Very sharp looking work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Superb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
593jones Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Lovely build, and as a Barnsley lad, that's the aircraft I should be building! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Great story.Great build.Great tribute,you should be very proud indeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike DeTorrice Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 A really fine model Whitley and a beautiful presentation of it here. Very nice ! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 A beautiful model and a fine tribute! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieD Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share Posted November 13, 2015 Thanks for all your kind words. The Whitley was a joy to build. I think it shows how far the Airfix new tools have come, because I had a go at the new tool Gladiator after this and it was like some beast from another age. The only real problem I had with the Whitley was getting the radiators into the engine nacelles. Took me a while to do the diorama as there’s always the temptation to cram in too much and overwhelm the aircraft. What I’d really like to see is some new 1/72 ground crew. The old Airfix stuff is nicely detailed but the flash and that plastic make it hard work. Decided not to go with canopy masking on this and painted the frames in acrylic tidied up with a sharp cocktail stick – worked a treat. Also held back on the weathering (Z9289 was only delivered in November) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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