1/72nd Matchbox Wellesley, 47 Sqn, Anti-Sub duties, Egypt 1943

[tonyot]

Hiya Folks,

              Another one from the Matchbox GB,.....this is the Wellesley wearing a slightly less well known scheme, while in service with 47 Sqn in Egypt during 1943 for anti-sub and convoy escort duties over the Med. I went for a faded look to the Temperate Sea Scheme as the real aircraft looks quite washed out and faded and I extended this to the markings too.

I scratch built some interior detail and opened up the cockpit side door,....here is the WIP, where I am building two models;

Here is the real aircraft;

 

And here is the model;

 

 

As usual,...the model was brush painted and in this case I used some of my last Aeromaster acrylics,....which will be much missed when these bottles run out!

 

Cheers,

           Tony

 

[Rabbit Leader]

Tony,

As many of us have mentioned within the GB, this is another well researched and unusual scheme that you've masterly applied to a classic Matchbox kit. 

Thanks for providing the inspiration - for we are all just that little bit more knowledgeable with every new model you build.

 

Cheers... Dave   

 

[Eric Mc]

That is lovely.

[celt]

My favourite Matchbox kit of all time,well tidy mun.

[Spitfire31]

Wonderful model of a rather awkward looking design.

 

Yet another piece of evidence that Matchbox kits have got what it takes – in competent hands, NB.

 

Kind regards,

 

Joachim

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Great looking Wellesley 

[Gazontipede]

Utterly bonkers! I love it!

You have my deepest sympathies for your back problems. I've had to live with my smashed up spine for 15 years now and know what sort of huge impediment it can be.

It hasn't stopped your modelling mojo though!

 

Here's a bit of trivia about these 47 Sqn Wellesleys and their convoy protection ASW work you may find interesting if you don't already know it. (I haven't seen any one  else mention it.)

On 30 October 1942, 47 Sqn Wellesley KU-H sighted* U-559 (a type VIIC boat) on the surface NE of Port Said. The Wellesley tracked** U-559 and homed in a surface action group consisting of the fleet destroyers HMS Pakenham, HMS Petard and HMS Hero along with the Hunt class destroyers HMS Dulverton and HMS Hurworth who sent her (the U-boat, not the Wellesley!) to the bottom in position 32.30N, 33.00E. (The sinking U-boat was boarded by three men from HMS Petard who had swum over to her. Two of them went down with the wreck when it foundered, but they had managed to pass out the Enigma code machine, with the current rotor settings, and the cipher books.) https://www.uboat.net/boats/u559.htm

 

* One source (Coastal Command vs the U Boat Peter G Dancey) claims this was a shared RAF/RN kill, suggesting that the Wellesley did more than just shadow U-559, presumably involving its own depth charges. Also I seem to recall this incident with a more 'proactive' Wellesley being mentioned in the Chris Shores Mediterranean Air War series (Vol. 2 IIRC).

** Apparently the Med was a dangerous place to be a submariner. The clear waters allowed submerged boats to be easily seen from the air as deep as 100 feet down.

 

 

[jeaton01]

Well done!

[Crimea River]

I agree.

[SoftScience]

Now that is very cool. I never knew the Wesley served in the war. 

 

I love these rare types you produce, Tony. Very nice, and thanks for the bit of history.

[GrahamB]

Well, that's something you don't see every day. Good choice!

[invidia]

Great looking build. Nice to see in a differant scheme.

[Touvdal]

I love the interesting and rare schemes that you find, and  always document as well.

 

Cheers

Jes

[RidgeRunner]

Very nice indeed. You've perfectly captured the character of the type.

 

Martin

[qn30jEkPz7]

Lovely result - well done!

[JWM]

Excellent as always. Moreover - this is the most unususal livery of Wellesley. I like very much your diging and presenting in models all those variations of basics...

Cheers

J-W

 

[polo1112]

Fantastic Wellesley !!!

Another beautiful model Tony.

Congratulations.

[noelh]

Always liked the Matchbox Wellesley. Built one when it first came out. I knew some soldiered on during the war but never imagined it in those colours.

I sometimes think of RAF pilots who found themselves in obscure postings flying the likes of the Wellesley and in another thread the Walrus from the Isle of Man must have wondered if they were unlucky to miss out on flying 'glamourous'  fighters or bombers. 

[Meatbox8]

A superb rendition of this interesting aircraft.  I had no idea it had ever operated in this scheme or that it was still operational as late as 1943.  Inspired me to get myself one now. 

[glatisant]

Masterpiece.Never seen that scheme before. Will have to get another Wellesley in to the stash.

[Niknak]

Very nice, don't see a Wellesley built very often 

[russ c]

Great looking Wellesley there Tony, never seen one in that scheme before. Nice one

[tonyot]

Thanks for all the kind words folks,.....glad you like my old Wellesley! Since I found the original photo and found more as I dug into the history of this small detachment of 47 Sqn I just had to make a model of this aircraft and the Matchbox GB was the perfect place for me to try to restore my missing mojo! 

 

16 hours ago, Gazontipede said:

Utterly bonkers! I love it!

You have my deepest sympathies for your back problems. I've had to live with my smashed up spine for 15 years now and know what sort of huge impediment it can be.

It hasn't stopped your modelling mojo though!

 

Here's a bit of trivia about these 47 Sqn Wellesleys and their convoy protection ASW work you may find interesting if you don't already know it. (I haven't seen any one  else mention it.)

On 30 October 1942, 47 Sqn Wellesley KU-H sighted* U-559 (a type VIIC boat) on the surface NE of Port Said. The Wellesley tracked** U-559 and homed in a surface action group consisting of the fleet destroyers HMS Pakenham, HMS Petard and HMS Hero along with the Hunt class destroyers HMS Dulverton and HMS Hurworth who sent her (the U-boat, not the Wellesley!) to the bottom in position 32.30N, 33.00E. (The sinking U-boat was boarded by three men from HMS Petard who had swum over to her. Two of them went down with the wreck when it foundered, but they had managed to pass out the Enigma code machine, with the current rotor settings, and the cipher books.) https://www.uboat.net/boats/u559.htm

 

* One source (Coastal Command vs the U Boat Peter G Dancey) claims this was a shared RAF/RN kill, suggesting that the Wellesley did more than just shadow U-559, presumably involving its own depth charges. Also I seem to recall this incident with a more 'proactive' Wellesley being mentioned in the Chris Shores Mediterranean Air War series (Vol. 2 IIRC).

** Apparently the Med was a dangerous place to be a submariner. The clear waters allowed submerged boats to be easily seen from the air as deep as 100 feet down.

 

 

Sorry to hear about your injuries and you have my undying sympathy mate, I do hope that you are managing to get about and deal with the pain. 

 

Thanks for the info about that action,.....durng my research I was amazed to read that the Wellesley`s actually attacked a number of U-Boats and I was aware of the action that you mentioned,..but so glad that you highlighted it,........ so tragic that two of those brave men went down with the sub,.....I believe that they went back to look for more code books. 

 

To help camouflage their subs in the clear Med waters the British 10th Sub. Flotilla began to paint their `boats' in a mid blue colour and it proved so successful that it was adopted as an official scheme for use throughout the Med. I believe that this is where the RAF got the idea for painting Spitfire`s blue on Malta too,.... having seen from the air how effective the colour was. 

 

All the best and cheers again,

                                        Tony 

[occa]

It's a pure joy to look at again Tony !!!

[Meatbox8]

On 11/26/2017 at 2:40 AM, Gazontipede said:

Utterly bonkers! I love it!

You have my deepest sympathies for your back problems. I've had to live with my smashed up spine for 15 years now and know what sort of huge impediment it can be.

It hasn't stopped your modelling mojo though!

 

Here's a bit of trivia about these 47 Sqn Wellesleys and their convoy protection ASW work you may find interesting if you don't already know it. (I haven't seen any one  else mention it.)

On 30 October 1942, 47 Sqn Wellesley KU-H sighted* U-559 (a type VIIC boat) on the surface NE of Port Said. The Wellesley tracked** U-559 and homed in a surface action group consisting of the fleet destroyers HMS Pakenham, HMS Petard and HMS Hero along with the Hunt class destroyers HMS Dulverton and HMS Hurworth who sent her (the U-boat, not the Wellesley!) to the bottom in position 32.30N, 33.00E. (The sinking U-boat was boarded by three men from HMS Petard who had swum over to her. Two of them went down with the wreck when it foundered, but they had managed to pass out the Enigma code machine, with the current rotor settings, and the cipher books.) https://www.uboat.net/boats/u559.htm

 

* One source (Coastal Command vs the U Boat Peter G Dancey) claims this was a shared RAF/RN kill, suggesting that the Wellesley did more than just shadow U-559, presumably involving its own depth charges. Also I seem to recall this incident with a more 'proactive' Wellesley being mentioned in the Chris Shores Mediterranean Air War series (Vol. 2 IIRC).

** Apparently the Med was a dangerous place to be a submariner. The clear waters allowed submerged boats to be easily seen from the air as deep as 100 feet down.

 

 

Wow.  I had no idea that the Wellesley was used in one of the most important actions of WW2.  Some historians believe the capture of the Enigma machine shortened the War by about five years!