tonyot Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 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 44 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 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 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 That is lovely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celt Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 My favourite Matchbox kit of all time,well tidy mun. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 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 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Great looking Wellesley 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazontipede Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 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. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeaton01 Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Well done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimea River Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 I agree. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamB Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Well, that's something you don't see every day. Good choice! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invidia Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Great looking build. Nice to see in a differant scheme. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Touvdal Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 I love the interesting and rare schemes that you find, and always document as well. Cheers Jes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Very nice indeed. You've perfectly captured the character of the type. Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qn30jEkPz7 Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Lovely result - well done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 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 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polo1112 Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Fantastic Wellesley !!! Another beautiful model Tony. Congratulations. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glatisant Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Masterpiece.Never seen that scheme before. Will have to get another Wellesley in to the stash. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niknak Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Very nice, don't see a Wellesley built very often 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Great looking Wellesley there Tony, never seen one in that scheme before. Nice one 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted November 26, 2017 Author Share Posted November 26, 2017 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 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
occa Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 It's a pure joy to look at again Tony !!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 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! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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