York 1/144ème Welsh, with a Spitfire Mk IX Edouard

[Serge Texier]

When I introduced myself to you there two weeks, I said :

"Currently I am on the draft honoring LM (Leigh-Mallory), the York has crashed close to where I have my second home in the Alps.

This story heckled me, and I ask myself still full of unresolved questions on this tragic accident."

For those who would not know this story, was to join LM Ceylan from 14 November 1944 to take the position as Head of Asian theater armies, much like he had been charged with the mission Overlord early 44,

The York left the field Northolt 0900 AM, accompanied by a Spitfire squadron from the field of North Weald, under the command of F / Lt Ronald Wood

The York would make a first stop in Naples, passing through the center of France to follow the Marseille-Toulouse line, to avoid German plane that could have lapped over the west front line,

This prevented to carry out a direct flight passing over the Alps,

By bad luck the weather was very bad and number of aircraft in flight that day had to divert or turn back.

The York was "abandoned" by the Spitfire over the Cotentin, safe, and very soon the clouds, turbulence and icing complicated the operation of the flight.

Any trace of York has been lost (no radio contact course) from 1000 AM, and unfortunately the York ended his tragic flight in Alps, 400 km east of its intended track, 1230 AM.

It is very difficult to know what could have happened on board the plane, and why it crashed in the mountains of Beldonnes in the Alps.

It is this story that made me want to pay tribute to the crew in particular,

I started it a year ago at a York 72 th, CMR conversion accompanied by a Lancaster kit (or revell airfix or mix of both)

This project is progressing very slowly, and I decided to build in parallel York and Sptfire couple to 144 th,

Welsh offers a mixed kit in vacu and excellent quality resin,

and I chose the Spitfire IX Edouard at 144 th excellent workmanship also,

Of course I will not use these decals,

As long as we're here, the Spitfire at Edward is as in a box "combo", containing two Sptfire Mk IX, one with wings "shorted".

That seems to be very "small" !!

I also set aside a pre-painted photo etched Set for Edouard de cockpit, as it is really small, it will be cleaner,

A beautiful decal sheet, which I will not use much, since the Spit will be a Spitfire MK IX HF 313 Squadron commanded that day by F / Lt Ronald Wood,

I remember the research I've conducted around this story, all the other pilots are Czechs,

I was able to identify two, the NH422 / RY.Y piloted by W / O. N. ASPINAI and MK.694 / RY.E piloted by W / O. A. KEATS, but it's two different devices: the first having weapons of type E and the second type C ...

I will choose the Aspinal spitfire RY.Y who is a type E wings weapon,

We also have a page explaining how to position the photo etched cockpit :

And a nice 8-page booklet of instructions for mounting two Spitfire :

Edited May 13, 2015 by Serge Texier

[Serge Texier]

First process, I have "bypassed" the two half body with a marker to mark the sanding limit,

Then I used a kind of scratch awl, whose tip is sharp, passing several times the limit of the edges of the fuselage to pass through plastic,

Some chisel later to finish off the half fuselage in its molding plate,

using a long glass paper support, to be flush with the felt-tip pen,

With this method, we guess when you have to stop to sand, observing the plastic that becomes almost transparent and stringy edges.

It's time to stop .....

As the half-body are small, it is not necessary to stiffen before sanding,

But on more important parts, the 72 th or 48 th, it must first paste into some every half fuselage stiffeners, to prevent coerced sandpaper and hand that does not support all the same force, the fuselage will spin, either sanded or more on one side than the other.

I do not pretend to tell you that I do not control myself perfectly, but I observed that few designers explain how they do this kind of outreach work on the Vacu, which remains quite confidential, while some models only exist in this material,

So I detail my approach a little the work of these different materials, in case something inexperienced reader might find some useful information,

And if those who know better than I touch the evacuated or resin do not hesitate to intervene to correct me ....

[Serge Texier]

I sets the stage to position the wings.

So like some plastic to center the two half fuselages,

Then complete assembly to check the symmetry, and then withdraws half a wing and fuselage, are drilled through the karma with the other wing securely taped,

Here are fairing holes, where will spend trombone tips that serve as stringers,

[Serge Texier]

Advanced shy small but essential before the cross-assy :

Setting up a sleeve to the spar that will keep both wings at the right dihedral,

A piece of breakthrough cluster, blocked by two ribs in L,

it sounds like that big, but it's just a piece of large paper clip 1 mm in diameter,

Cross-check :

First, the alignment of the two wings,

I took the opportunity to prepare the "engine axles" The small pre-holes by Welsh are properly focused, it is easy to do next,

I also thought about how to do the "flame arresters" around the exhausts,

This will not be a luxury, because here their representation is really zero (when we see how Edward has treated the subject of the Spitfire !)

And anyway, the York 126 was equipped with the flame arresters,

I tried to do it with a yogurt lid, but it is fragile, the slightest touch it crashed in an unfortunate finger,

I still look for another less fragile but flexible material,

I will try with "offset" ......

That's what I thought! The Stab took a hit !

It is twisted ....... veiled twisted,

I'll have to straighten it with hot water,

See next time,

[HOUSTON]

Sege,

EXCELLENT work ..Look forward to seeing more ..

Keep up the good work.

[Serge Texier]

Thank's Houston !

Today I tried to straighten the elevator,

A small bath in very hot water, and a passage between 4 wedges made "just for him" .....

it looks straight air .....

Will see in the future .......

[Serge Texier]

I still work on the fuselage :

First a "pilot hole" with a small drill bit 0.7 mm, centered where possible, then a second pass with a 2 mm drill,

and finally finish with a rat tail on which I put a mark for not going further than the desired diameter,

Indeed the Welsh plastic is really "soft" and it must go "take it easy"

And there, just as I wrote you all that, I realize that I am a stratospheric bottom !

The windows of the two doors are normally not in alignment with the other along the fuselage, but positioned a little higher in the curve of the door !

Proof with picture :

Fortunately ser this plane, right side, the door of the York is condemned by the bathroom, and the window is removed !

the discharge Welsh York the profiles are all the same error :

including in the Flight Manual published by Avro :

So I hesitate!

I think I'm still going to redo the door left passengers, in addition profile is engraved by Welsh visionary (she is square!)

Work is progressing slowly .....