LorenSharp Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Sitting here waiting for Paint to cure on one project and rain prevents me from going to town sanding on another, I've managed to get myself all figity and bored (not a good combination) .So what's a model builder to do? Sit around longingly at the projects stalled? Never I say! Must bash bits of plastic even if its small bits. So rummaging around in the stash I happened upon a little gem of an idea for a build(definitely does not bode well). What do you get as an offspring if an Avro Lancaster and a Westland Lysander mate? druuuum rollll.... rim shot! The Westland Wendover! I have to ask... What were the British designers smoking when they cooked up this amalgamation of spare parts lying around? Thank god they weren't sharing. With out a doubt this is the Ugliest Aircraft ever flown. I actually blame @Heather Kay for this She started wo wonderful 1940 projects and that started my rusty mental gears creaking. That or I'm just well, you know, Totally Mental. But on the plus side it starts out with this nifty 2nd hand Hawk Westland Lysander kit in a most wonderful hideous brilliant green. And a resin conversion set, of dubious quality that I scarfed up for a mere pittance. I think it's a knockoff of a legit conversion, but for 20$ I won't complain. No instructions, but, ehhh, who needs 'structions. and I have a nifty set of gun barrels for the rear turret. At least I think that's a rear turret. But on the list of things to accomplish with this build 1. Needs an interior 2. Needs a decent Bristol Perseus II engine 3. Needs a Nash-Thompson 4 gun rear turret. 4 Need to keep Sane Should be a walk in the park....right? All Comments, suggestions, ideas, or ribald statements behind my back are always welcome. 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Kay Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 This looks like fun! The Wendover scheme was conceived in the dark days of 1940, when it was thought the Germans would be landing on British beaches in their thousands. The idea was the aircraft could fly low over troop columns with the turret guns strafing away. I understand the prototype Lysander was converted, and it never carried an actual turret, the project being cancelled when the threat of invasion receded. If 1940 what-ifs interest, though, a read about Operation Banquet is worth a few minutes. Desperate times make for desperate measures. 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 You're a brave man. I think @hendie built the Hawk Lizzie a few years ago. So there will be an excellent guide to beating the kit into something like it should be. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 (edited) That really does look like some Photoshopped concoction, but I know it really existed. I mean if the Bartini Beriev VVA-14* could fly over 100 times, why not. Best of luck with this insane interesting venture! Regards, Jason *It is worth googling, if you like absurd aircraft, as you evidently do. Edited October 10, 2021 by Learstang 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted October 10, 2021 Author Share Posted October 10, 2021 44 minutes ago, Heather Kay said: This looks like fun! The Wendover scheme was conceived in the dark days of 1940, when it was thought the Germans would be landing on British beaches in their thousands. The idea was the aircraft could fly low over troop columns with the turret guns strafing away. I understand the prototype Lysander was converted, and it never carried an actual turret, the project being cancelled when the threat of invasion receded. If 1940 what-ifs interest, though, a read about Operation Banquet is worth a few minutes. Desperate times make for desperate measures. Thanks Heather, Even though it didn't have a "real" turret, I must graft one on. in the interest of "what-if" history you know. Besides It's been a while since I built something from the British 1940 era. 31 minutes ago, Pete in Lincs said: You're a brave man. I think @hendie built the Hawk Lizzie a few years ago. So there will be an excellent guide to beating the kit into something like it should be. Thanks Pete, I'll see how that build went. 24 minutes ago, Learstang said: That really does look line some Photoshopped concoction, but I know it really existed. I mean if the Bartini Beriev VVA-14* could fly over 100 times, why not. Best of luck with this insane interesting venture! Regards, Jason *It is worth googling, if you like absurd aircraft, as you evidently do. Thanks Jason. I have a feeling this will be insanity laden walk in the park build. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Quack Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Bonkers. .......and utterly brilliant! Said Quack who will helpfully sit on his rear and watch. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendie Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 55 minutes ago, Pete in Lincs said: You're a brave man. I think @hendie built the Hawk Lizzie a few years ago. So there will be an excellent guide to beating the kit into something like it should be. Yep, he did. The Hawk kit builds into a nice aircraft though some scratching is required 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted October 10, 2021 Author Share Posted October 10, 2021 1 minute ago, hendie said: Yep, he did. The Hawk kit builds into a nice aircraft though some scratching is required I'm spending a few quiet hours perusing your build. In between grinding down bits of resin. This will go along way answering many questions on the Lysander/Wendover. At present it looks like a 40/60 split original/resin-scratch built on this build. Can't afford the P/E,(if I could find it online anyways) SO I will have to print a few things out(naturally) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendie Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 If I remember rightly, the PE was a complete waste of time. The Hawk is a MkII and the PE was designed for a MkI or a MkIII. I ended up just scratching everything. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted October 10, 2021 Author Share Posted October 10, 2021 While researching any information on the Westover(which is scant at best) I did get a little prep work done. I separated the forward cowl/cockpit section on both plastic and resin pieces. I don't need the rear half of the Lysander and I didn't like the Front half of the resin fuselage. Besides I needed to carve out some of the interior of the resin. It probably was hollow all the way back to the rear turret, but that won't be seen at all once its together. So I only went back as far as the area where the fuel tank would be located(assuming that the interior of the Westover is the same as the Lysander) In addition to carving back I thinned the walls of the fuselage as well. This will make the mating of the two kits easier and getting the interior to fit properly. [ The resin interior is rough at best Some hours later after grinding, sanding and a smoothing out Tomorrow I'll see what I can do about scratching together a reasonable facsimile of an interior. I know it won't be as fancy as Hendie's build was, but it should muster a good representation. The tubular frame will be plastic rod, the seat, Controls, fuel tank, and probably the instrument panel will be printed. Other areas as of right now that will probably be printed will be the Bristol Perseus Engine, the cowling /and exhaust, leading edge slats, and the inside of the rear turret. So Stay tuned for more. Myself it's time to start dinner. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 6 hours ago, LorenSharp said: What do you get as an offspring if an Avro Lancaster and a Westland Lysander mate? druuuum rollll.... rim shot! The Westland Wendover! my modelling buddy @Adrian Hills did one of the in IIRC, 1/32nd, but scratchbuilt I think. He maybe able to add some pointers or suggestions, and if nothing else I'm sure will enjoy the build. cheers T 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Hills Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 Hi Loren, I made the Wendover in the 1990s whilst living in Canada by scratchbuilding the back end. I made the fuselage much as yourself and pull moulded two halves over a turret shape I made in Milliput. The early Profile publication says that guns were not fitted. This isn't necessarily true as there are various publications, such as "British Experimental Combat Aircraft of WWII" by Tony Buttler which clearly shows things like guns fitted. Below are some pictures of my 1/48 model using the Testors kit. Please note that the back end is far too short. I copied a general arrangement drawing - don't make the same mistake. GOOD LUCK with your build. I will be following your progress 🙂 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted October 22, 2021 Author Share Posted October 22, 2021 Time for a new update. While waiting for parts to finish printing, I started work on coving front with a new firewall And taking an idea(one of several) from @hendie's Lysander build, I added vents to the side of the fuselage. I'm nit as good as he is with bending thin brass(At least the way its supposed to look), Instead of brass I used very thin card for the walls after opening up the ports. Cutting out the foot holds in the spats and since the Wendover didn't have the rocket rails I sanded them off and smoothed the area over with glazing compound. Also carved out vents on the leading edge of the spats 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted October 22, 2021 Author Share Posted October 22, 2021 From there I wanted to add the landing lights in the spats. I carved away what is supposed to be the light lens and soothed the interior some. I finally got to use the bigger stick on gemstones. To fit properly I shaved off both sides and glues in place. After I get everything painted up I'll soften some vac plastic and drape over an eraser end to get the curve. I don't think I'll have to make a proper buck and go to the trouble of vacing a set. But we will see. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted October 22, 2021 Author Share Posted October 22, 2021 I wanted to also do a full set of flaps and slats. I at first started to print out new lowered leading edges but on cypherin' and plotting and thinking. I tried something with the original slats I cut off. I sanded the detail off and the thinned the back(or bottom) side and attached with the top wing part setting on top. And surprisingly it WORKED! There was just enough of a gap at the back that the leading edge's thickness doesn't change the fit of the top of the wing. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted October 22, 2021 Author Share Posted October 22, 2021 I also sanded down some of the Mt. Everest Peaks that are supposed to be ribbing tape. Before painting I'll smooth them down a little more then Use kabuki tape simulate the real tape. From there just a matter of attaching the flaps and ailerons. Claened the seams up with a little bit of glazing compound. Then comes the fun part.... Printing! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted October 22, 2021 Author Share Posted October 22, 2021 Most of the parts came out ok on the first try. I did have to fiddle with the Slats some. the first set were scale correct, but the thickness was too fine to prevent warping and curling. So I went back and increased the thickness 2.5 times to about 400um( just under a 1/2 mm) Fuel Tank Pilots seat. I had to redo the seat. The original print was too wide and too short. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted October 22, 2021 Author Share Posted October 22, 2021 The control column and pedal assembly I combined from an earlier separate print. Though both pieces printed perfectly the columns would break while removing from the supports. Combining the wo made for a more successful print. I took my old model of the Bristol Taurus I used on another build, dropped half the jugs and re did the crankcase I'm not going to worry about the exhaust piping as it won't be seen Then finally the slats 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted October 22, 2021 Author Share Posted October 22, 2021 I cut tiny braces from flat strip then attached the slats. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted October 22, 2021 Author Share Posted October 22, 2021 Time to put the cockpit, most of it anyways, together. I built the tubular from from plastic rod. Since I'm only doing the area seen I didn't drill and carve out the rest of the resin fuselage. and as such I'm only going back as far as the rear of the fuel tank. Also built the flat framing and added throttle quadrant , added the printed bracing, seat and control column assembly. I got the Eduard instrument panel and seat belts in stead of printing out my own ,(I know I cheated) I wasn't feeling like making my own on this part. So there you have it. Today I'll put everything together and start the painting process. More updates soon! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted October 22, 2021 Share Posted October 22, 2021 On 10/10/2021 at 6:05 PM, LorenSharp said: I have to ask... What were the British designers smoking when they cooked up this amalgamation of spare parts lying around? Thank god they weren't sharing. With out a doubt this is the Ugliest Aircraft ever flown. I reckon they were sitting around, smaking Gauloise, eating tartiflette, and looking at French aircraft engineering magazines! Our gallic friends will ALWAYS take the prize for ugliest but then they will also take prizes for the prettiest (viz Mirage!) Martin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 22, 2021 Share Posted October 22, 2021 So ugly it's cool, and it's in the right scale too. Once you've finished all the hard work, you need to cast me one 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnl42 Posted October 22, 2021 Share Posted October 22, 2021 Wow, this is a treat! Excellent work on the printed parts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted October 22, 2021 Author Share Posted October 22, 2021 36 minutes ago, Mike said: So ugly it's cool, and it's in the right scale too. Once you've finished all the hard work, you need to cast me one Thanks Mike, Casting is probably the one thing I've not tried yet. Though I did think about it once, then discovered.... Printing! It wouldn't take much to make an STL file)s) of it. It's small enough you could probably print it out on a Mars. 21 minutes ago, dnl42 said: Wow, this is a treat! Excellent work on the printed parts. Thanks , It took a couple of tries to get the thickness right on some of them. I forgot my Prime Directive "Thou shalt not go any smaller than 250um lest you have problems." 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marklo Posted October 22, 2021 Share Posted October 22, 2021 (edited) On 10/10/2021 at 6:05 PM, LorenSharp said: With out a doubt this is the Ugliest Aircraft ever flown. Oh I don’t know I’d still vote for the Blackburn Blackburn or the AVRO Bison One or both of which I may add to the collection next year ( I think they’re so ugly they’re cool) I’m enjoying the build so far a great mix of old school and modern. Plus I have a prediluvian Lizzie in the stash ( hawk or testors) and this is giving me ideas ie with a new tube of silicone sealant I could copy the wings and forward fuselage for my own Wendover, hmm might save that for the prototypes GB if it goes ahead. Edited October 22, 2021 by Marklo 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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