A (slightly modified) Matchbox Wellington Mk. X - HZ279 “YOUNG/ERS” No. 466 (RAAF) Squadron, Spring 1943

[Rabbit Leader]

 

Not something I say as often as I’d like, however I’m happy to now call this Matchbox Wellington project DONE! Sincere thanks should firstly go to my good friend @Rob S who gave me this kit (among others) in exchange for some rather dubious kits from my own collection. I’d also like to thank my cousin in Melbourne Alf (non BM member), who kindly created and supplied the decal artwork to allow me to replicate HZ279 ‘YOUNG/ERS’ as best as my current skills will allow.   

 

Historical Notes:

Being part of No. 4 Bomber Group, No. 466 (RAAF) Squadron was formed at RAF Driffield, Yorkshire on 10 October 1942 under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme. After the squadron was equipped with Vickers Wellington Mk. X’s, it transferred to RAF Leconfield on 27 December 1942 and flew its first mission on 13 January 1943. Its main roles were strategic bombing over Germany and laying naval mines in the North Sea.

 

Within weeks of forming, No. 466 played its part participating in most of the raids that become known as the ‘Battle of the Ruhr’ (5 March – 31 July1943).  By this stage of the war the Wellington was being rapidly replaced by the newer four engine Heavy Bombers, however the old Wimpy still acquitted herself well and during the Ruhr campaign itself had a loss percentage rate superior to both the lower flying Stirling’s and Merlin engined Halifax’s.

 

This model represents Vickers Wellington Mk. X, HZ279 coded HD:R. The "YOUNG/ERS" nose artwork depicts the character ‘Father William’ from Younger’s Brewery and its adoption was a play on the name of the aircraft's captain, Flg Off R.A.L Young RAFVR. Completed operational missions were recorded by beer tankards painted below the artwork. HZ279 took part in fourteen of No. 466’s twenty-one ‘Ruhr’ operations and was also sortied on the same Duisburg raid (8/9 April 1943) which Roy Huxley superbly portrays on the original 1975 Matchbox Wellington kit box art.

 

 

 

 

The Matchbox Model:

With three colour plastic sprues, clean flash free parts and that dramatic Roy Huxley box art, there’s a lot to like in this nostalgia filled box of plastic bits. Matchbox got a lot of things right with this simple kit, the geodetic lattice framework is beautifully represented and has hardly been surpassed to this very day. The kit's overall shape and dimensions are pretty good and the overall fit is just superb. leaving a lot of modern day kits to shame.

 

Although the above was written with rose tinted glasses, all is not perfect with this original mid 70's issued kit. The main howler to my eye is the overlarge canopy which looks quite awful when compared to the latest Airfix Wimpy offering. The wheels are also too thin and undersize and there’s something amiss with those rear fuselage side windows – some are either too short in length or overly large in area. These are in need of some correction, so off to work we go!  

 

The Modifications :

The impetus to attempt these small modifications came from the parts provided within the new Airfix kit. For some reason, Airfix provide three canopy pieces within each kit, so here was an opportunity to build both old Matchbox and new Airfix Wellingtons and display them side by side without highlighting the obvious canopy difference. There are many After Market Wellington wheels on offer. I purchased a set of CMK wheels and to my utter surprise these are smaller in diameter when compared to the lovely Airfix kit parts. I figured these later and heavier Wellington Mk.X's would have probably benefited by having larger wheels, so I opted to use the Airfix wheels on my Matchbox kit. Matchbox kinda mucked up all those fuselage side windows too. The foremost cabin window appears too short in comparison to wartime photographs and the rear triangular window is quite oversized. My specific Mk.X was only equipped with these beam gun windows so the rest would have to go. I filled and sanded these side windows flush, although lost some of the lovely fabric ribbing detail in the process. I decided to restore this ribbing with long lengths of fine stretched sprue, then sanded these down a little to blend them in with the rest of the kits surfaces.  Matchbox's over thick machine guns were replaced with Quickboost parts and various other small details are just basic old school scratch modelling. 

 

That's enough waffle from me, so here are some additional photos and a few WIP ones thrown in as well. Oh, in case you didn't know, @JOCKNEY and I will be hosting the 50th Anniversary of Matchbox Group Build from this Saturday 08 January. If you haven't already done so, please go and raid that overflowing stash. If you find one of these classic Matchbox kits, please consider building it sometime between now and 05 June 2022. These kits are a lot of fun whether built straight OOB or however far your young at heart mind tells you to go!  

 

Cheers, thanks and kindest regards.. Dave   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dunny]

Lovely build and finish Dave - congratulations!

[JOCKNEY]

Outstanding Dave

That has turned out beautifully,  and I love the story behind the choice of subject.

Of course this in no way puts the pressure on for me building the same kit in the Matchbox GB ! 

Cheers Pat

[GREG DESTEC]

Excellent modelling Dave, A Matchbox classic looking like a new tool. 

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

Cheers Greg 👍

[Homer]

Congratulations on a fine piece of modelling, looks great well done 👏 

[Retired Bob]

That is a lovely looking Wellington Dave, the photo of it pre-painted in it's multi-coloured plastic takes me right back to when I built one in the 70s, unfortunately I don't have one in the stash, just the new Airfix kit.

[Wings unlevel]

Cheers to your fantastic build!

[Meatbox8]

A really superb looking Wellington.  I knew the Matchbox kit still held up pretty well but the additional work you put in has transformed it. The kit seems to be becoming quite rare now.  I've being prowling around ebay etc looking for it, or the Revell re-release, in order to build a Coastal Command Mk.XIV. Matchbox were quite clever with how they engineered some of their kits so that different versions could be built.

[Watto64]

Excellent build with a great finish.  When I first got in modelling over 40 years ago, Matchbox kits were one of my fave ranges.  Would love to build one now!

[F-32]

Lovely job, looks really good

[Rabbit Leader]

8 hours ago, JOCKNEY said:

Outstanding Dave

That has turned out beautifully,  and I love the story behind the choice of subject.

Of course this in no way puts the pressure on for me building the same kit in the Matchbox GB ! 

Cheers Pat

Thanks for the comments Pat. The date on my first WIP photo suggests I was planning this build since 01 Jan 2021, I would have had no idea you’d be doing the same kit in this up and coming GB!
 

Either way, build it OOB, it’s a great kit and I’m sure you’ll build a lovely Coastal Command version out of it.
 

Cheers.. Dave  

[DaveH]

Very nice clean build....

 

DaveH

[RMCS]

Brilliant work 

[keefr22]

Really lovely Wimpy Dave and beautifully presented - that opening photo is stunning!

 

Top work

 

Keith

[Vulcanicity]

Really superb Wimpy, with the new canopy that stands up perfectly well next to the 50 years younger Airfix kit!

[Jonners]

Really good result, and I'm very pleased to see your choice of subject as I live very close to Leconfield.

Jon

[tonyot]

I saw it on Facebook earlier Dave and was mightily impressed,....... I`m even more so now mate after seeing the in progress pics,...... the Matchbox kit is still quite nice but you have addressed the main problems and done such a good job,....... I do like the Hercules engined Wimpey variants and this one is top notch mate,....... congratultions,

Cheers

           Tony

 

[Josh G]

Great job. I remember that box art making me buy (or con my parents into buying it for me) that kit in Sutherland, Sydney in 1983. PS Go the Broncos.

[Rabbit Leader]

13 hours ago, keefr22 said:

Really lovely Wimpy Dave and beautifully presented - that opening photo is stunning!

That photo surprised me too.. the glass table top has come up a treat and certainly beats the typical fruit bowl ornament!
Cheers 

 

13 hours ago, Vulcanicity said:

Really superb Wimpy, with the new canopy that stands up perfectly well next to the 50 years younger Airfix kit!

Well when I eventually build the Airfix kit, I hope this kit Classic kit can still hold its own. Time will tell I suppose. Thanks for the comments. 

 

12 hours ago, Jonners said:

Really good result, and I'm very pleased to see your choice of subject as I live very close to Leconfield.

Jon

Thanks Jon, one day I’ll do a tour of the UK’s famous Bomber (and Fighter Airfields), glad this build has a local connection. Cheers mate. 

 

10 hours ago, tonyot said:

I saw it on Facebook earlier Dave and was mightily impressed,....... I`m even more so now mate after seeing the in progress pics,...... the Matchbox kit is still quite nice but you have addressed the main problems and done such a good job,....... I do like the Hercules engined Wimpey variants and this one is top notch mate,....... congratultions,

Truly appreciate the comments Tony and I feel better for your kind words. I quite enjoy this type of modelling and it’s quite rewarding when some of these mad ideas in my head actually come off! Cheers mate. 

 

8 hours ago, Josh G said:

Great job. I remember that box art making me buy (or con my parents into buying it for me) that kit in Sutherland, Sydney in 1983. PS Go the Broncos.

I’m sure you’re not the only one that automatically opens up their wallet as a result of good box art. Roy Huxley box tops must have done wonders for Matchbox back in the day, shame their plastic department went belly up when they did. I also might change that ‘Go the Btoncos … to go the Lions!”, if it’s not Cricket, AFL comes a close second. 
 

Thanks for all the support fellas… much appreciated. 
Cheers.. Dave 
 

 

[Radar]

What an absolutely brilliant build Dave. I currently have 8 Wimpeys to build for a charity, The RAF Ingham Heritage Centre, which commemorates Polish Aircrew of 300 and 305 Sqns that flew from here. I'll certainly be using your pictures as a reference. Can I ask what paints you used for the project and would you still have the 300 Sqn markings that came with the kit? I would pay for them and postage should you be happy to sell them.

 

Regards Ian

[Rabbit Leader]

@Radar,wow eight Wimpy’s to build? that’s gonna take some doing. Sounds like an excellent project and I’m sure you will have included the new Airfix Merlin engine Mk.II kit which already includes No. 305 Squadron decals. Your most welcome to have the Matchbox No. 300 Squadron decals, being very old  hopefully they are still useable. Please send me a PM with your details and I’ll post them as soon as I can. 
 

Now paints used are as follows - 

Dark Earth - AK Real Color RC287

Dark Green - Gunze H73 (old bottle) 

Night - Gunze C125 ‘Cowling Colour)

 

This is a silly combination of brands and paint mediums, however they are all thinned with Gunze Mr Color Levelling Thinner, which seems to be happy with all paint types.
 

Cheers and I hope this helps.. Dave 

 

 

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Well done Wellington Dave ! I cant wait to build one of these someday. Well actually more like three with the schemes I want to do. 

[Bertie McBoatface]

That's a very good RFI, Dave. You have given us a lovely model with lots of interesting little details to spot. I liked the incendiary crates which make such a change from boring old bombs, and the patches too. And then there's the writing. The history, the kit and your building of it were all entertaining and well written. What more could I ask for? Thanks mate.

[Mick Clarke]

Outstanding job Dave. You've inspired me to get one of my Matchbox kits out and have a go. Thanks for sharing.

[woody37]

Wow, that's quite a transformation Dave, great inspiration to pull a welly out of the stash!