Roger Holden Posted July 30, 2022 Share Posted July 30, 2022 Geoffrey Neville ‘Wicko’ Wikner was a self-taught Australian aircraft builder of Swedish descent. Having designed and successfully flown a series of home-built aircraft in his home country, Wikner had become disillusioned by a lack of support from the Australian aviation authorities, who he felt were effectively thwarting his attempts to build light aircraft in the country. Thus, he decided to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious uncle, Edgar Wikner Percival and re-locate to England. After several years working in various aeronautical jobs, notably for Miles, Wikner entered into partnership with one Jack Foster and furniture manufacturer Lusty & Sons, to design a new plywood lightplane suitable for factory manufacture or home-building. The prototype was built in Lusty’s furniture works in the East End of London and powered by a modified Ford V8 car engine, made its first flight in 1936. Despite it’s racy, bullet-nosed appearance, it was seriously underpowered. A couple of years (and engine changes) later, it finally entered production in a factory at Southampton airport (Eastleigh), with the popular DH Gipsy Major engine as the definitive powerplant, which gave it the desired performance. After only a year of production, which resulted in 11 airframes , WW2 intervened and brought things to a halt. Most of the planes had found ready buyers in flying clubs, with 2 having gone abroad to New Zealand and South Africa. All were readily impressed for military service, where they were mainly used for ferrying ATA pilots around the country. In fact, a military version optimised for this activity was proposed, to be named ‘Warferry’, but came to nothing as the Lend-Lease Fairchild Argus was used instead. Several aircraft survived the war and took part in King’s Cup races in the 1950s. Ultimately, only a single aircraft, G-AJFB has survived to the present day, which underwent a complete restoration to better than new condition in the 2000s : http://www.wicko.com/ Here is my model of this aircraft, in its original 1938 colours. It was donated to the Midland Aeroclub, Pendeford, Wolverhampton, by the Wolverhampton Express and Star newspaper, on the condition that it was used for training 4 local youngsters to fly as part of the Civil Air Guard scheme and was named ‘Wulfrun II’ (after the Anglo-Saxon woman who founded Wolverhampton). Model is 100% scratchbuilt from plastic sheet. With its boxy shape, I thought it would be a straightforward scratchbuilding project, but the complex colour scheme and window arrangement elevated it into a more challenging category.... A few WiPs : 59 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horatio Gruntfuttock Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Well, my gob is well and truly smacked - a delightful little model, beautifully built and finished. Well done and this Antipodean is completely green with envy. Thanks fro sharing your in-progress and competed images. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjoo Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 An absolute gem. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-21 Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Incredible workmanship, like it load's . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Lovely job! I've liked the looks of the Wicko since way back when 'FJB used to sit in a garden (down south somewhere?) and was often illustrated in Wrecks and Relics. Saw it at Goodwood a while ago 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celestialsphere Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 That is an awesome model of a very pretty aeroplane. Congratulations. Cheers Andrew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Wow! 😯 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Superb modelling, a mini masterpiece ! Wulfman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 A humbling example of expert modelling. What a beautiful little creation! Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrés S. Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 If you had not put the match as a reference in the first photograph and only the following photos, I would have believed that it was in 1/32 scale or at least in 1/48. Very very very good job!!! Andrés. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maginot Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Delightful! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Swindell Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 17 hours ago, Roger Holden said: All were readily impressed for military service, where they were mainly used for ferrying ATA pilots around the country. In fact, a military version optimised for this activity was proposed, to be named ‘Warferry’, but came to nothing as the Lend-Lease Fairchild Argus was used instead. Several aircraft survived the war and took part in King’s Cup races in the 1950s. Ultimately, only a single aircraft, G-AJFB has survived to the present day, which underwent a complete restoration to better than new condition in the 2000s : http://www.wicko.com/ That's a beautiful build Roger There was a recent article in Aeroplane about Wikner and his aeroplanes, (April 2022) by Arthur Orde-Hume, one Wicko G-AFKS was modified to to the proposed Warferry production standard, and impressed civillian Wicko's were referred to as Warferries in military service though none of the modifications were made to them. Wickner himself served in the ATA during the war and often flew his Wicko's ferrying pilots to pick up other aircraft. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lasermonkey Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 What a beautiful model! These sorts of models are the ones I enjoy looking at most of all: unusual types (I’d never heard of this one before!) built with skill and dedication. Long may you continue! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkoZG Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 What a beautiful work! Amazing scratchbuilding skills and very tidy build from the start to the final point, extremely convincing and perfect execution! Hats off! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEXANTOMCAT Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 That. Is absolutely bloody awesome! superb well done! TT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire man Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 One of the best models I've seen........brilliant ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForestFan Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Wow wow wow! Stunning 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Autle Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Ridiculously good in every respect, all the better since it's scratch built. The finish is really top notch as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squibby Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 How do you cut and form plasticard so cleanly and accurately at that scale. Fantastic work all around! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Holden Posted July 31, 2022 Author Share Posted July 31, 2022 3 hours ago, Dave Swindell said: That's a beautiful build Roger There was a recent article in Aeroplane about Wikner and his aeroplanes, (April 2022) by Arthur Orde-Hume, one Wicko G-AFKS was modified to to the proposed Warferry production standard, and impressed civillian Wicko's were referred to as Warferries in military service though none of the modifications were made to them. Wickner himself served in the ATA during the war and often flew his Wicko's ferrying pilots to pick up other aircraft. Thanks Dave. I saw Orde-Hume's article in AM, but didn't buy it as I already had quite a lot on the plane. Ord-Hume has also done quite a good article on the Key Publishing website. Not sure if it's the same article: https://www.key.aero/article/designing-foster-wikner-wicko Best articles are probably the 4-parter on Wikner's monoplanes in Air-Britain civil mag, last 2 of which cover the Wicko. 15 hours ago, Sabrejet said: Lovely job! I've liked the looks of the Wicko since way back when 'FJB used to sit in a garden (down south somewhere?) and was often illustrated in Wrecks and Relics. Saw it at Goodwood a while ago I've always liked it, but never had enough info for a model. Then I found the restoration website, which had lots of detail photos taken as the restoration progressed, which were ideal for modelling. Unfortunately they chose to give it one of the colour schemes worn by the prototype, rather than the correct version for 'FJB, as depicted by my model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Holden Posted July 31, 2022 Author Share Posted July 31, 2022 22 minutes ago, Squibby said: How do you cut and form plasticard so cleanly and accurately at that scale. Lots and lots of practice (40+ years). Started in my early teens and found it difficult to make everything square and precise to start with, but got better tools and plenty of practice until it became second-nature. There are multiple disciplines in modelling. Some people are best at painting, I'm best at whittling plastic. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkoZG Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Roger Holden said: Lots and lots of practice (40+ years). Started in my early teens and found it difficult to make everything square and precise to start with, but got better tools and plenty of practice until it became second-nature. There are multiple disciplines in modelling. Some people are best at painting, I'm best at whittling plastic. No, you are best in everything! Usually scratch builders fail in other areas of building process, but you executed it flawlessly from A to Z! Just look at your tail skid! What a jewel in 1/72!!! Edited July 31, 2022 by MarkoZG 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Holden Posted July 31, 2022 Author Share Posted July 31, 2022 4 hours ago, lasermonkey said: These sorts of models are the ones I enjoy looking at most of all: unusual types (I’d never heard of this one before!) built with skill and dedication. Cheers LM.......Me too ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Holden Posted July 31, 2022 Author Share Posted July 31, 2022 (edited) 9 minutes ago, MarkoZG said: No, you are best in everything! Usually scratch builders fail in other areas of building process, but you executed it flawlessly from A to Z! Thanks Marko ! Nice of you to say so. But let's say, there are some aspects I find more challenging than others.... Edited July 31, 2022 by Roger Holden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Holden Posted July 31, 2022 Author Share Posted July 31, 2022 17 minutes ago, MarkoZG said: Just look at your tail skid! What a jewel in 1/72!!! Ha, yes ! Made of 16 pieces.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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