Bertie McBoatface Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 (edited) Wonga-Bonga! (Legend has it that Barnes Wallis first began to think of producing a bouncing bomb in 1941 after watching schoolboys playing ‘Ducks and Drakes’ on a local pond. I wonder what would have happened if those lads were having a game of piggy-back instead…) Wallis was aware that much of the explosive power of the RAF was wasted because it could not be delivered with sufficient precision. His answer was the development of the worlds first guided/cruise missile. Stripped of turrets, most crew equipment and anything redundant to the mission, the Wimpy was able to carry near 7,000lbs of highly innovative ordnance. Potential targets included dams, submarine pens, and battleships; in fact virtually any high value hard target was suitable. The Wellington BIII (special) was a two-stage weapon. The Primary Weapon, mounted in the nose was a huge shaped charge device; an explosive charge shaped to focus the effect of the explosive's energy on a single point. Wallis’ device consisted of a solid cylinder of nearly 2,000lb of RDX explosive with a soft metal-lined conical hollow in one end and a central detonator array. This warhead fired when the initiator at the tip of the cruciform waveshaper made contact with the target. The enormous pressure generated by the detonation of the explosive drove the copper liner contained within the hollow cavity inward to collapse upon its central axis. The resulting collision formed and projected a high-velocity jet of metal forward. Due to hydrodynamic effects, the hypersonic slug of almost gaseous copper moving at over 8 miles per second and weighing several hundred pounds was able to penetrate more than 45 feet of concrete or some 17 feet of steel armour. The shaped charge would pass clear through any ship on the seas at that time despite being delivered to the target at a mere 120 kts. However, for more resilliant targets, the stripped down Wellington bomber had the capability for even more destruction. The Secondary Weapon filled the bomb bay and the area of the fuselage above. It comprised a further two and a half tons of uncased DPS explosive which operated in the same way as the modern High Explosive Squash Head (HESH) round. The aluminium fuselage would collapse on striking the target, allowing the plastic explosive to spread over and into the deep hole so recently excavated by the primary weapon. A base fuze located under the fin then detonated the explosive sending strong shock waves through the already weakened structure, rather like throwing a brick at an already cracked shop window. Shockwave reflection from the internal surfaces caused large 'scabs' of concrete or steel to form and fragments to fly off inside the target. Both the Primary and Secondary Weapons required the Wellington to strike perpendicular to the surface and at a relatively slow speed if the squash head secondary was not to be too dispersed for its full effectiveness. Speed control in a diving attack was maintained by use of a tail braking parachute which was fitted in the space left by the rear gunner’s turret. The diameter of the parachute being selected to suit the dive angle applicable to the particular target. Take off was a masterpiece of close cooperation between the pilots of the two aircraft – the ultimate in formation flying. For the outward flight to the target, The pilot of the Mosquito controlled most of the flying, the Wellington’s controls being slaved to the smaller aircraft’s stick and rudder. It had been intended that the Wellington pilot would bale out soon after reaching cruising altitude. Unfortunately, it was found necessary to have a live pilot inside the Wimpy for the entire mission (almost!). The Bristol Hercules XI engines of the Wellington were occasionally temperamental and needed attention to synchronisation, fuel and oil systems in flight. In addition, during training and should an operational trip be aborted, the Wellington pilot could bring the aircraft down safely after separation from the Mosquito. (It was considered impossible to land the combination safely.) Once within ten miles of the target, the Wellington pilot climbed ‘up the chimney’ into the cabin of the Mossie. Climbing between the aircraft, initially much feared, turned out to be quite comfortable once the semi-cylindrical windshield was adopted. It was a squeeze but he took the seat just vacated by the navigator/bomb-aimer and his part of the mission was practically over. He had one task left to perform; triggering the explosive detonation system which severed the electrical and mechanical connections between the aircraft. It then fell to the navigator to guide the Wellington by radio control to the target. Lying prone in the nose of the a/c he had a grandstand view of the weapon from release to impact. Conspicuous paint on the Wellington’s wings and tail and bright lighting helped the operator see the aircraft in all light conditions. In the final run up to the target, the drag parachute was released and the Wellington tipped over into its slow final dive. Two powerful tight-beam spotlights in the nose illuminated the evening or morning haze and indicated the direction of flight in the final few seconds. The devastating impact produced a distinct double bang of thunderous proportions which echoed for miles, giving the weapon system its never to be forgotten name, the Wonga-Bonga! The missions: o The Dams Raids May - June 43. o The Submarine Pens at Brest November 43. o Battleship Tirpitz September 43. o Aircraft Carrier Deutschland December 43. o The Reichs Chancellery December 43. The War Winner! Edited July 10, 2011 by per ardua ad ostentationem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbuna Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 That's cool...very innovative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 That's cool...very innovative. Thanks Jim. I was in a Wellington 'duel' with a good mate. I made up with imagination for my relative lack of skill. I think it ended up in an honourable draw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 I could almost believe it, well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natter Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Top model(s), and ten out of ten for keeping the fun in our fabulous hobby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 Top model(s), and ten out of ten for keeping the fun in our fabulous hobby. They were top models: 1:48 Scale Tamiya Mossie and Trumpeter Wimpy Both worth another go sometime soon I reckon. Next time I'll make them 'straight'. (Though I have a picture of a crashed Wellington wrapped around a quarry that would be an amazing project...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Jellyfingers Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Story and model are quite excellent Si. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share Posted July 11, 2011 (edited) Story and model are quite excellent Si. Thank you. With this one I actually enjoyed writing the story a lot more than making the models! Next time I do something like this, I will switch to 1:72. Quarter scale took up too much time for a single joke. And a lot of space! Edited July 11, 2011 by per ardua ad ostentationem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Wow, loved the story as much as the build, superb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robw_uk Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 my son has just done homework on adverbs... some he used come to mind maniacally freakishly madly crazily but that is a fab build..... slightly bonkers but fab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinnerboy Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 luv it.... story & build nice one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BasicModelling Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Nothing wrong with your imagination.. :) Great story.. excellent model!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share Posted July 11, 2011 Wow, loved the story as much as the build, superb but that is a fab build..... slightly bonkers but fab luv it.... story & buildnice one Great story.. excellent model!! Thank you all for your kind words! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Hey Don, great concept...very well done...!! Cheers, ggc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Oh you sick sick puppy! Utterly brilliant!! Have you thought of entering the WHIF 2 build? MH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fullnavy Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Wonga-Bonga!(Legend has it that Barnes Wallis first began to think of producing a bouncing bomb in 1941 after watching schoolboys playing ‘Ducks and Drakes’ on a local pond. I wonder what would have happened if those lads were having a game of piggy-back instead…) Wallis was aware that much of the explosive power of the RAF was wasted because it could not be delivered with sufficient precision. His answer was the development of the worlds first guided/cruise missile. Stripped of turrets, most crew equipment and anything redundant to the mission, the Wimpy was able to carry near 7,000lbs of highly innovative ordnance. Potential targets included dams, submarine pens, and battleships; in fact virtually any high value hard target was suitable. The Wellington BIII (special) was a two-stage weapon. The Primary Weapon, mounted in the nose was a huge shaped charge device; an explosive charge shaped to focus the effect of the explosive's energy on a single point. Wallis’ device consisted of a solid cylinder of nearly 2,000lb of RDX explosive with a soft metal-lined conical hollow in one end and a central detonator array. This warhead fired when the initiator at the tip of the cruciform waveshaper made contact with the target. The enormous pressure generated by the detonation of the explosive drove the copper liner contained within the hollow cavity inward to collapse upon its central axis. The resulting collision formed and projected a high-velocity jet of metal forward. Due to hydrodynamic effects, the hypersonic slug of almost gaseous copper moving at over 8 miles per second and weighing several hundred pounds was able to penetrate more than 45 feet of concrete or some 17 feet of steel armour. The shaped charge would pass clear through any ship on the seas at that time despite being delivered to the target at a mere 120 kts. However, for more resilliant targets, the stripped down Wellington bomber had the capability for even more destruction. The Secondary Weapon filled the bomb bay and the area of the fuselage above. It comprised a further two and a half tons of uncased DPS explosive which operated in the same way as the modern High Explosive Squash Head (HESH) round. The aluminium fuselage would collapse on striking the target, allowing the plastic explosive to spread over and into the deep hole so recently excavated by the primary weapon. A base fuze located under the fin then detonated the explosive sending strong shock waves through the already weakened structure, rather like throwing a brick at an already cracked shop window. Shockwave reflection from the internal surfaces caused large 'scabs' of concrete or steel to form and fragments to fly off inside the target. Both the Primary and Secondary Weapons required the Wellington to strike perpendicular to the surface and at a relatively slow speed if the squash head secondary was not to be too dispersed for its full effectiveness. Speed control in a diving attack was maintained by use of a tail braking parachute which was fitted in the space left by the rear gunner’s turret. The diameter of the parachute being selected to suit the dive angle applicable to the particular target. Take off was a masterpiece of close cooperation between the pilots of the two aircraft – the ultimate in formation flying. For the outward flight to the target, The pilot of the Mosquito controlled most of the flying, the Wellington’s controls being slaved to the smaller aircraft’s stick and rudder. It had been intended that the Wellington pilot would bale out soon after reaching cruising altitude. Unfortunately, it was found necessary to have a live pilot inside the Wimpy for the entire mission (almost!). The Bristol Hercules XI engines of the Wellington were occasionally temperamental and needed attention to synchronisation, fuel and oil systems in flight. In addition, during training and should an operational trip be aborted, the Wellington pilot could bring the aircraft down safely after separation from the Mosquito. (It was considered impossible to land the combination safely.) Once within ten miles of the target, the Wellington pilot climbed ‘up the chimney’ into the cabin of the Mossie. Climbing between the aircraft, initially much feared, turned out to be quite comfortable once the semi-cylindrical windshield was adopted. It was a squeeze but he took the seat just vacated by the navigator/bomb-aimer and his part of the mission was practically over. He had one task left to perform; triggering the explosive detonation system which severed the electrical and mechanical connections between the aircraft. It then fell to the navigator to guide the Wellington by radio control to the target. Lying prone in the nose of the a/c he had a grandstand view of the weapon from release to impact. Conspicuous paint on the Wellington’s wings and tail and bright lighting helped the operator see the aircraft in all light conditions. In the final run up to the target, the drag parachute was released and the Wellington tipped over into its slow final dive. Two powerful tight-beam spotlights in the nose illuminated the evening or morning haze and indicated the direction of flight in the final few seconds. The devastating impact produced a distinct double bang of thunderous proportions which echoed for miles, giving the weapon system its never to be forgotten name, the Wonga-Bonga! The missions: o The Dams Raids May - June 43. o The Submarine Pens at Brest November 43. o Battleship Tirpitz September 43. o Aircraft Carrier Deutschland December 43. o The Reichs Chancellery December 43. The War Winner! Model very attractive. Congratulations on your choice and to work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Jones Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Brilliant concept, brilliant realisation, well done. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share Posted July 11, 2011 Hey Don, great concept...very well done...!! Cheers, ggc Thanks. Oh you sick sick puppy!Utterly brilliant!! Have you thought of entering the WHIF 2 build? MH WHIF 2? It's so far away but yes, of course. (Thinks: Biplane Spitfire? Steam-punk B-17? A U-2 for the 1940s? Submarine aircraft? Military Concorde? Oh well, I'll think of something.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now