1/72 Wellington Mk X - 75 (New Zealand) Sqn X3595 AA-K

[dewobz]

Here's my 1/72 Italeri/MPM Wellington Mk X as X3595 AA-K as photographed in May '42 shortly after conversion from a Mk III at Vickers Armstrongs Aviation Ltd (according to ADF serials). From what I can gather, such a conversion involved upgrading the Hercules engines and the aircraft's appearance as a Mk III would have been much the same when it served with 75 (New Zealand) Squadron.


Wellington X FINv1 014 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Wellington X FINv1 015 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Wellington X FINv1 018 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Wellington X FINv1 019 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Wellington X FINv1 022 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Wellington X FINv1 031 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Wellington X FINv1 036 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Wellington X FINv1 042 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Wellington X FINv1 027 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Wellington X FINv1 034 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

I've added a few antenna details gleaned from the box art so my apologies for historic inaccuracy.
This is the 3rd of a series of 3 x 1/72 commissions of RNZAF ETO WW2 aircraft for which the client provided the kitsets. It was originally going to be back-dated to be James Ward's Mk 1c but the kitset does not have the geodesic structure behind the long fuselage windows. That and a couple of other issues made the retrospective conversion seem too difficult.
Turns out it's a difficult kitset anyway in numerous ways with plentiful "fit issues" and (as far as I am concerned)incorrect fuselage roundels and oversize code letter decals which are too light in colour. I used 1/48 24" codes to compensate for fractionally forward horizontal stabilizer placement after surgery was required to fit the rear turret. My Grey Letter codes are somewhat too small but, I believe, the correct colour.
I also did some minor detailing of the motors, cockpit and turrets.
The kitset has some nice features, the external fabric effect, reasonable cockpit and wheel well detail etc - I guess it's a reasonable short-run platform though apparently greatly superseded now by Trumpeter.
Cheers
Wally.

[Dave Homewood]

Really great job there Wally!! Well done.

[saratoga]

How did you find the build? , i've heard its a bit of slog.

[skyhawkdon]

Beautiful job, especially given the scale.

[dewobz]

Saratoga, my apologies for not seeing your question back on the 30 Jan.
In reply, I would probably not build another MPM/Italeri Wellington unless commissioned to do so.
I gather the Trumpeter 1/72 kitset is far superior and about the same price.
"A bit of a slog" sums it up quite well, as do the two words often associated with East European short-run kits, "Fit Issues"
Cheers
Wally.

[flyjoe180]

Great build Wally

[Ian Warren]

So nice .. Wally I believe I'd better reply with a PC F/Simulation repaint for your modelling skills

[Ian Warren]

This is a paint I have been working on for FSX - Flight Simulation, have not finished it, other things got in the way but I'm sure I could easeily put a 'K'with the registration

[dewobz]

Thanks Ian,
I appreciate your comments on my model. I return the compliment on your own painting skills.
Please forgive my comments below if you are highly researched or the painting is too far advanced to alter. I stand to be corrected on any of what follows.
I suggest maybe instead of adding a 'K', change the colour of the code letters to Light Grey and add a 'V' or 'R'. I say this because your aircraft looks like a Wellington Mk Ic to me. F/Sgt James Ward won his VC in Mk Ic AA-R as far as I know (and I'm a total beginner with ETO references).
An aircraft with the serial L7818 is depicted on Wings Palette as AA-V,
wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/b/559/9/0#13
I believe this is because a photograph exists of Ward standing in the cockpit of AA-V, said to be serialed L7818, described on Wiki as being "his" aircraft,
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Allen_Ward
If this is the case I do not know what the serial number of AA-R was, but someone on here will.
I believe 75 Squadron did change to red code letters later, but I'm not sure if the change included Wellingtons? I believe the change to Red Code letters may have coincided with the squadron changing to Stirlings.
Of note in the (top) Wings Palette picture of AA-V is the wavy paint demarcation between the black & the disrupted camouflage pattern carried very high on the fuselage. Higher than the long fuselage windows it appears. In other words the sides of the fuselage are black and so is the entire vertical tailplane & rudder. I believe this was standard practice for RAF night bombers...?
Later Wellington IIIs like my model had a straight demarcation line.
I hope this might help.
Best Regards,
Wally.

[Ian Warren]

Wally , yeah, You have really done a wicked Welly
I believe there are so many gaps and changes to aircraft codes so many ... just could not keep up, that period so many shot down and I think the change was only in the station commanders hand to reduce the loss, reduce the light - I'm still researching the topic and the history , FRANKLY, Wally a Superb job , Hey thought they do have a Wellington Nose at the Wigram Air Force Museum .. I'll get in there take a photo and post it here for you

[Ian Warren]

Wally , looking at your model, do you have close up of the yellow stenciling under the nose or can see what it reads ?

[dewobz]

Hi Ian, regrettably no. Even with a magnifying glass I was unable to read it at the time I applied it.
Various Walkarounds on the net don't seem to have that stencil so it may not be important ...? There might be an expert on here who knows?