60" Handley Page Hampden and Vickers Wellesley Scratchbuilds

[baz49exe]

Dead right Bill, it was of fabric covered framework construction. Barnes Wallis designed it as a geodesic framework which he later used in the Wellington. Apparently it was amazingly resistant to battle damage.
I really like your idea of simulated stringers, I must give it a go on a future build if I'm not in too much of a hurry to finish it.

[pattern14]

Thats coming along fine Barry Do you apply a clear coat over the camo and underside to protect it on landings, or is the enamel tough enough for grass strips? I am ending up with new scrape marks on each subsequent flight, so I applied clear tape over the belly to minimise gouging, and then gave it a light sand to make it appear matt. Still working at getting this paint thing practical

[baz49exe]

The plastic enamel is tough enough Michael and it holds up well to belly landing abuse.
I had reason to think that it would as I built 1/35th scale motorized Tamiya tanks in the early 70's and used it on them.
The tyres on the running wheels were painted with this enamel and I expected it to wear off in no time with the abrasion from the plastic tracks.
It didn't which amazed me at the time.

[Voyager2lcats]

Originally Posted by baz49exe

At last I'm getting the paint scheme onto the airframe starting with the dark earth areas of the upper surface brown and green camouflage scheme.
A couple of coats of thinned water based varnish, including the one used to apply the silk, has sealed the foam so that solvent based plastic enamel paint can be applied without damaging the foam itself.
I really like this paint as one small tin let can be thinned to cover the whole model and at that dilution it adds very little weight..

That Humbrol looks great, Barry. Same with the observer's compartment.

[baz49exe]

Thanks Bob, I really sweated over getting the observers station sorted out. The painting is going slowly as it's freezing outside and I can only stand to do a bit at a time.
One good reason for using acrylics and painting indoors!!

[pd1]

Hi Barry, The cold does take the enjoyment out of painting.
I think I'll use film covering on my next one to avoid the same issue.

Paint looks great though.

Paul

[baz49exe]

Paul, I put up with the outside cold and applied the green camo to the top surfaces this morning. Now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Just the black underside paint scheme to add, the framework for the cockpits, the decals and panel lines and it'll be completed.

[Slowjohn]

Looks darn good Barry
You've really become a Building Machine with your method and you always build nice looking models that fly well
Your an inspiration to many so keep up the good work

Standing By,
SJ

[BradT]

I certainly echo SJs comments here, Barry. That's really looking the part now!

[baz49exe]

Thanks guys, you are very kind.
There are far better scale modellers than myself on here who have great engineering skills, however, I do feel that this method is economical as the cost of materials is so very little. It is also quite fast and very easy to do once the basics are grasped.
Anyone who can stick two pieces of foam together can do this and have a great time building and flying any plane they fancy.

[Voyager2lcats]

Originally Posted by baz49exe

Thanks guys, you are very kind.
There are far better scale modellers than myself (not many!) on here who have great engineering skills, however, I do feel that this method is economical as the cost of materials is so very little. It is also quite fast and very easy to do once the basics are grasped.
Anyone (No, wrong on two counts! Wish it were true, but many are unwilling.) who can stick two pieces of foam together can do this and have a great time building and flying any plane they fancy.

Okay, I have added my two cents in this quote edit. LOL. Still, great job on a great looking (and flying) model. Once again, a very unusual subject.

Bob

[pd1]

I have to agree with Bob. I can build OK with balsa, but I find it difficult to work with raw foam like Barry and a few others do.

Nice job.

Paul

[baz49exe]

I guess my viewpoint is formed by my experiences from 33 years of teaching during which time I was always amazed by what children could achieve when they broke through the " I can't possibly do that " barrier. These days I think many people work on that fear and convince you that you can't do something so that they will of course come and do it for you for the included "fee".
For instance, I saw setting up a satellite dish as a " black art" which I couldn't possibly do after all the company hype about how scientific and complicated it was but after much hesitation,with a compass and some on line research, I was amazed how easy it was. Admittedly it was an analogue dish but the " can't do" barrier was still strongly in play.
Oops, back to the build.
I've scaled the markings using Word and printed them on our home printer which uses pigment inks. This means that the finished decals can be applied to the surface using watered down PVA and can then be protected by a coat of matt water based varnish without the colours running.
Now all I need to do is to paint the underside of the cowl and apply the framing to the glasswork and it's done. Unless I decide to apply the panel lines that is.

[riverrat]

Barry!

WoW! Nice Job!
And it also flys great!

Regards
Jimmy

[Voyager2lcats]

Originally Posted by riverrat

Barry!

WoW! Nice Job!
And it also flys great!

Regards
Jimmy

Okay, I am seconding Jimmy- the decals really bring this plane to life! Barry, what more can I say? Yes, plenty, but I will tone it down.

Bob

[baz49exe]

Hi Jimmy,
Thanks very much. I'm looking forward to some slow relaxing flying with this one.

Barry

[baz49exe]

Hi Bob,
Thanks for your support old friend.
I also think that a model comes to life when the decals are put into place. I get a real buzz out of searching for them on line and sizing them to fit.
The freezer label framing went on to the canopies today so I'll be able to paint them tomorrow .

Barry

[baz49exe]

Well the Wellesley is finished, unless I add the fuselage panel lines that is!
As ever the final bits took far longer than expected but I'm really pleased to have models of both the aircraft designed by Barnes Wallis ready to fly.
I've returned to my childhood totally now having found a plan on Outerzone for a Keil Kraft Skystreak 26 control liner which was the very first model I built as a child in 1960.
I just thought it would be a great idea to scale it up to 36" span and build it in foam for RC and electric power so it's underway.
When that diversion is over I'd like to build a four engined model unless of course the converted control line models of yesteryear really grab hold.

[Bill G]

I bet the Wellesley should make a really good powered sailplane. I would be interesting to see what it does, with a good summer updraft.
As for outerzone, I think I found enough plans there now to build for a few lifetimes. I first saw "formers incomplete" for the plan you referred to, but with foam that shouldn't be an issue. I'm sure you can sketch up some profiles that should be just about dead on anyway. Any thoughts of changing the airfoil to something a bit less symmetrical? I imagine that plane was designed as a stunt plane.

[baz49exe]

Bill, I think that you are correct and I can't wait to try out its soaring ability either.
The Skystreak 26 fuz is already mostly built as the original was slab sided sheet with a sheet bottom and planked turtle deck.
It was so easy to use sheet foam sides cut from some foam television delivery box packing material. It even had right angled extensions on it which made ready formed bulkheads.
As it will be flown as a stunter I'll probably go with the original airfoil section. What do you think??

Barry

[Bill G]

Originally Posted by baz49exe

Bill, I think that you are correct and I can't wait to try out its soaring ability either.
The Skystreak 26 fuz is already mostly built as the original was slab sided sheet with a sheet bottom and planked turtle deck.
It was so easy to use sheet foam sides cut from some foam television delivery box packing material. It even had right angled extensions on it which made ready formed bulkheads.
As it will be flown as a stunter I'll probably go with the original airfoil section. What do you think??

Barry

Everything's an experiment. Some of the "experts" (pardon the expression) will heavily debate airfoils on these forums, but you never really know until you try it. I thought the S2055 was a bit radical when I used it on the Dayton Wright RB1, and it flew beautifully. The Aerovan is going to transition from a NACA 23012 to a NACA 2412, similar to the full scale, although it uses a 23018. Well see what happens.

[pattern14]

Originally Posted by baz49exe

Well the Wellesley is finished, unless I add the fuselage panel lines that is!
As ever the final bits took far longer than expected but I'm really pleased to have models of both the aircraft designed by Barnes Wallis ready to fly.
I've returned to my childhood totally now having found a plan on Outerzone for a Keil Kraft Skystreak 26 control liner which was the very first model I built as a child in 1960.
I just thought it would be a great idea to scale it up to 36" span and build it in foam for RC and electric power so it's underway.
When that diversion is over I'd like to build a four engined model unless of course the converted control line models of yesteryear really grab hold.

That's a great looking plane you have there Barry; very well done I'd be tempted to speck it out on a sunny day to see how far she would go, as I am sure it will make a brilliant high altitude sailplane. The full size plane set some distance and endurance records back in the '30's, so there is no reason why this one would not emulate those feats. Any thoughts on putting a camera on this one? It's really good to hear about converting a control line plane to electric r/c as well. I have great memories of my Mk 22 Spitfire with 2.5 cc glo engine screaming around trying to cut the ribbon of the Me 109 in front of me all those years ago We all look forward to seeing you get one going cheers

[baz49exe]

Micheal, it sounds as if you have fond memories of those control line days. I thought it would be great fun to copy a few of my old ones for RC.
As Bill says " We shall see."
There's no plan to attach a camera to the Wellesley however the Wellington and Hampden are perfect subjects as it is so very easy to replace the front turrets on both with a camera mount fixed at the perfect view point with no props to worry about and minimum movement issues.
Well that's the plan anyway.

Barry