**** DONE: 1/48 Wellington Mk.III - Allied Manufactured Aircraft

[Jeff Hunt]

Username Jeff Hunt
First Name Jeff
Category Beginner
Scale 1:48
Manufacturer Trumpeter
Model Type Wellington Mk. III
Accessories Montex Canopy Mask

Cheers,

jeff

 

[Jeff Hunt]

For this group build I will be building the Trumpeter 1:48 scale Wellington Mk.III. This was a Christmas gift from my oldest son. I will be finishing this kit as a 425 Squadron RCAF machine, ser # X3763. 425 Squadron is still active today flying CF-18s out of Bagotville Quebec.

The box art is tremendous on this kit.

When one opens the box everything is nicely packaged with the clear parts, the PE parts, tyres and undercarriage bits being separately packed.

A full colour profile is included and the instructions are in book style. The decal sheet covers the basic national markings and serials and that is about it. No stencilling etc.

There are 639 pieces, located on 21 sprues in this kit, making this the largest kit, in terms of piece count, that I have ever tackled. Many are optional ( bomb load for example ). For some reason, two sets of sprues have been doubled up as my kit for example has four props etc. See photo for details.

I am looking forward to the challenge of this kit but will not start it until I have finished my Savoia Marchetti SM. 79 mainly because I do not have the space for two physically large kits on the bench at the same time.

Cheers,

Jeff

 

[Wurger]

 

[Airframes]

Great choice Jeff, and from what I've seen of built examples, this is a great kit too. Looks like the props are on a 'common' sprue, for other versions of the kit, with different types of prop.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Awesome choice!

 

[rochie]

fantastic, another kit i am trying to convince the missus i neeeed !

 

[Airframes]

Yeah, I'd like one too, but since I got the 1/48th scale Lanc, and the 1/48th scale B-24, I know I don't have room for one !!

Jeff, I've got a few interior details shots of the RAF Museum's example, undergoing renovation. It was converted to a radio and navigation trainer, so some of the details will be different, but they might give you an idea of the internal structure, if you want them ?

 

[Jeff Hunt]

Yeah, I'd like one too, but since I got the 1/48th scale Lanc, and the 1/48th scale B-24, I know I don't have room for one !!

Jeff, I've got a few interior details shots of the RAF Museum's example, undergoing renovation. It was converted to a radio and navigation trainer, so some of the details will be different, but they might give you an idea of the internal structure, if you want them ?

Post away my good man, post away.

Cheers,

Jeff

 

[Jeff Hunt]

fantastic, another kit i am trying to convince the missus i neeeed !

My son got me both the Mk.III and the Mk. I off of E Bay. For both he paid less than retail for one alone. Very shrewd of him I thought.

I hope to do the Mk.1 some day as an aircraft my uncle flew at 22OTU inJune/July 1942

Cheers,

Jeff

 

[Jeff Hunt]

Okay, I have started doing a little research into aircraft X3763 and have found the following which is causing me some trouble. I have conflicting information as to the markings of the aircraft when it was lost on a raid.

1st...


"X 3763 Vickers Vickers, Blackpool Wellington Mk. III Served with No. 425 Squadron, RCAF in the UK from September 1942, coded "KW*E". Failed to return from mission to Stuttgart on 15 April 1943. Crashed at Mussey-sur-Marne (Haute Marne), on the W bank of the Marne, 8 km south of Joinville, France."
RAF owned, RCAF operated, up to Z9999


2nd ( info refers to X3763 )

# Name* (↑) Initials Rank* Service No. Awards* (↑) AirForce* (↑) Date Squadron* (↑) Aircraft* (↑) Mark Serial* (↑) Code Station* (↑) Time Mission* (↑) Incident* Fate* (↑) Memorial* (↑) Photo Notes
1 Desroches J O L Flying Officer J15820 DFC RCAF 14/15.04.43 425 Sqd Wellington III X3763 KW-L Dishforth 2107 Stuttgart Crashed Mussey-Sur-Marne Killed Mussey-sur-Marne
2 Doucette A T Flying Officer J15960 DFC 14/15.04.43 425 Sqd Wellington III X3763 KW-L Dishforth 2107 Stuttgart Crashed Mussey-Sur-Marne Killed Mussey-sur-Marne
3 Jones A Sergeant 1234135 14/15.04.43 425 Sqd Wellington III X3763 KW-L Dishforth 2107 Stuttgart Crashed Mussey-Sur-Marne Killed Mussey-sur-Marne
4 Ledoux G P H Flying Officer J16270 14/15.04.43 425 Sqd Wellington III X3763 KW-L Dishforth 2107 Stuttgart Crashed Mussey-Sur-Marne Killed Mussey-sur-Marne
5 Truseau P P Warrant Officer T79441 RCAF 14/15.04.43 425 Sqd Wellington III X3763 KW-L Dishforth 2107 Stuttgart Crashed Mussey-Sur-Marne Killed Mussey-sur-Marne
6 Vollans D Sergeant 656175 14/15.04.43 425 Sqd Wellington III X3763 KW-L Dishforth 2107 Stuttgart Crashed Mussey-Sur-Marne Killed Mussey-sur-Marne
- See more at: RAF Bomber Command Database


a book I have at home ( RCAF Squadrons and Aircraft ) show that X3763 carried individual squadron letter "E" as opposed to the L provided on the decal sheet. I will look into this more as well as ask others here to check their reference material. If this is in fact the case that it carried the letter "E" I will use bits of the squadron codes from the 115 Sqdn. ( KO*P ) markings that also came with the kit to make the L into an E.



Seeking a definitive answer,



Cheers,
Jeff

 

[Wurger]

Vickers Wellington B. Mk. III, s/n X3763 and coded KW*E from No. 425 'Alouette' (B) Squadron. It was struck by flak while over the target during an operation against Kiel, Germany on the 13th/14th of October, 1942. The aircraft was later re-coded as KW*L. It crash-landed in France at Mussey-sur-Marne (Haute Marne) on the west bank of the Marne River eight kilometres south of Joinville after being shot down during an operation to Stutgart, Germany on the night of the 15th/16th April, 1943. Luftwaffe night-fighter pilot Leutnant Franze Draude with 4/NJG 4 claimed the victory.

The crew made up of four members of the Royal Canadian Air Force and two from the Royal Air Force, were killed in action.

No. 425 (B) Squadron used the 'Wimpy' as the Wellington was affectionately known as from Dishforth, Yorkshire between August, 1942 and April, 1943.

 

[Crimea_River]

Impressive looking kit Jeff. Will watch with interest.

 

[Wildcat]

Wow, great looking kit! I'm sure you'll do a good job of it Jeff.

 

[Jeff Hunt]

Wurger....thank you for the information. It would appear that either letter could be used and judging by the paint in the photos and the artwork with the kit, the aircraft was repainted somewhere along the line as well, one could assume at the time of re-coding.

I will build it as KX*L, the colours and code she wore the night she was lost on operations.

Cheers and thanks again,

Jeff

 

[Wurger]

Here her better shot than the second one in my post above.

 

[Airframes]

Here you go Jeff. Let me know if you's like the Squadron Signal book on the Wellington, and I'll e-mail it to you. It's got a couple more interior shots.

EDIT:- Sorry the pics are jumbled, and there's a few more to come - it's taken 9 attempts and 55 minutes just to get these to load. darned forum is running slow.

 

[Airframes]

The last few. Another three attempts - could only load the pics individually.

 

[Wurger]

Great stuff Terry. THX for sharing.

 

[fubar57]

Nice choice, Jeff and great references the both of you.

Geo

 

[Wildcat]

Great shots Terry!