Topic: Westland Wessex

I thought I would introduce my next project, A Westland Wessex.

It's a three engine feeder airliner from 1929 - 1934, 6-8 seats+ Pilot.

I thought that by mentioning it now I may get a few contributions to my research?
. Normally I make it a rule not to build anything that dose not exist but there is something about this aircraft that just gets to me.

Westland built ten Wessex. The first four were sold to Sabena, these had 5 cld. Armstrong Siddeley Gennets, skinny wheels and a tail skid.
These early ones were eventually re-registered in UK making the list look like 14.
  Later examples were gradually improved until they got to 7 cld. engine, Cowled, a beefed up undercarriage and a steerable tail wheel.
Number ten G-ABVB built was cleaned up version with a raised cabin and extra seats. No three views show that but i do have the most complete set of B&W photos.

Number 9 is a contender. G-ACIJ, It matches the three views, I have good selection of photoes but not one that showes the wing top.
Interestingly, ACIJ was sold to the Egyptian Air force, re-painted, probably in silver dope and has Egyptian Roundels applied that I can date and document.

Monthes of digging have produced 4 diferent three Views, all are diferent but too are good.

The model size is set by the model engins that have to fit in the cowls. A Laser 75, that i have 2 off, is 3-3/4" tall, a 120 is only 1/8 taller so one of them will go in the front. So with a 8" cowl  it will be 1/5 or 20%. That means 138" span. 15 kg- 33lb will be a chalenge! but is doable I think. The thing is mostly stiks and covering.

G-ACIJ

More ACIJ

Interesting project Richard, good luck and looking forward to see it progress from concept to flying model


Mark

Great stuff Richard, so looking forward to this

Ian.

Nice one Richard. 

I really like anything like this........

Cool, not familiar with this one. Watching with interest.......

Count me in!

Do you think you'll be able to keep it under 20kg?

I thought I would introduce my next project, A Westland Wessex.

Interesting (but brave) choice     I guess you must have the Westland book in the Putnam series ?  It has a few quite useful pictures and a 3-view.

If I ever go for a multi-engine / multi-wing  I like the idea of the Boulton & Paul P64 Mailplane (circa 1933). It's a cleaner airframe with close-cowled radial engines set on the top wing. . The P64 was single-fin, but the slightly more elegant P71A had a slightly longer fuz and triple fins. Both models had spatted main u/c bolted onto the lower wing (immediately below the engines.

If I ever get around to drawing it I'll post.  In the meantime, please keep feeding us Wessex news 

I have to get it under 15k for BMFA/FAI competitions.
     At 136" it will be big but i tell myself that it is only a monoplane, admittedly, 24" cord and 3.2" thick 

Another question is will it have enough power? the two 75 out on there own will be very efficient, perhaps like a 90 in the nose of any other model, then there is a 120 in the nose, making about 300, A laser 300 would certainly fly it if it was a single and the dead weight of engines will not be much more.
    If the power is hopeless i could put 120 all round.

If you remember our big Boeing 767 that was 12'span, 13'long and  weighed 50lb and flew on two Zenoah 22

The weight will be challenge but with built up ribs and mostly sticks in the fuselage I think I can do it.
 
I do not think I will even get it started this winter, I might make all the hardware, Cowls, Dummy engine and the difficult exhaust rings.

Yes Paul, I have the Westland book.
That Boulton & Paul P64 Mailplane is a bit of an ugly baby, good though, no windows to mess with and the cowls should be big enough because of the powerful engine.

I'm interested in the shape of the Cowl, do you think the exhaust ring was hexagonal?
I have this picture that appears to show a hexagonal exhaust ring with a oval section, but it is the only one. all the others appear to be round with the oval section.

This is the correct picture i wanted to post;

Not quite what I was expecting from the name, it being more recently egg whisk territory! 

Still, watching with interest!! 

Well Richard here is my offering to help you.  I drew the serial numbers which are far from standard as we would expect for the period.  The Wessex on the fin is not finished as it is difficult to make out the style that has been used.  I'll be ready when you are.  Enjoy 

Ah Richard ...but is there a living example to crawl over?

Brian Borland

Brian. 
     The last Wessex had disappeared by the beginning of the War, It's braking a rule of mine not to build something that dose not exist so have to accept getting a score hit in markings and colour but this is never going to be a world beater!

This is the photo that started me of on the Wessex, taken by my father at Croydon Airport in late 1938, you can see G-AAGW under the wing if that Short Scion;

Nigel,
   I have to decide between ABVB where i have the best photos including this one where you can see the wing top.
Or the ACIJ in Egyptian guise that matches the three views.

   ON ABVB i would like to know what the small writing on the fuselage is below the BVB, you cant read it so perhaps you know the standard practice for the day.

Trivia;
The above photo of the Prince of Wales inspecting ABVB ties in nicely with the next photo of the Aircraft he hired for his "holiday" in France with Mrs Simpson, It has the Welsh Dragon applied to the nose;

ABEG  with Welch Dragon

G-ACIJ

   A huge trainer, using two Lazer's more than it will probably need.
Different is the way to go though.
Its time for another Antonov.

I spent a very enjoyable afternoon and evening at Richard's poring over the info he has accumulated to date and giving it the once over from a judging perspective.

I have to say that I was not convinced of the choice when it was first mentioned on a wet afternoon at Church Fenton last May.  However, Richard has invested a lot of time gathering all the info and history and I am now convinced it shall be a very striking aircraft.

Alas, from a comp perspective, building an aircraft of this vintage with no full size examples to crawl over makes things a LOT more difficult. 

Here's hoping we can find the info required to boost those markings and colour scores.

Graham

PS:  Partially managed to convince dad of the virtues of google and e-bay when researching an aircraft.  He wasn't overly receptive, but he did like the docs I have managed to gather for his new project!!

The relentless quest for Wessex information goes on.

I went to an big IPMS exhibition at Milton Keynes, these guys LIVE for colour accuracy.
I won't say that as the models do not have to fly that is all they have to worry about but it is a much bigger part of their hobby than in ours.

Anyway, I met A guy that was building the entire fleet of British Airways aircraft through History, his next project will be The Rug Rat Resin kit of the Wessex.

      He sent me to a chap that is a volunteer at the BA Heritage center at Heathrow, we went there and a few more valuable photos and references were added.

Next, i made contact with the man who is re-producing the Rug Rats Resin range, the Wessex is the next project there, so another one keen to research.

Together with Dave Gibbins  and his friend Colin Burningham who has is trying to track the life of all 10 Wessex that were built we have a nice little group of expert interested parties.

Fortunately for all of us Pete McDermott took an interest in my work and dug up stuff that amazed us all. Kept me on focused on the correct subject for my model as well.

The subject aircraft that has crystallized out of all this is G-AAGW. The fifth Wessex built in 1929.
It have a varied history but the most interesting was when it was used by Railway Air Services and operated by Imperial Airways. (now BA)

The Great Western Railway  connection means there are some extra pictures about AND it is easy to verify the colours through the Railway hobby.

That led to a visit to the Didcot Railway center.   They had a display case full of Railway Air Service stuff including this card;

AND this model, probably made in 1930ish.

A pall who used to volunteer at Didcot had some further Railway book stuff;
This includes the Chocolate and Cream chips.

Anyway; I have cleared my bench and construction can begin...............

Richard,

The late great Guy Williams, one of the leading lights behind the Pendon Museum (model railway museum)  took timeout from building many of the locomotives to build a GWR Air Services Wessex - the model is detailed in this issue of MRJ and on display at Pendon (near Abingdon):
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Model-Railway-Journal-No-88-/260660679078?pt=UK_Magazines&hash=item3cb09651a6

Flight Global should be a source of rich pickings, here’s a couple of examples:
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1930/untitled0%20-%201147.html?search=westland+wessex
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1933/1933%20-%200263.html

This from the Air Britain site:
http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1251810/
There may well be more but I can’t get the search results to move onto the next page ….. 

http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/west_wessex.php

And a nice advert featuring the Wessex if not a huge help!
http://aviationancestry.com/Aircraft/Westland/Westland-Wessex-1933-1.html

HTH

Alan

The late great Guy Williams, one of the leading lights behind the Pendon Museum (model railway museum)  took timeout from building many of the locomotives to build a GWR Air Services Wessex - the model is detailed in this issue of MRJ and on display at Pendon (near Abingdon):
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Model-Railway-Journal-No-88-/260660679078?pt=UK_Magazines&hash=item3cb09651a6

Thanks, I bought that. will report

Flight Global should be a source of rich pickings, here’s a couple of examples:
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1930/untitled0%20-%201147.html?search=westland+wessex
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1933/1933%20-%200263.html

I had seen this page but lost it, so thanks for finding it

This from the Air Britain site:
http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1251810/
There may well be more but I can’t get the search results to move onto the next page ….. 


And a nice advert featuring the Wessex if not a huge help!
http://aviationancestry.com/Aircraft/Westland/Westland-Wessex-1933-1.html

An interesting poster, it is a rehash of one of the Sabena aircraft. below.

Here is the poster i was looking fore.
It looks like a nice underside photo of AAGW until you notice it has 5 cylinder Gennets that it never had.
An Artist in 1933 has used the second picture.

I had hoped to find a pic of AAGW with a tail wheel but from the below it seems i will not.
This is the history of AAGW assembled by Colin;

G-AAGW

xx/yy/1929         first flight at Yeovil as a Westland IV

16/07/1929         appeared at Olympia Exhibition until 27/07/1929 in Imperial Airways markings

xx/yy/1929         delivered to Imperial Airways at Croydon

by 13/02/1931    returned from Croydon to Westland for conversion to a Wessex

23/07/1931         photographed at Yeovil as a Wessex with Genet Major IA engines, still with tail skid

31/07/1931         delivered to Imperial Airways, London (based Croydon) after conversion

11/04/1933         leased to Great Western Railway Air Services, operated by Imperial Airways, until 30/09/33, still with tail skid

                           returned to Imperial Airways, London

1938?                 Sold/transferred to Air Pilots Training Ltd, Hamble

                           transferred to Air Service Training Ltd

20/11/1939         impressed and passed to 11 AONS on 20/11/39

22/07/1940         moved to Watchfield, withdrawn from use and scrapped 16/08/40

 

The plan is traced in Corel Draw and printed out 1500% biger than the 3V.
This involved a steep learning curve and much help from Mick Reeves and Richard Rawle, thanks.

After a long session of making built up ribs using 3/32 Cyprus and soft 1/4 sq balsa  40 ribs are produced. Half of them have disappeared into one complete wing half. The other half is "kitted" and wont take long.

The panel weighs 750 gm, Seems reasonable? It's been a long time since i built such a big wing.

Great progress Richard!

Are you off to Pontefract this weekend?

I won't be there as I have to contend with 26.2 miles around London.

Catch up at Church Fenton

Graham

I think we are of to Ponti on Sunday. Always good for a shake down.
Very best wishes for the Marathon, I will look out for you.   

Two Wings and a tail took 5 weeks. They weigh 2 lb pr panel ready to cover.
 I don't know if that is good or bad as it is a long time since i built a big wing.
     Now for the fuselage.

A bit of delay due to a hospital stay but back in the workshop now and getting on with the fuselage.

I made the side frames and set them up with the main formers tacked in.
When happy i made the rest of the formers from light ply and added some bracing in the scale places.

At this stage i tried a wing fit and set it at 3 deg. this helped set the line of the top stringers.

The formers are removed one by one and rebuilt with 2 layers of light ply with some carbon between.

Once set overnight between two sheets of glass they are cleaned up and reinstalled. Looks a mess but makes a light, slim and strong former from the old Swordfish traveling crate!

About time i updated and rescued the thread from the bottom of the page;
Fuselage is complete, engine Nacelles are molded and mounted, Tail and fin are on and rudder and elevator are connected to servos.
The Art Deco cabin is carpeted and some mirrors and fittings mounted on varnished veneer. that had to be done as it is almost ready to cover.
Big jobs that remain after the nacelles are Cockpit frame and dummy engine.
Last pictures are of it stood on it's wheels and the Laser 75 engine perched on for a little morel boosting. A 120 i don't have yet will go on the nose.

Looking good Richard, an amazing project, watching with intrest. 
Try to make our Traplet comp at Osbournby with your Ryan in October.
Cheers Richard Scarbrough

Why the different engine sizes?

Looks good Richard.

I love the interior, can't wait to see it fully equipped

The outside's looking good too.

Alan

good question, a few reasons.

I already had 2 NIB Laser 75s
If i purchased 2 new ones thay would be 70s or 80s but same height.

The model size and scale  is dictated by the size of the dummy engine or cowl that will hide the 75s

At (1/5) the cowl would be 8" so a Laser height that is 3 3/4" will fit in. That gives a span of 138"

Seems quite big for 3 X 80s so as I have to buy one more a 120 is only 1/4 taller than the 75.

If I put a bigger engine at the nose if i have a engine stop It will help stability and control.

As it terned out I chose G-AAGW that dose not have cowls because it is the only Wessex that I could get written colour proof and paint chips required for FAI comps.

I still have to make three 7 cyl dummy to hide the Lasers as best i can.

Below is a picture of G-ABEG that did have cowls but few pictures exist and no colour proof.
It is the sort of decision that scale modelers have to make all the time when choosing a project.

That radial is very Saito-esque.

Looks wonderful Richard.  I have been following your build on RCSB

A bit of an update.
   I show all the detail stuff on RCSB but this being a UK sight i like all the relevant and useful feedback
I am currently working on the three dummy engines, something that is sure to be traumatic and problematical

Looks fabulous Richard, what material are you making the dummy cylinder plug from? It looks  a hardwood of some sort? I am assuming you are going to use it as a mold for the other cylinders 

Cheers
Danny

It's Chemi wood. A micro balloon's and resin compound that comes in different grades.
The pink is a practice.
Easiest place to get it in UK is Fighter Aces.

Hi Richard, I have some green colored chemi wood and it turns really nicely. Had not seen the pink stuff. Just subscribed to the thread over on RCSB and it explains it there.

Thanks for your reply 

Cheers
Danny