Mr. Alan of Smith Hill Library looks at the 1/72 scale Vickers-Armstrongs Wellesley by Matchbox. He also discusses another Matchbox kit, the Stranraer seaplane.
Nice friendly video cousin,I remember the Matchbox kit as tgey did do different lesser known stuff. Always crisp,rarely any flash,more decal and parts than airfix in the 70s and 80s. Novel colours as kids may not have had paints. I too looked up this weird bird and as you said quite often it's the lesser know unsung heroes that were the first to do all kinds of things. Matchbox got bought out but you can tell the originals as they have a unique clear window in the back of the box. Tank models cane with lovely dioramas. Revell bought them out so when you buy a Revell it may be a Matchbox. By the way tge Czech company Valom do the Wellesley for a more detailed version with Photo etch and excellent interior. That's a big old bird and caused a few headaches out in Africa for sure. Keep those videos coming. Nice and relaxed and informative. The kids grew up and so did the hobby but the buzz remains the same. Awesome. Cheers fried. Des UK
Matchbox made some great subjects no other manufacturers put on the market. They also did the Wellington bomber. This brand got me into modeling kits. ✨👍
Quite the unusual aircraft. And it had an impressive service life. Thanks for sharing this with the RUclips modeling community. Keep having fun my friend. Bill
Another great video Mr Alan, as a child in the early seventies in england Matchbox kits were my candy, they were freely available, much cheaper than airfix and their kits were newer toolings of decent quality , some of their kits are still credible now, the 72 armour kits were very good,the 1/32 Bf-109 and sea venom are still recommended, i dont think anybody else has yet tooled a fiat G-91Y , Single tailed Privateer, dornier do-18, matchbox has and still does provide me with many happy hours of modelling .
Here's a tip: After Matchbox went out of business, Revell picked up a lot of their molds. If you see a Revell 1/76 Diorama kit, it's probably got Matchbox-molded parts inside.
Fun thing others forget too. Barnes Wallis, you know the guy that came up with the idea of the Bouncing and the Grand slam bombs was the one to have a major in put to the Wellesley and the Wellington bombers design for Vickers. With all employed Wallis's geodetic design in the fuselage and wing structures.
I recently found this kit -- along with the Matchbox 1/72 Mosquito Mk 1 -- for C$4.99 at my local hobby shop's 'bargain bin,' still in the plastic wrap. I sent it to my friend in the U.K. Peter Oxley, who's a Matchbox madman.
The Wellesley! Such a rare airplane... He was the main victim (I think) of Italian biplane ace of East Africa, Mario Visintini. Even the Stranrare is a fascinating plane. Thanks for your very interesting contributes.
Thanks for the review of the Matchbox Wellesley (and nice paintjob, by the way). It have it on my wish-list since I was a kid, but that wingspan is honestly a bit off-putting. I might go for the gorgeous Stranraer instead.
Good morning. Just a bit of geekie information for you, Arthur WELLESLEY was the 1st Duke of WELLINGTON so you can see another connection between the 2 Vickers planes. Also the Stranraer pronunctiation is closer to StranRAHR, which is a town in Scotland.
The geodetic construction was the reason for placing the bombs in underwing panniers. Having bomb bays in the wings or fuselage would have weakened the structural integrity.
Nice friendly video cousin,I remember the Matchbox kit as tgey did do different lesser known stuff. Always crisp,rarely any flash,more decal and parts than airfix in the 70s and 80s. Novel colours as kids may not have had paints. I too looked up this weird bird and as you said quite often it's the lesser know unsung heroes that were the first to do all kinds of things. Matchbox got bought out but you can tell the originals as they have a unique clear window in the back of the box. Tank models cane with lovely dioramas. Revell bought them out so when you buy a Revell it may be a Matchbox. By the way tge Czech company Valom do the Wellesley for a more detailed version with Photo etch and excellent interior. That's a big old bird and caused a few headaches out in Africa for sure. Keep those videos coming. Nice and relaxed and informative. The kids grew up and so did the hobby but the buzz remains the same. Awesome. Cheers fried. Des UK
Matchbox made some great subjects no other manufacturers put on the market. They also did the Wellington bomber. This brand got me into modeling kits. ✨👍
Quite the unusual aircraft. And it had an impressive service life. Thanks for sharing this with the RUclips modeling community. Keep having fun my friend.
Bill
Another great video Mr Alan, as a child in the early seventies in england Matchbox kits were my candy, they were freely available, much cheaper than airfix and their kits were newer toolings of decent quality , some of their kits are still credible now, the 72 armour kits were very good,the 1/32 Bf-109 and sea venom are still recommended, i dont think anybody else has yet tooled a fiat G-91Y , Single tailed Privateer, dornier do-18, matchbox has and still does provide me with many happy hours of modelling .
I like the info you said
got this recently via ebay for 10 euros im looking forward to built it
yours look great!
Here's a tip: After Matchbox went out of business, Revell picked up a lot of their molds. If you see a Revell 1/76 Diorama kit, it's probably got Matchbox-molded parts inside.
Fun thing others forget too. Barnes Wallis, you know the guy that came up with the idea of the Bouncing and the Grand slam bombs was the one to have a major in put to the Wellesley and the Wellington bombers design for Vickers. With all employed Wallis's geodetic design in the fuselage and wing structures.
I recently found this kit -- along with the Matchbox 1/72 Mosquito Mk 1 -- for C$4.99 at my local hobby shop's 'bargain bin,' still in the plastic wrap. I sent it to my friend in the U.K. Peter Oxley, who's a Matchbox madman.
Love bargain bin finds!
The Wellesley! Such a rare airplane... He was the main victim (I think) of Italian biplane ace of East Africa, Mario Visintini.
Even the Stranrare is a fascinating plane.
Thanks for your very interesting contributes.
Just read about Visintini! Thanks for the information!
Thanks for the review of the Matchbox Wellesley (and nice paintjob, by the way). It have it on my wish-list since I was a kid, but that wingspan is honestly a bit off-putting. I might go for the gorgeous Stranraer instead.
It is a rather long wingspan for a single engine aircraft.
Good job! We do a model relaxing painting stream. Love yours. Liked and subscribed :)
Good morning. Just a bit of geekie information for you, Arthur WELLESLEY was the 1st Duke of WELLINGTON so you can see another connection between the 2 Vickers planes. Also the Stranraer pronunctiation is closer to StranRAHR, which is a town in Scotland.
Thanks for the correction! Ooops!
The geodetic construction was the reason for placing the bombs in underwing panniers. Having bomb bays in the wings or fuselage would have weakened the structural integrity.