Maybe not "what if" but certainly "one-off"

[Faust]

I have a problem. I’m addicted, not only to modelling in general, but to Matchbox kits in particular. I’ve tried to quite, really, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. I love their weird subjects and the fact that you can generally get them for very little money.  When you combine this with a growing love of interwar European bombers, that means that Matchbox and Heller are going to be the targets of choice!

Of course, sometimes I like to get a bit wild; the weirdness of a straight Matchbox kit isn’t enough; that’s what happened when I got a hold of the Wellesley. Looking around on the ‘net, I found that they used the Wellesley for several different tests, including for the Hercules radial!

I built my model to represent this testbed airframe. However, Just imagine if these had gone operational. With all the extra power, the Wellesley might have made a great long-range recon plane (like an early version of a U-2) or fleet shadower, heck, even as an anti-Kondor weapon it might have had value!


https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/model-kits/planes/matchbox-172-wellesley-mk-i-vickers-model-289/

[Buzzbomb]

Nothing wrong with a good bit of Matchbox passion.

like the conversion and it really works well.

You have a whole swag of interesting engine configurations you can do with the Airfix Fairey Battle as well.

[KiwiZac]

That's cool! I like your paint job.

I love Matchbox kits too, and FROG. I have only discovered them recently since Matchbox was only a Revell imprint when I started building.

[GTX_Admin]

Nice work.

I assume this was one of the photos you would have found when researching this:

[Faust]

Thanks guys!

Yeah, that was one of only two photos of the bird that I could find!

I still think it looks like a "mega-Skyraider". 

[Tophe]

Weird and unusual, I like it!

[Brian da Basher]

I'm right there with you when it comes to those wonderful Matchbox kits, Faust! Since Revell re-pops many of them, they're easy to find and usually very affordable too. In fact, I think most of those older kits are excellent whiff fodder and given the cost, I actually prefer them to more modern kits with all the bells & whistles.

I've always had a soft-spot for the Wellesley, and your take on it is especially sweet! The faded-edge camo works wonderfully well and is very pleasing.

This makes me think that the old Wellesley would make a nice upgrade with maybe a Wasp Major engine and a rear gun turret.

Nice work, Faust!

Brian da Basher