Barnes Wallis was a gifted inventor - he used his experience of airship design on the airframe of the Vickers Wellington. This was a 2 engined aircraft

 

This aircraft - similar to the  British Airships R100 and R101, was based upon a geodesic structure - covered in a doped fabric. All the other mainstream heavy bombers were aluminium monocoque! The geodesic structure was VERY strong and the aircraft could take considerable damage and remain airborne. Downside was that it took a lot longer to make each aircraft.

 

Whereas there were 7,366 Lancaster, 6,176 Halifax and 2,371 Stirling - there were over 11,000 Wellingtons made and only 2 survive - The first at the RAF museum at Hendon and the second at Brooklands Museum (recovered from Loch Ness).

 

Our research has shown there was lots of original Nose Art on Wellington bombers.

 

Initially used as a bomber - the Wellington was later also used in naval reconnaissance and in many theaters of war.

 

Our panel represents the nose area below and in front of the cockpit. The 2D lattice structure represents the geodetic structure - with added detailing rivetted on. The hardwood stretchers  are also riveted , then an Irish Linen fabric is doped onto the frame. After the taughtening dope - a coloured dope is added to give the correct colour and opacity. We are using the safer butyrate dope.

 

To date we have 2 panels available.

Please click on Button for more detail and to purchase:

  

 

Panels are priced at 185 GBP plus P&P