Colin Leighfield Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 I've considered asking Dylan to look at this one for me as well. I've already got the Supermarine 317 laser cut parts he's done for me and built most of the fuselage, just holding it there for a bit while I work out some of the detail stuff. The Welkin is on hold because I had problems getting the cg right with the very short nose, so want to alter it and carry a Lipo in each nacelle instead of one in the fuselage to resolve the problem without having to overload it with ballast. I designed it from scratch and once I've resolved the cg issue I think it's got the ingredients for a great flyer. I designed and built a 58" version a few years back, but due to severe family problems gave it to Dave Chinnery, who finished it off and flew it very well. Here it is, although he got the colour scheme wrong. Pardon me for disrupting your thread, I'll leave it there. It's just that the Whirlwind was more significant than is often realised and its' hardly known son, the Welkin, played a huge part in the development of high altitude flight, particularly as it's design of pressure cabin lead to development of the Normalair Garrett pressurisation business which became so significant in airliners later on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff noble Posted November 2, 2014 Author Share Posted November 2, 2014 not a disruption at all very interesting info feel free to add info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Thanks Geoff. You can see the relationship to the Whirlwind, it's just stretched in every way. Around 100 were built, including one as a two seater night fighter prototype. They were tested by Air Fighting Development Unit at Wittering and mine bears the markings of one of those. Because the expected high altitude German bombing campaign fizzled out and they found that Spitfires could go far higher than anyone expected, they didn't enter squadron service. However they were stored in flying condition and test flown in case they were needed, I believe they weren't scrapped until 1951. Some were extensively used for high altitude development work. So as you can see, the general belief that the Whirlwind was a dead end wasn't true, it's just that the perceived need for its' successor turned out to be wrong. After completing the work on the Welkin Ted Petter left Westland for English Electric and designed the Canberra. He had looked at the possibility of re-engining the Welkin with jets but he'd made the wing too thick and it had compressibility problems at high speed, like the Typhoon did, so really that was a non-starter. Not many know that the Whirlwind was the grandad of the Canberra bomber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Reynolds LaserCraft Services Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Is it not finished yet? Seriously, looking good so far, I just need you to make 2 now so I can have one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.A. Barry Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Colin, the much admired Whirly (by me anyway) I had no idea that it was linked to the Canberra, I had visions a few yrs ago to build a Welkin, 4+ book is quite informative, any way Geoff get a move on will ya, I want a 78" plan, before I get too much older... Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff noble Posted November 3, 2014 Author Share Posted November 3, 2014 thanks for the kind words don't worry Dylan if you learn the correct mode I might let you have a go hmm canberra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff noble Posted November 15, 2014 Author Share Posted November 15, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff noble Posted November 15, 2014 Author Share Posted November 15, 2014 bit more progress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Richardson Posted November 15, 2014 Share Posted November 15, 2014 Just stumbled on this thread 96inch sounds a nice size will be following with interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.A. Barry Posted November 15, 2014 Share Posted November 15, 2014 great work Geoff..... Keep it up Barry, (in waiting) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Worth waiting for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff noble Posted November 16, 2014 Author Share Posted November 16, 2014 thanks for the kind words should be worth waiting for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.A. Barry Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Geoff any updates on the build???, are you planning on theflaps and nacelles rotating together , here is a pic that shows you where it actually hinges Cheers Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff noble Posted May 3, 2015 Author Share Posted May 3, 2015 Hi sorry not much progress been concentrating on the A10 At the monent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Great scale drawings of the WElkin came out in RAF News way back. These are still available from the publishers of Flypast I believe. I keep looking at the WElkin...but then I have done so for years and years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Me too Peter, see my earlier postings. The full page three-view drawings in the 4+ Publication are as good as you will find and include the two seater night fighter version, which with its' longer nose is easier from the cg point of view. This is the problem I had with my 1/12 scale version, not insoluble and I'll get back to it. The 58" version in the photo with Dave Chinnery above used heavier brushed can motors and didn't have the problem. If it's of any interest to you, I can send you my hand drawn 70" plan, you might improve it or me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.A. Barry Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Colin, if I wasn't committed to several other planes, I would certainly like a copy of your plan, with that said, it might be a good venture to have on the ready. I do have the +4 publication, and I toyed with it a few models back, but a plan I could not find......ummm. PM me please Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Barry, will do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 A few more Welkin photos. I used the cabin pressurisation intake on the nose for cooling air into the fuselage for the battery mostly, probably not necessary. The wing ducts for the radiators etc. are fully functional and contain the ESCs. It has since occurred to me that it might be worth making alterations to the nacelles for retracts and also it would probably work with a pair of 30 four strokes. However, with this high aspect ratio wing, the next and probably next step would be to go bigger, perhaps I/8 scale, 105". 25 two strokes would be good, but there's always the issue of hiding the bulky silencers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.A. Barry Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Very interesting Colin Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.A. Barry Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Geof/Dylan, is there any updates on the Whirly, I just may build #4. bigger is better......for this aircraft Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff noble Posted November 15, 2015 Author Share Posted November 15, 2015 sorry for the late reply haven't been on the site for a while having a few health problems just had a new knee so sorry no progress yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.A. Barry Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 Geof are the plans you have for the Whirlwind, workable, if so would you be so kind to send me a copy......PLEASE, pretty please.. been almost 12 months since the project started..let me know Thanks and I trust your health issues improve A.A.Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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