Barnes Wallis Swallow

Bluesteel · June 23, 2006, 11:17:54 AM

Does anyone know if any manufacturer, injection, vacform or resin (even balsa) has ever made a model of this fantastic machine?

http://www.barneswallistrust.org/swingwing.htm

If not, and if I could find some reasonable plans I'd like to have a go at building one.

I wonder if the original Wallis models still exist, and if so where?

According to the article on the link above, a 6 foot supersonic model managed up to Mach 2.5! I assume in a wind tunnel?

The small picture of it - top right - seems to show an RAF version with two roundels. What a 'What-If'!

Bluesteel

Chris707 · June 23, 2006, 12:45:34 PM

I once came across a US patent by Wallis that was definitely "Swallow-ish" but IIRC was much more generic than what you would need...

Chris

GTX · June 23, 2006, 12:51:25 PM

Bluesteel,

I might have something in the drawing area to help you - give me a little time to dig it up. In the meantime, you could also try Overscan's www.secretprojects.co.uk website.

Regards,

Greg

Geoff_B · June 23, 2006, 01:13:08 PM

A 3 veiw is on page 118 of 'British Secret Projects:- Jet Bomber since 1949' by Tony Buttler.

Not seen a model kit in any medium.

Cheers

G

GTX · June 23, 2006, 01:25:49 PM

Here you go:

Regards,

Greg

Bluesteel · June 23, 2006, 01:36:18 PM

Fantastic!

Thanks Greg

I think I'm going to have to scratch build this one.

But it's definitely a build for the near future.

I'll post pics when I get started

Bluesteel

GTX · June 23, 2006, 01:38:28 PM

Can't wait to see it - what scale are you going for and will it be a military bird (say a V-bomber) or a civilian one?

Regards,

Greg

Bluesteel · June 23, 2006, 01:46:54 PM

QuoteCan't wait to see it - what scale are you going for and will it be a military bird (say a V-bomber) or a civilian one?

Regards,

Greg

I think 1:72nd, and I may as well do two at the same time. One civil one military.

The RAF military one will be a Bluesteel carrier - of course

Bluesteel

Bluesteel · June 24, 2006, 03:05:49 AM

Just bought two large sheets of plasticard and some other bits and bobs to begin the BW Swallow scratch build. this is going to be fun...

Bluesteel

Zen · June 24, 2006, 05:13:53 AM

Swallow was a intercontinental transport aircraft, to keep the disparate parts of the Empire together. Swing wings kept landing speeds down, a raisable cockpit provided for good visibility on approach and low drag in cruising flight. Mach 3 was the objective speed the plane was designed for.

Steering was by movable engine pods.

A scale version to test and prove the technology is the one you see in the picture others have provided, Wallis using it for a military version proposed to the RN's OR346 requirement. Five 100lb bombs could be carried.

The full scale machine was also offered as a bomber.

The scale version is quite large. the wings when swept back made the machine over 70ft in length, and when swept out made it very wide in span. This is partly why the RN was'nt too keen on along with the realisation it would take at least 10 years to develope.

Davey B · June 25, 2006, 05:05:33 AM

I have this idea of a prototype starship of some kind, a few YAL-1 laser turrets...