In Box Review of Williams Bros. 1/32nd Scale
Wedell-Williams Racer Model 44
Kit no. 32-121
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $28.95
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $28.95
HISTORY:
Experienced air-racer Jimmy Wedell formed a business partnership in 1929 with millionaire Harry P. Williams after giving him flying lessons. Initial plans were to teach flying, provide an aerial photography service and win an airmail contract.
Wedell's passion for air racing led him to convince Williams to build a racer for the January, 1930 Miami Air Races.
This first aircraft was named "We-Will" but as development and testing continued it became apparent it would not be ready for the 1930 Miami event. Wedell halted development of the "We-Will" design and began a new aircraft, the "We-Winc".
In parallel to the development of the We-Winc, Wedell began the construction of a third aircraft, the "We-Will Jr." This aircraft first appeared in the Cirrus Derby held in Detroit on July 21 but the design proved to be under-powered.
Further development with improved aerodynamics, numerous technical innovations and a Hamilton Standard ground adjustable propeller radically changed the aircraft's appearance. Incorporated into the design were the wheel spats that would be an iconic feature of the future racers.
It was a typical construction with a braced, low-wing monoplane utilizing fixed landing gear in large spats. This version was however also under powered. In development and in competition this version, by now dubbed "Model 22" proved to be a disappointment and further development was abandoned.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Racing aircraft
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Wedell-Williams Air Service Corporation, Patterson, Louisiana
Designer: James R. Wedell
First flight: 12 January 1930
Introduction: 13 June 1930, New Orleans Air Races
Retired: 1939 National Air Races
Status: One survivor, Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, Cleveland, Ohio
Primary users: Wedell-Williams Air Service Corp., Roscoe Turner & Mary Haizlip
Produced : 1930-1931 in Patterson, Louisiana
Number built: 4
Unit cost: estimated US $10,000 in 1931
Developed from: Wedell-Williams Model 22
Experienced air-racer Jimmy Wedell formed a business partnership in 1929 with millionaire Harry P. Williams after giving him flying lessons. Initial plans were to teach flying, provide an aerial photography service and win an airmail contract.
Wedell's passion for air racing led him to convince Williams to build a racer for the January, 1930 Miami Air Races.
This first aircraft was named "We-Will" but as development and testing continued it became apparent it would not be ready for the 1930 Miami event. Wedell halted development of the "We-Will" design and began a new aircraft, the "We-Winc".
In parallel to the development of the We-Winc, Wedell began the construction of a third aircraft, the "We-Will Jr." This aircraft first appeared in the Cirrus Derby held in Detroit on July 21 but the design proved to be under-powered.
Further development with improved aerodynamics, numerous technical innovations and a Hamilton Standard ground adjustable propeller radically changed the aircraft's appearance. Incorporated into the design were the wheel spats that would be an iconic feature of the future racers.
It was a typical construction with a braced, low-wing monoplane utilizing fixed landing gear in large spats. This version was however also under powered. In development and in competition this version, by now dubbed "Model 22" proved to be a disappointment and further development was abandoned.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Racing aircraft
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Wedell-Williams Air Service Corporation, Patterson, Louisiana
Designer: James R. Wedell
First flight: 12 January 1930
Introduction: 13 June 1930, New Orleans Air Races
Retired: 1939 National Air Races
Status: One survivor, Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, Cleveland, Ohio
Primary users: Wedell-Williams Air Service Corp., Roscoe Turner & Mary Haizlip
Produced : 1930-1931 in Patterson, Louisiana
Number built: 4
Unit cost: estimated US $10,000 in 1931
Developed from: Wedell-Williams Model 22
THE KIT:
Williams Bros., years ago, at the time I purchased my kit, was based in San Marcos, CA. They went out of business for a few years and now are back again and based in Round Rock, TX.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows 3 of the Wedell Williams racer's turning around an air-racing pylon while 7 spectators next to a convertible watch from the ground.
The 3 aircraft are in different schemes they used during their careers.
The one in the foreground is all white with red around the edges of the wings, rudder, elevators and wheel pants. It has a red pin stripe down the length of its fuselage. There is a red lion on the sides in front of the windshield with Gilmoire Oil Co. in front of it.
There is a black serial no. over a red Gilmore Red Lion on the fuselage sides, black serial no. NR-62Y on the rudder flap and MANUFACTURED BY WEDELL WILLIAMS over their logo and AIR SERVICE CORP. below the logo. Another red lion on the wheel pants with the words GILMORE RED LION.
The second aircraft has red wings, tail and rear of fuselage and front of the cowling with black wing roots and forward part of the fuselage. These colors have scalloped edges outlined in bronze.
The fuselage number is white 44 below the cockpit, followed by Wedell Williams logo. It has black serial no. NR278V on the rudder flap sides, a white 44 under the starboard wing and white NR278V on top of the starboard wing.
The third aircraft is overall white, The cowling, forward part of the fuselage, wing roots and landing gear are black. It has a black 92 on the fuselage sides, followed by Wedell William's logo. There is a black serial no. NR536V on the rudder flap sides and on top of the starboard wing and the black 92 below the starboard wing.
One side of the box art gives a one-paragraph history of the plane "Among the most successful of the Golden Age of Air Racers, Wedell-Williams aircraft flown by such well-known pilots as Roscoe Turner, James R. Wedell, James H. Haizlip and Mary Haizlip".
Kit features listed are:
Decals to allow finishing the model as any one of three different aircraft:
#121 "Gilmore Red Lion"
#44 "Miss Patterson"
#92 "Miss New Orleans"
Two types of landing gear.
Two types of wheels (choice of hard plastic or flexable tires)
Monofilament wing wire rigging.
Below this is William Bros. street address when they were still in San Marcos, CA.
One side panel has 6 color cover arts of other aircraft kits that Williams Bros. manufactures: a Northrop Gamma, Douglas World Cruiser, Gee Bee racer, Curtiss C-46, Martin B-10B and Boeing 247. No kit numbers or scales are shown for these 6.
The other side panel shows illustrations of other accessory products that Williams Bros. manufactures: a Le Rhone Rotary engine, a Spandau machine gun, a Vickers machine gun, a Parabellum machine gun and a Lewis machine gun. Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine and a Wright Whirlwind engine. No kit no's or scales shown for these.
Williams Bros., years ago, at the time I purchased my kit, was based in San Marcos, CA. They went out of business for a few years and now are back again and based in Round Rock, TX.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows 3 of the Wedell Williams racer's turning around an air-racing pylon while 7 spectators next to a convertible watch from the ground.
The 3 aircraft are in different schemes they used during their careers.
The one in the foreground is all white with red around the edges of the wings, rudder, elevators and wheel pants. It has a red pin stripe down the length of its fuselage. There is a red lion on the sides in front of the windshield with Gilmoire Oil Co. in front of it.
There is a black serial no. over a red Gilmore Red Lion on the fuselage sides, black serial no. NR-62Y on the rudder flap and MANUFACTURED BY WEDELL WILLIAMS over their logo and AIR SERVICE CORP. below the logo. Another red lion on the wheel pants with the words GILMORE RED LION.
The second aircraft has red wings, tail and rear of fuselage and front of the cowling with black wing roots and forward part of the fuselage. These colors have scalloped edges outlined in bronze.
The fuselage number is white 44 below the cockpit, followed by Wedell Williams logo. It has black serial no. NR278V on the rudder flap sides, a white 44 under the starboard wing and white NR278V on top of the starboard wing.
The third aircraft is overall white, The cowling, forward part of the fuselage, wing roots and landing gear are black. It has a black 92 on the fuselage sides, followed by Wedell William's logo. There is a black serial no. NR536V on the rudder flap sides and on top of the starboard wing and the black 92 below the starboard wing.
One side of the box art gives a one-paragraph history of the plane "Among the most successful of the Golden Age of Air Racers, Wedell-Williams aircraft flown by such well-known pilots as Roscoe Turner, James R. Wedell, James H. Haizlip and Mary Haizlip".
Kit features listed are:
Decals to allow finishing the model as any one of three different aircraft:
#121 "Gilmore Red Lion"
#44 "Miss Patterson"
#92 "Miss New Orleans"
Two types of landing gear.
Two types of wheels (choice of hard plastic or flexable tires)
Monofilament wing wire rigging.
Below this is William Bros. street address when they were still in San Marcos, CA.
One side panel has 6 color cover arts of other aircraft kits that Williams Bros. manufactures: a Northrop Gamma, Douglas World Cruiser, Gee Bee racer, Curtiss C-46, Martin B-10B and Boeing 247. No kit numbers or scales are shown for these 6.
The other side panel shows illustrations of other accessory products that Williams Bros. manufactures: a Le Rhone Rotary engine, a Spandau machine gun, a Vickers machine gun, a Parabellum machine gun and a Lewis machine gun. Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine and a Wright Whirlwind engine. No kit no's or scales shown for these.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 3 chalk-white trees in 2 sealed clear cello bags, a length of black tubing, mono-filament, black vinyl tires and the clear canopy in another sealed clear cello bag, the large decal sheet and the 2 instruction sheets.
The first instructions consists of a single sheet, printed on both sides in 11" X 17" format.
The face side begins with a head-on line drawing illustration of the aircraft over a one-paragraph history, detailed instructions and other data.
The reverse side has three 2-views of each of the schemes (already described above).
The second instruction sheet is a single sheet, printed on one side in 8 1/2" x 11" format. It has exploded drawings on it for assembly purposes.
Threes are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions and have no part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Williams Bros. !!
Parts fit the box tight in all 4 directions.
The largest chalk-white tree holds: fuselage, upper wing halves, wheel spats, propeller, elevators, cowling, main wheels, seat etc. (24 parts)
This kit holds 3 chalk-white trees in 2 sealed clear cello bags, a length of black tubing, mono-filament, black vinyl tires and the clear canopy in another sealed clear cello bag, the large decal sheet and the 2 instruction sheets.
The first instructions consists of a single sheet, printed on both sides in 11" X 17" format.
The face side begins with a head-on line drawing illustration of the aircraft over a one-paragraph history, detailed instructions and other data.
The reverse side has three 2-views of each of the schemes (already described above).
The second instruction sheet is a single sheet, printed on one side in 8 1/2" x 11" format. It has exploded drawings on it for assembly purposes.
Threes are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions and have no part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Williams Bros. !!
Parts fit the box tight in all 4 directions.
The largest chalk-white tree holds: fuselage, upper wing halves, wheel spats, propeller, elevators, cowling, main wheels, seat etc. (24 parts)
The medium-sized chalk-white tree holds: the lower wing halves, instrument panel, foot pedals, cockpit girder-works and floor (13 parts)
The small chalk-white tree holds the engine parts (22 parts)
The black vinyl tubing and tires, length of mono-filament for wing wire bracing and the clear canopy are next.
The large decal sheet (9" x 6 1/2") completes the kits contents.
This kit has nicely raised detail. No pilot figure is included and all flaps are molded solid.
The assembly instructions could be less confusing than this exploded drawing.
Otherwise recommended.
The assembly instructions could be less confusing than this exploded drawing.
Otherwise recommended.
I have all the Williams Bros. kits of racing aircraft in my model stash.