Dambusters Film – Painting on Wallis's Office Wall

Also, does anyone have any insight as to how the new Dambusters movie, penned by Stephen Fry, is coming along?

meh…;)

Are there any more original models of Swallow around?
I know of the one at Elvington and the one shown in this thread is, I presume, in Hendon?

This one is indeed at Hendon. The RAF Museum has three others in storage at Stafford, including the large famous one often seen in photos with Wallis (and the one in Swallow2.JPG above).

I’m not aware that there was a Swallow model at Elvington – there were plans on display and a model of Wild Goose. The Elvington display is now closed and is unlikely to re-open there due to problems between the BWMT and the museum management.

I ask this as there will soon be a resin model.

“Soon” may be the wrong word – this site has been displaying this model pattern picture for over a year now!

Regards,

Iain.

Thanks for that Iain – that’s the picture I meant. But I didn’t sit there and pause the film to study it! 🙂

Slightly OT.

Are there any more original models of Swallow around?
I know of the one at Elvington and the one shown in this thread is, I presume, in Hendon?

I ask this as there will soon be a resin model.

http://www.fantastic-plastic.com/SWALLOW2.jpg

http://www.fantastic-plastic.com/SwallowPattern.jpg

When Gibson visits Wallis’s office for their initial meeting there is a rather, some might say “futuristic” for the time, painting of a needle nosed aircraft of some sort on the wall near the door.
Does anyone have any idea what it might be?

It’s actually the pointed tail of R.100, the huge airship which Wallis designed in the 1920s – the covering is in progress and tail fins are not yet covered. Attached is a recent photo taken of “Wallis’s office” at the RAF Museum (Hendon) which has this picture over in the corner – try comparing with the movie!

I believe the aircraft mentioned is a Swallow, a design for a variable-geometry airliner

By chance, the white model in front of the R.100 painting is of the Swallow – this wasn’t designed until the early 50s, but (a different model of Swallow) is often seen in archive shots of Wallis at his desk.

any insight as to how the new Dambusters movie, penned by Stephen Fry, is coming along?

About a month ago he was working on the final draft of the script … the original timescale seems to have slipped a bit, with release now not likely before 2010 – maybe even 2011.

Hope this is helpful.

Regards,

Iain.

There was an article on the Swallow and it’s polymorph wings in the RAF Flying Revue in about nineteen canteen (50’s).

John

Can’t help you with the film news but I believe the aircraft mentioned is a Swallow, a design for a variable-geometry airliner, years ahead of it’s time.