Top Cover

Comments

Telling stories, dreaming while painting. Looking at it I can almost hear the noise, feel the drama, very impressive visualisation.

Posted by Holger . on Sat 07 Jan 21:27:24

Absolutely stunning, Rob. I well remember the first Nimrod I ever saw. It was based at St Mawgan, along with a squadron of Shackleton's and Hunters. I can see you enjoyed painting this dramatic scene.

Posted by Pete Batho on Sun 08 Jan 08:13:44

Lots of drama and a beautiful sky here Rob, cry well done.

Posted by Stephen Slater on Sun 08 Jan 09:20:12

Thank you everyone. Holger, that's exactly what I do when I paint! I did my first tour on the Nimrod at St Mawgan, Pete - but it was after that era, the Shack and Hunter were both gone.

Posted by Rob Wigham on Wed 11 Jan 13:26:50

Marvelous job Rob, love the sky colors and wave action. A terrific recreation of a rescue at sea!

Posted by Paul Harman on Tue 07 Mar 23:43:42

Hang on Studio Wall

07/01/2017

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A Nimrod MR2 flies top cover for an RAF Sea King which has come out to the limit of its range for a rescue. This was painted as a commission for one of the Nimrod's crew, who supplied a picture of the actual ship involved and who remembered every detail of this particular rescue. The Nimrod was the aircraft I flew and top cover callouts were the most common Search and Rescue mission. Flying above, the Nimrod could provide communications relay while the helicopter was out of radio communications at low level. The Nimrod's bomb bay full of dinghys and air-sea rescue equipment also was a vital and welcome comfort to the helicopter crews operating a very long way out to sea in what were often some quite dreadful weather conditions. I enjoyed painting this!

About the Artist

Rob Wigham

I am a watercolour painter living and working in the beautiful north of Scotland. Although my painting began with landscape works, I have recently begun painting aircraft, especially with a military theme. I often enjoy placing many of my aircraft in a landscape setting of their own! I am…

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