robvulcan Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Well I am very happy and excited today as a few days ago I received an email asking me If I wanted a 1/144th Valiant for simply informing them my postcode so they could send it. I was not sure but thought "Why not I would love a Valiant". So I did and was soon sent a Tracking number. I asked is this for real !, The person on the other end of the email said "Yes you are the first to receive it". Well that was a surprise and as I have just turned 30 what a way to start my 30's. It has arrived today all the way from Ukraine. So I was mega excited when I opened this a few minutes ago and sure enough I have a nice 1/144th Vickers Valiant. Most welcome as a V-bomber lover and I have therefore started a build. I don't have a clue what I have done to deserve it but I am indeed very grateful indeed to have the opportunity to make it. Its rather Ironic as for the last 3 months I have been off here working on a secret project I am soon to reveal that could be related to this. But save that for later lets have a loot at the wee beastie But just before we do I must say I am sorry to hear that today a plane has crashed In Ukraine and its a sad irony that this model plane should arrive from Ukraine today. R.I.P. 1st off lets check out the box art which looks very cool indeed. Here is one of the sprue's containing the landing gear. Engine faces etc.. Gear bays and intakes which are split in half. I will have to do something with those and try take molds of them to make some resin replacements. The Undersides of the wings etc Beautiful top surface of the wings. This is a part of the Valiant I have always thought attractive. Beautiful aircraft. Here are the Fuselage halves I was kindly given two canopies The decal sheet looks beautifully done I must say. And something I would never think to see with a kit like this PE ! I got a nice 2014 catalogue which I can post picture of the contents if anyone wishes. Nice clear instructions always helpful I am not sure on which Valiant I will do yet. But it will be a white one as pictured here. Not necessarily these airframes though but that's a long way down the line yet. Well I will have to look through our own General Melchett's build of the Airfix kit and look for any issues with the kit. I think it looks fantastic overall. But will look for any areas to correct as we go and if folk wish to point stuff out please do. This is my first MikroMir Kit and I must say I like it. It has a retro vibe and reminds me very much of old FROG kits. The plastic seems nice and thick so this will be a totally new experience for me and I look forward to their Victor !. Right I am going to have a quick study and get Cracking on her Cheers Rob :frantic: :frantic: 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaw Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Wow - that looks really nice! Where and when can I get one? John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Womby Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 You lucky so and so, Rob!! I am drooling with envy but I know you'll make a beautiful job of it and i look forward to watching your progress. David 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimrod54 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Tuned in for this one Rob. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robvulcan Posted July 17, 2014 Author Share Posted July 17, 2014 Wow - that looks really nice! Where and when can I get one?John It's very nice and I have no idea other than I have been told I am the first, I don't know if this is final or test shot but its definitely a valiant !, I guess it can't be too long till intakes available You lucky so and so, Rob!! I am drooling with envy but I know you'll make a beautiful job of it and i look forward to watching your progress. David Cheer David your right I am very lucky with this at least. Envy is not good for you lol. Patience rewards all. Ill do my best it sure will be nice to get it on the bomber command table when done. I have an unbuilt kader and welsh kit so I will do some comparison shots. Cheers Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robvulcan Posted July 17, 2014 Author Share Posted July 17, 2014 Tuned in for this one Rob. Tuned in for this one Rob. Great stuff John I know you like your 1/144th and the last few years with such great kits I myself find I am working in 1/144th more and more. Still like the big stuff too. I just wish there were kits for hangars and other airfield related gear as I would love to recreate scenes that add to the dimension the scale offers. I will make a start tomorrow morning. Does anyone know what colour green was applied inside these, it looks very vivid ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 144th V-Bomber, what's not to like! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garryrussell Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Couldn't even guess at the accuracy as my Valiant knowledge is limited, but it does look the part. Very neat looking kit. Any indication of the sort of price this will be?? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Jammy sod! Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robvulcan Posted July 17, 2014 Author Share Posted July 17, 2014 Couldn't even guess at the accuracy as my Valiant knowledge is limited, but it does look the part. Very neat looking kit. Any indication of the sort of price this will be?? I have no idea I'm afraid. I have not had chance to look at the accuracy yet. Some reliable drawings would be good. The one thing that leaps out at me is the location of the radome lines looks a little low maybe. I want to check the tail shape. Tommorow I will tape her together to give us all some idea and compare it to some photos and other models like the welsh, Kader and airfix models. Jammy sod! Martin Indeed , can't believe it and not sure I deserve it, it's the first time out like this has happened to me. So I will enjoy it. Certainly gives me a good reason to stay out the sun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritag Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 (edited) Does anyone know what colour green was applied inside these, it looks very vivid ? Looking forward to this Rob. I might have to try and get one of these sometime - something different for me. I see one of the decal options (and the cool box art) is a 7 squadron machine based at Honington in 1961 - which is about the time that my dad was doing his national service as a radar fitter on Valiants on 7 squadron in Malta and then at Honington....... Dunno what the green is - but it sure is vivid. This is inside the nose section of XD875 at Inverness air museum - which looked to me to be in it's original colours. However the upstairs pilots section was black rather than green (you probably know that already): Edited July 18, 2014 by Fritag 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimrod54 Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Great stuff John I know you like your 1/144th and the last few years with such great kits I myself find I am working in 1/144th more and more. Still like the big stuff too. I just wish there were kits for hangars and other airfield related gear as I would love to recreate scenes that add to the dimension the scale offers. I will make a start tomorrow morning. Does anyone know what colour green was applied inside these, it looks very vivid ? Where is it? Where is it? Only joking bud, just take your time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truro Model Builder Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 You lucky boy. Enjoy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robvulcan Posted July 18, 2014 Author Share Posted July 18, 2014 Looking forward to this Rob. I might have to try and get one of these sometime - something different for me. I see one of the decal options (and the cool box art) is a 7 squadron machine based at Honington in 1961 - which is about the time that my dad was doing his national service as a radar fitter on Valiants on 7 squadron in Malta and then at Honington....... Dunno what the green is - but it sure is vivid. Cheers Fritag yes it is a bright green. Thanks very much for the photos. This morning looking at the kit I very much doubt any of this will be viable when done but may do something in there. It is kind of fun knowing there is something in there you can't see. It looks like Emerald green or something similar to 1960s Blackpool Balloon tram green,. Cheers mate and cool to know your Dad worked on the machines. Lucky fellow. Where is it? Where is it? Only joking bud, just take your time. Its coming now. I am late finishing my night shift. Was up all night with the thunder and the residents were scared of the bangs at the home I work at. Cheers John. Righto it begins. I have had a look at the parts and taped her together to see what we have. It looks very nice to me. The fuselage half’s look like they require a little circular sanding on a flat surface Vac-Form style. This is my first MikroMir and I am led to believe they specialise in short run kits. This seems like one. It is very well made and the part seem to fit reasonably well. But its definitely a modellers kit and not a Tamigawa but looks very build-able. There is a little flash here and there and some surfaces to clean up, A little sanding to make the parts fit better will help a lot and looks very fun. So far I am very happy. I have only recently bought the Welsh kit and as I build this I will compare parts to it to help others get a sense of the thing as I imagine many of you will be familiar with the welsh effort. So here she is at the moment. Looks like a Valiant to me. Let the shape issue spotting begin (best breakfast I have had this.) So there we go so far. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadgaddad Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Whenever a kit comes through my door I always say it was a free one but I'm never believed. Looks great and even at 1/144 still a fair size. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 At least they got the inner landing gear bay doors right. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robvulcan Posted July 18, 2014 Author Share Posted July 18, 2014 You lucky boy. Enjoy. Thanks Whenever a kit comes through my door I always say it was a free one but I'm never believed. Looks great and even at 1/144 still a fair size. Hahaha. We have all been there I think LOL. This really was free. The Valiant is not a small plane. Its a decent size alright , About that of a 48th spit MKV at a guess. At least they got the inner landing gear bay doors right. Yes that was one of the things I was happy to see rather than the straight lines of the Airfix one. I need to check that tail shape out. I am still not sure of the Radome lines. Should be higher but easily sorted with a quick scribe and some mr surfacer, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimrod54 Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 That looks great Rob. You're right about the green on the interior, it does look very bright. I have just had a check through of the General's build thread of the Airfix kit pinned at the top of the WIP and he seems to have nailed colour perhaps he could point you in the right direction, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robvulcan Posted July 18, 2014 Author Share Posted July 18, 2014 That looks great Rob. You're right about the green on the interior, it does look very bright. I have just had a check through of the General's build thread of the Airfix kit pinned at the top of the WIP and he seems to have nailed colour perhaps he could point you in the right direction, Yes I was looking through that. I will ask him when I get the chance. His build will help alot. I decided to make a start building as many sub assemblies as possible starting with the front wheel well. There has been some effort to detail the insides of this. I may add some if I can find photos but its good enough for Jazz by the looks of it. The fit required some sanding but did not take long at all. I decided to seam weld it with a good application of poly. Letting it do its thing to fill any gaps. It comes in 3 pieces and needs a little clean up More soon now for a bacon buttie and a coffee. Just what I need after 2 hours sleep .. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Ok, I'm interested! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robvulcan Posted July 18, 2014 Author Share Posted July 18, 2014 Ok, I'm interested! Great stuff Can I ask does anyone have any good walk around photos for the Valiant. I am interested particularly in the wheel wells. Its not that important in this scale I guess. But would like to have a look all the same. I am going to try and minimise mods if they are needed but things like the radome I feel are important to capturing the right look on a subject like this. The wheel wells is just a curiosity for colour etc. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 (edited) Good to see you cracking on with it Rob, looks quite nice, I can see one or two things, (well you did ask and bear in mind it might be the angle you took the photos from ). I've emailed you with my thoughts... I've got some shots of the wheel wells somewhere...I'll see if I can did em out...Hopefully you'll be able to bring it with you to the Brum show for a proper gander. As for walkarounds there are a few, here's a good place to start, http://www.primeportal.net/hangar/howard_mason2/valiant_bk1/ And of course right here... http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/71291-vickers-valiant/ Chocks way, M Edited July 18, 2014 by general melchett 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robvulcan Posted July 18, 2014 Author Share Posted July 18, 2014 Good to see you cracking on with it Rob, looks quite nice, I can see one or two things, (well you did ask and bear in mind it might be the angle you took the photos from ). I've emailed you with my thoughts... I've got some shots of the wheel wells somewhere...I'll see if I can did em out...Hopefully you'll be able to bring it with you to the Brum show for a proper gander. As for walkarounds there are a few, here's a good place to start, http://www.primeportal.net/hangar/howard_mason2/valiant_bk1/ And of course right here... http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/71291-vickers-valiant/ Chocks way, M Cheers General and thanks for the email. A damn good read. You should post it here. But then I am not sure of the policy on here regarding posting photos in the public domain. I have the same thoughts about the tail, nose etc and here are some comparison shots with the Kader Kit which is lovely and nearly 1/144th but not quite. Its not bad but that door is in the wrong place, I have taked on the glass parts and again like the wings and wheel well it all points to a the fuselage requiring a circular sand on the mating surfaces. As there is a seam of about 0.5 mm either half that is like a border were the panel lines do not pass onto. Like strata. The wheel wells are nice and deep which really looks good if you ask me,. The Kader kit really aint bad for what it is. Looking at these together the MikroMir looks pretty good too. Just the Radome line and door leaping out at the mo, Not sure about the canopy and front top of the nose yet. Cheers Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upnorth Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Looks like a decent kit, though I hope someone in the aftermarket (Brengun perhaps) will give us some replacement clear parts. The fit of those kit clear parts doesn't look too hot at all. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robvulcan Posted July 18, 2014 Author Share Posted July 18, 2014 Looks like a decent kit, though I hope someone in the aftermarket (Brengun perhaps) will give us some replacement clear parts. The fit of those kit clear parts doesn't look too hot at all. To be fair. That's because I have not reduced the mating surface or the two fuselage halves which causes the cock pit to sit higher at the moment. When trimmed down it should sit a little lower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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