Rick Brown Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 Chaps. Having lived most of my life near RSRE Defford (insert other names here for ex RAF defford...) I was always fascinated with what aircraft were buzzing/zooming at very low level around my house. The Canberra was always interesting. They used to creep up on you, seemingly just to give you a fright! Now the question, what marks and which squadrons would they have been in the 70's/early 80's? They were obviously used to help/hinder whatever was going on in that highly secretive place (along with the Malvern sites). I'd love to build one (Airfix 1/48th comes to mind). Rick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goose Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 Can't help but I do remember working on the roof in Malvern, when an A-10 dropped over the hill and flew Very low over us, let's say we didn't stand up for long 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 If you give me enough time I can work it out, but of the top of my head you would have had the B.6/8 hybrids and B.2's and 6's. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Brown Posted April 21, 2017 Author Share Posted April 21, 2017 2 hours ago, canberra kid said: If you give me enough time I can work it out, but of the top of my head you would have had the B.6/8 hybrids and B.2's and 6's. John That'd be brilliant if you could John, much appreciated. 8 hours ago, goose said: Can't help but I do remember working on the roof in Malvern, when an A-10 dropped over the hill and flew Very low over us, let's say we didn't stand up for long Ah, I remember those days well! I went to Fairford as a kid and met one of the Pilots of the A10's that regularly flew over my house. Really nice bloke, gave me stickers and stuff. The best we get now is the odd Herc, Voyager and Chinook. Sigh, the good old days of the Cold War...... Rick. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 8 hours ago, goose said: Can't help but I do remember working on the roof in Malvern, when an A-10 dropped over the hill and flew Very low over us, let's say we didn't stand up for long Was out walking on Bredon Hill once when a Harrier flew by so low that I clearly saw the pilot give us a wave. He was flying around the hill, natch. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Brown Posted April 21, 2017 Author Share Posted April 21, 2017 I have so many stories of being on the Malverns and looking down at various aircraft. I did miss the Jaguar that came down at Blackmore, I was in a Biology class at the time, my mate saw it though. He watched as the pilot punched out and drifted to earth. (This was 17th July, 1981. GR1 XX113). Trouble is, we don't have anything that flies that low anymore round here. Rick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted April 22, 2017 Share Posted April 22, 2017 Hi Rick This is a list of the Canberra's flown from Defford and Pershore between 1970 and 1977 B.2 WJ646 1954-1970 B.6 WH953 1955-1976 B.2 WK128 1957- 1977 B.2 WH660 1957-1970 B.2 WG789 1958-1976 B.2 WK163 1959-1976 PR.7 WH774 1960-1976 B.6 XH567 1961-1976 T.4 WJ992 1962-1977 B(I)8 WT327 1966-1976 B.6 XH568 1967-1976 SC.9 XH132 1972-1976 B(I)8 WT333 1972-1977 The Mk numbers are the ones at the time of manufacture, many such as WT333 and WK163 were modified to RAE B.6 Hybrid standard. The colours would have been a mix of Camouflage, High Speed Silver, and laterly Raspberry Ripple. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Brown Posted April 22, 2017 Author Share Posted April 22, 2017 Fantastic John! Just what I needed. I only really remember the High Speed Silver ones, must have missed the rest! Now, better start saving for an Airfix B2.... Rick. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Brown Posted June 10, 2017 Author Share Posted June 10, 2017 The million dollar question, does anybody produce any decals for any of these? I've had a hunt on Hannants, but failed.... Rick. EDIT This looks promising! https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ML489025 I could do WK163! This would tick quite a few boxes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 1 hour ago, Rick Brown said: The million dollar question, does anybody produce any decals for any of these? I've had a hunt on Hannants, but failed.... Rick. EDIT This looks promising! https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ML489025 I could do WK163! This would tick quite a few boxes. That would do the Job, WK163 would be a good one to go with and you have the choice of building her as a B.2 or the B.6 hybrid. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMB Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 When Defford & Pershore closed, most of the Canberras were transferred to the RAE at Bedford. There are color photos of these Canberras in my book "Testing Colours" published by Airlife Publishing. Although published several years ago, you can still find copies going cheap on Amazon, E. Bay and at collectors' fairs. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Brown Posted June 11, 2017 Author Share Posted June 11, 2017 4 minutes ago, AMB said: When Defford & Pershore closed, most of the Canberras were transferred to the RAE at Bedford. There are color photos of these Canberras in my book "Testing Colours" published by Airlife Publishing. Although published several years ago, you can still find copies going cheap on Amazon, E. Bay and at collectors' fairs. Found a copy! Does it only basically show different version of aircraft in "Raspberry Ripple"? I really couldn't face doing that scheme! Rick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMB Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 7 minutes ago, Rick Brown said: Found a copy! Does it only basically show different version of aircraft in "Raspberry Ripple"? I really couldn't face doing that scheme! Rick. There is one in silver/natural metal with dayglo panels. The 'raspberry ripple' scheme wasn't implemented until 1976, so depending on when you saw the Canberras, I'm pretty sure most were natural metal overall, some with dayglo panels and the RRE crest on the fin. I have slides of several of these in this rather bland scheme. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticplanes Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 @canberra kid is there a WIP thread somewhere on that very nice model of WT333? I have been trying the search engine without any luck. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 (edited) 22 minutes ago, plasticplanes said: @canberra kid is there a WIP thread somewhere on that very nice model of WT333? I have been trying the search engine without any luck. @plasticplanes There is a build thread on my site, WT333 build on IPMS UK Canberra SIG and here on BM Britmodeller WT333 build and in RFI Sea Skimming Canberra John Edited June 11, 2017 by canberra kid 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 @Rick Brown It looks like WK163 was one of the first to undergo the B.6 Highbred treatment, when she arrived at Pershore she was still very much like she was at the time of her Scorpion fit, and after modification to B.6 with IRLS trial fit John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 9 hours ago, AMB said: There are color photos of these Canberras in my book "Testing Colours" published by Airlife Publishing. Although published several years ago, you can still find copies going cheap on Amazon, E. Bay and at collectors' fairs. That is a book that desperately needs reprinting, or even better a new addition with more info and pictures. A firm favourite of mine! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ossington 2 Posted June 13, 2017 Share Posted June 13, 2017 I'd buy a reprint Adrian B! I bought the original at full price when it first appeared. Though I usually wait for a remaindered or second hand copy, I couldn't risk this book disappearing from the shelves. This book is still one I keep easily accessible just for the joy of flicking through it occasionally. Cheering me up since 1993 (I ran downstairs to check!) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Vader Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 On 2017-4-21 at 9:52 PM, Rick Brown said: I have so many stories of being on the Malverns and looking down at various aircraft. I did miss the Jaguar that came down at Blackmore, I was in a Biology class at the time, my mate saw it though. He watched as the pilot punched out and drifted to earth. (This was 17th July, 1981. GR1 XX113). Trouble is, we don't have anything that flies that low anymore round here. Rick. You want to try living near the ex RAF Cottesmore ( now Kendrew Barracks ).Since the Harriers went and the army moved in there is NOTHING flying around these parts. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Brown Posted June 14, 2017 Author Share Posted June 14, 2017 Just grabbed a copy of your book Adrian!! Good old ABE Books! Rick. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Brown Posted June 19, 2017 Author Share Posted June 19, 2017 Yippee! Rick. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT Modeller Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Have you seen the book 'Black Box Canberras - British Test and Trials Canberras 1951 - 1994'? This is an absolute mine of information and has lots of photos that I had never seen before. Many of the test Canberras appear to be unmarked virgin high speed silver with roundels & serials, but some include dayglo in various patterns and various other one-off markings. I got mine via Amazon UK - publisher is Hikoki - author Dave Forster. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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