Victor K2

Happy New Year Gazza, Superb finishing touches to a fantastic build. I have been away over the Christmas period and am only now catching up. I too received the new Airfix Victor for Christmas, I have managed so far to only have a brief view of the contents, but I am itching to make a start on this model as soon as possible (this week with luck). I am sure you have many plans/idea's on how your's will turn out, and after these results, I am sure it will be every bit as good if not better as what has been for me the finest rendition of the Revell kit. Bob.

Heritage produced replacement pods for the Revell/Matchbox kit. I am not sure if they are still available but they are bloody good.

I was liking this build until you said it is starting to look like a woodworking tool

My only criticism on your epic K2, it should have a "fist and spear" on the fin. Then it would be the most perfect, 100% truly greatest, Handley Page Victor K2 model in existence or even as Clarkson would say "In the World". Bob.

Superb, kit bashing at it's best. The intakes on the real aircraft took a bit of a hammering from frequent inspections of the compressor blades by keen engineers and were subject to dirty coveralls and boots. They were touched up by painters and finishers during scheduled maintenance and rarely stayed pure white. So a touch up on your intakes would tie in on an aircraft fresh from scheduled maintenance. Bob.

This is beginning to look every bit as elegant as the real aircraft. Truly the finest shape to grace our skies (or our model shelves) Bob.

Hi Tom, I am just about to go to work but I will try to have a root round when I get back home at the weekend. If not try Lusty Linndy's blog (web page) and see if Andre can help. I lent him my Victor servicing school notes last year and he might have some diagrams or photo's of the bomb bay. Incidentally, the K2's bomb bay had fuel cells in them right up to the H.D.U. Bob

most of the Victor was flush (countersunk) riveted and is hardly noticeable on the real aircraft close up. We had to strip back the paint to be able to see these rivets when doing repairs or modifications. The panel fasteners however were quite visible. Bob

I have had nearly 2 weeks off and I find I nearly missed this thread (that will teach me to go on holiday and not check up, doh!) Abso bloody lutely awesome. I still say Lusty Lindy is the finest "live" example of a K2 anywhere. It's the most complete of the 2 still running today and would serve well for inspiration to any one contemplating making a kit of this iconic aircraft, whatever the scale. I look forward with anticipation to seeing this splendid build take shape. I doff my hat (R.A.F.) to you sir. Bob

Fred's Shed's finest in 1/32? I would like to see that. I will sign up to that thread as soon as you post it.

It was stated that the Vulcan dropped 21 1000lb bombs on Port Stanley Airport on the first raid. Has any one questioned why there are only 5 craters in the official photograph's (2 duds or delayed fuzed bomb's?) if it takes 10.5 seconds to release the 21 bombs and the first one hit the runway, what happened to the other 14 bombs which would have been in a relatively straight line and landing up to a mile (approx) from the first bomb? I have often brought up this fact on different occasions and have never been given a straight answer. (all of this is seen in the documentary just posted). I still think that the raid was a tremendous achievement none the less and even more so if, as I suspect, the Vulcan was only carrying 7 bombs and ferry tanks fitted in place of the other 14 bombs (as were the other aircraft in further raids). Keep up the good work on your model, I look forward to seeing more progress and a stunning result.

It's the challenge's that make us all the more better modeler's for it. You are turning out a better model as a result. Bob.

Hi again Gazza, you are indeed right about the chute hopper being the angled bit in the middle. Also the omega navigation fairing. I had the dubious pleasure of fitting the first one on to the K2 during the Falklands campaign along with the fittings along the airframe's interior whilst the Fairies (avionic tradesmen) fed in the cable to the aerial. Your model is coming along nicely, if I may say so. Bob

Hi Gazza, the credit for the Bruntingthorpe link must go to Mutley (there were only 2 of us, sometimes 3 if we were lucky to pack the chute. Of course we were all younger and fitter back then). Jessica's photo is quite detailed and as 71chally has already said, I too think that there may be some representation in the actual kit. Bob.

Hi Gaz, Great work so far. If the Airbrake is to be posed open (they were only open for servicing or pre flight during control functioning) then the brake parachute hopper will be visible as well. Bob.

Looking good. Bob

Indeed the windscreen panels, as were the bomb aimer's panels flat. They were about 1/2 inch or more in thickness and had a gold filament sandwiched in the middle to help de-ice them (as an early form of heated window). I would suggest making a milliput mould of the windscreen (using the kits items) and using this to form the etched brass on prior to fitting to the model. Hope this is of any help. Bob

Excellent progress so far.

Hi again, the fairings at the top of the fin front and rear were radar warning receivers and as such were a modification early to mid 80's if memory serves me right. Great progress so far and certainly looking every inch a Victor. Looking forward to seeing more soon. Bob.

Indeed the quilted insulation was a very dark grey almost black, The surface of the material became brittle and cracked in a few area's of heavy traffic (ham fisted riggers working in the cockpit) and a medium brown fibre was exposed. I was honored to to be aboard Lindy last September when her 4 Conway's were run up to max (sitting in the nav rad's position), unfortunately I didn't take any cockpit photo's as I was caught up in nostalgia. Hopefully, Andre will treat me to a fast taxi during our next re union this year (camera will definitely be working overtime) . Bob

Hi again Gazza, most of what Steve has written is spot on. The 6th seat was used by the Bomb aimer when the Victor was a Bomber or by the Crew chief when needed on Lone Ranger trips. It was removed during the Falklands campaign when "Carousel" nav system was slaved into it's place. Also pre Falklands the Bomb aimer's windows were gradually being replaced with metal blanks only for them to be hurriedly retro fitted so that recon camera's could be installed to enable Reconnaissance missions to be flown over the South Atlantic mid April 1982 on wards from Assencion Island. As for 57 squadron markings, being ex 55, I have never built anything other than the mighty 55 K2 Victor. However, I can't remember LVII on the fin prior to 1983. Hemp colour scheme was introduced about the Autumn of 1982 If the model is made with the crew door open, there is a recessed step in the entrance before the rear crew floor level. Hope this helps, Bob.

Hi Gazza, I will be happy to help you with any/most questions regarding the Victor. I only wish that we had digital camera's back then. I worked on 55 Squadron from 1975 till January 1983 and I saw a few changes in colour schemes and one or two modifications during that spell. In 1975 I started with 232 O.C.U. then doubled up with 55 until the Squadron became operational later that year. I wish I had the serial numbers of the different camouflage schemes back then. Some aircraft had light grey under surfaces whilst a few had white. The grey and green camouflage on some were lighter than others. As we aquired more K2's and 57 Squadron was formed they were mostly white under surfaces across the Squadrons, 232, 55 and 57. The dayglo markings became quite faded on the upper surfaces and fairly fresh on the lower extremities. Fortunately, there are a host of references in colour as the first of the K2's first flew in the early 70's (I happen to be in one of the reference books holding a drogue with friend and some how it is in black and white). I have about 5 maybe more Matchbox kits to do some day, I have the resin replacement intakes, I re constructed my own with milliput on my first one back in the early 80's but it was hard work getting them to look right (thank you for after market items to make life easier). I can recommend Heritage re fueling pods to add to your re worked items. Sorry for the waffle, I hope some of it helps, Bob.

As an ex Victor techie, I too look forward to this build. There are numerous anomalies with this kit, but it still can be built into a fairly good model. Be prepared for lots of milliput (other fillers are available) and sanding, especially with the intakes if you are not using after market replacements. I was with 55 Squadron when Matchbox came and took photo's and measurements. Be careful with rescribing the panel lines as the real aircraft had very close tolerance panels and apart from access panels would hardly be visible in this scale. I wholeheartedly recommend a visit to Elvington near York (Airfix used this aircraft for their references), to see close up the finest preserved K2 Victor in working condition any where. Well worth the visit, especially when the owner taxi's her under the mighty Conway's power, An awesome sight indeed. Bob

I have only ever worked on the B2/TT18 Canberra's and if memory serves me right, the flaps were never selected down except for maintenance, however, they did droop over a period of time and never equal. You could come into work next day and the port outer flap may be in the up position and the inner flap 5 to 10 degrees drooped and the starboard flaps could be fully up or a variety of configurations, As the saying goes," check your references ". Great work so far. Bob

I seem to remember that Falcon (I think) did a vac form 1/48 Canberra, not sure which mark, but if they did either B(I)8 or PR9 versions then maybe they have canopy's that are usable on the Airfix version? Build looks great so far by the way. Bob