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Hi all, just before Christmas I thought I'd post my last build of 2016, the brand new Airfix HP Victor Mk 2 and as it's just about my favourite aircraft I just had to have at it. I built this kit back in August in time for the latest issue of AMW (December) and as it was the first test shot it came with no box, instructions or decals, (kindly Simon Owen of Airfix managed to send me a PDF copy of the instructions before I started). The kit is very well designed though as I point out in the article there are a few issues with fit and some omissions specific to the Blue Steel equipped Victors such as the VCCP intake in the port wing root stub and small blister intakes either side of the fuselage above the wing roots but nothing that can't easily be dealt with.The engineering of the intakes is very cleverly done and makes painting them a breeze. Thanks also to that font of Victor knowledge Dennis Robinson (sloegin) whose detailed info particularly in regard to the proper B2 cockpit colours really helped out.The interior has a bit of scratch-building added but not too much, (seats, missing pilots side wall panels, rear side wall panels, etc). This model was finished as an early camouflaged B2 of the Wittering Wing during the centralized servicing period circa 1965. The camouflage demarcation lines were feathered and didn't wrap under the wings and tailplanes at this time, there were minimal warning markings with everything toned down, and the finish was more a high semi-gloss sheen than the later high gloss polyurethane. They didn't appear in this particular scheme for long and as such kept remarkably clean (even underneath), later on, of course, it was a different story. Some aircraft had the Wittering station badge applied to the port nose under the canopy but XH673 was one that didn't, right at the end of that period the Wittering lion appeared on the fin and wing tanks were fitted. I chose this particular aircraft because it was the first operational B2 to drop a Blue Steel, (100 squadron at Aberporth in 1967) plus I like the early scheme without the ugly wing tanks to mar the beautiful lines. Already got another well underway for our Bomber Command SIG and this will almost certainly be an early white B2 with the small fin root intake, lack of wing 'carrots' and refuelling probe, then a B(SR)2, a later Wittering B2, the Red Neck trials aircraft and.......you get the idea.... Thanks for looking hope you like it. Cheers and Happy festivities Melchie