Airfix Avro Vulcan B Mk2 XH558 - Vulcan to the Sky (1:72)

[Rickpadwick1801]

This is another project that I have got in progress at the moment. I just had to wait for the paints to arrive to let me finish it.

 

I have built the fuselage up with the wings and cockpit canopy etc in place.

 

In typical Airfix kits (at least in my opinion to date), things don't tend to fit together properly in this case the central fuselage with the wings had a large gap between them, which I had to fill in with some plastic filler that I had.

 

At the moment it looks like a giant fog bank as it is only painted grey.

 

This picture was taken whilst the upper fuselage was the only part painted, I am at the moment waiting for the lower fuselage to dry in the grey colour and will then work out how to put the green camouflage in place.

 

More progress to follow.

 

Edited January 20, 2013 by Rickpadwick1801

[Michaelvk]

Looking good.. Refuelling probe might need a kick to port, though..

[WH904]

If you're planning to build XH558 you'd need to buy the resin engine cans for the 200-series engines (the Airfix kit has 300 series engine cans) and youd have to cut off the ECM intake on the side of the tail cone and also cut off the TFR thimble on the nose. Probably be a whole lot easier to build another Vulcan so that you dont need to change anything! XM607 would be easy or XM597 maybe plus lots of others

[Rickpadwick1801]

If you're planning to build XH558 you'd need to buy the resin engine cans for the 200-series engines (the Airfix kit has 300 series engine cans) and youd have to cut off the ECM intake on the side of the tail cone and also cut off the TFR thimble on the nose. Probably be a whole lot easier to build another Vulcan so that you dont need to change anything! XM607 would be easy or XM597 maybe plus lots of others

 

I can't believe Airfix can't even get the right parts for the aircraft that they are supplying the kit to be....where can i get the decals for XM607 from ?

 

If they are to expensive, I will have to build XH558 as if it had been updated....

[WH904]

They cheated basically! The kit first came out 30 years ago and to be fair it is pretty good considering its age. But it represents an aircraft with 300-series engines and one with a TFR thimble on the nose. XH558 has 200-series engines and doesn't have a TFR thimble (it's also the only Vulcan that doesn't have the ECM intake on the tail cone). I guess Airfix assume that general buyers don't care about details and they'll just build it as XH558 without any modifications. I agree though, it is lazy of Airfix not to modify the kit. But there are loads of Vulcans with 300-series engines, so you may as well just build one of those and then you don't need to change anything! If you ask guys on here there may be someone who has an old decal sheet from the first release - I seem to recall that had markings on it. Otherwise there are specialist decal sheets, or you could make-up your own serials. All the little markings are the same for most aircraft so you only need the right serials and unit marking for the tail. Lots to choose from. Anyway hope this helps

[SHAR67]

Type this number into the search bar on ebay and heres the decals you need.

 

321058241092

 

Clive

[Rickpadwick1801]

Thanks very much. I haven't thought about what to do with this at the moment. I do know that pennies are a bit tight, so I will probably have to continue with the model as it is.

[Darth Vader]

I'm sure Ive got some 607 decals you can have . Give me few days and I'll get back to you

[Rickpadwick1801]

I'm sure Ive got some 607 decals you can have . Give me few days and I'll get back to you

 

Thanks very much. I would prefer to build the model as a correct version and XM607 is the vulcan I would pick as the aircraft which did the Black Buck One raid. I love the story of that raid, I have read the book several times.

Edited January 21, 2013 by Rickpadwick1801

[HOUSTON]

Ah that looks really good.

Will be back for more..

[Rickpadwick1801]

What colour was XM607 ?

 

I have painted the upper and lower sides of the fuselage in 165 - Medium Sea Grey. Did 607 have a flat grey underside or was it camouflaged underneath as well as the top ?

 

I am doing my homework in case i get hold of the decals.

[SHAR67]

send us your e-mail addy and i will send you the paint plan for it tomorrow when i finish work.

 

Clive

Edited January 21, 2013 by SHAR67

[WH904]

You have lots of choice for XM607. When it was delivered it was overall white with pink/light blue insignia. After that it was painted in Dark Green and Dark Sea Grey camouflage (glossy) with white undersides, full colour insignia and a black radome. After that it was painted in matt camouflage and the underside was changed to Light Aircraft Grey (plus low-viz markings and no black radome). Later it also had the undersides painted in brown/sand camouflage for a Red Flag exercise. Of course it had Dark Grey undersides for the Falklands Black Buck missions. So there are lots of choices. You can find photos of all the different paint schemes in books on on the internet. XM607 (and XM597) probably had the most number of different colour schemes so they're good choices

[Rickpadwick1801]

send us your e-mail addy and i will send you the paint plan for it tomorrow when i finish work.

 

Clive

 

Thanks Clive, PM sent.

 

Rick

[Darth Vader]

Ive found the decals from the original 80s boxing

XM607 Serial number, the 3 mission markings on the nose and 44sqdn badge( these were painted out for the raids )

PM me your address and Ill post them to you.

During the raids 607 was Dark green 163 Medium sea grey 165 top side and Dark sea grey 164 underneath ( Humbroll colours)

She did Black buck missions:

1-runway bombed

2-runway bombed

3-cancelled due to weather

7-anti-troop bombing

4,5,6,was XM597

[Rickpadwick1801]

Ive found the decals from the original 80s boxing

XM607 Serial number, the 3 mission markings on the nose and 44sqdn badge( these were painted out for the raids )

PM me your address and Ill post them to you.

During the raids 607 was Dark green 163 Medium sea grey 165 top side and Dark sea grey 164 underneath ( Humbroll colours)

She did Black buck missions:

1-runway bombed

2-runway bombed

3-cancelled due to weather

7-anti-troop bombing

4,5,6,was XM597

PM Inbound. Thanks very much for this, it is appreciated.

[Rickpadwick1801]

send us your e-mail addy and i will send you the paint plan for it tomorrow when i finish work.

Clive

Thanks Clive, e-mail received.

[Rickpadwick1801]

Well I have a 3 day weekend and except for a bit of today when I have to go to the hospital and out for a meal tonight for my brothers 30th, I am going to spend a lot of time working on my outstanding models including this one.

I think I am going to have trouble painting the camouflage on this model. Has anyone got any suggestions how to do it so it actually looks like the pattern on the Vulcan ?

The only way I can think of doing it is to scale up the top surface plan to the size of the model and use it as a mask for the camouflaged green areas. Will have to see if that is possible today before I attempt this (especially freehand).

Any suggestions gratefully received.

[robvulcan]

its a good thing the kit does come with the tfr as its easier to remove than put in place. same with the tail all you need is a file if you want the original type. in fact the instructions with the original kit told you to do that.

as the options were for xl321 blue steel, xm607 falklands black buck scheme, and xh562 in 70s camo.

good look with it if you would rather do it as she was in the 90s i have spare decals for the script she used to carry on the door in the vdf days. and the darker shaded cross of lincoln badge.

i dunno if you have built one of these before but ive built a few and if like me your not looking forward to masking the windows. the best way ive found is to get some schools or childrens pva glue and a cocktail stick and flow it onto the window panes when dry paint and then carefully pick off with a cock tail stick and you will have perfect windows.

all the best with it will watch with interest cheers rob

oh and btw you could still do her as 558 but leave her as she is and paint her in 60s gloss cammo with a black nose and black tail top with white belly and d type roundels. though the tail will need a bit of work possibly to return to the original shape. just a sugesstion and something different

Edited March 22, 2013 by robvulcan

[Rickpadwick1801]

Hi Rob,

I haven't decided what I am going to do. I have the XH558 decals and paint chart, plus a couple of decals for XM607 and the paint chart.

I will keep posting on here as I keep working on it.....

Rick

its a good thing the kit does come with the tfr as its easier to remove than put in place. same with the tail all you need is a file if you want the original type. in fact the instructions with the original kit told you to do that.

as the options were for xl321 blue steel, xm607 falklands black buck scheme, and xh562 in 70s camo.

good look with it if you would rather do it as she was in the 90s i have spare decals for the script she used to carry on the door in the vdf days. and the darker shaded cross of lincoln badge.

i dunno if you have built one of these before but ive built a few and if like me your not looking forward to masking the windows. the best way ive found is to get some schools or childrens pva glue and a cocktail stick and flow it onto the window panes when dry paint and then carefully pick off with a cock tail stick and you will have perfect windows.

all the best with it will watch with interest cheers rob

oh and btw you could still do her as 558 but leave her as she is and paint her in 60s gloss cammo with a black nose and black tail top with white belly and d type roundels. though the tail will need a bit of work possibly to return to the original shape. just a sugesstion and something different

[thankyousam]

i dunno if you have built one of these before but ive built a few and if like me your not looking forward to masking the windows. the best way ive found is to get some schools or childrens pva glue and a cocktail stick and flow it onto the window panes when dry paint and then carefully pick off with a cock tail stick and you will have perfect windows.

I seem to recall I brush painted my canopy freehand (with a brush), then used a scalpel tip to very lightly lift/scrape any paint which strayed in to the marked window areas.

Are you hand brushing or air brushing it? I used blutak rolled in to thin sausages then laid them out to mask the edges of the camo, then stretched cling film between the sausages to mask off the in between areas. Then air brushed it.

I'm afraid I chickened out and did a grey and green gloss top with a white underside. I think full wrap around camo scheme would have resulted in even more swearing

Looking forward to seeing what you decide to do.

Edit: yes I know I quoted Rob, but my reply was directed at Rick

Edited March 22, 2013 by thankyousam

[robvulcan]

I seem to recall I brush painted my canopy freehand (with a brush), then used a scalpel tip to very lightly lift/scrape any paint which strayed in to the marked window areas.

Are you hand brushing or air brushing it? I used blutak rolled in to thin sausages then laid them out to mask the edges of the camo, then stretched cling film between the sausages to mask off the in between areas. Then air brushed it.

I'm afraid I chickened out and did a grey and green gloss top with a white underside. I think full wrap around camo scheme would have resulted in even more swearing

Looking forward to seeing what you decide to do.

Edit: yes I know I quoted Rob, but my reply was directed at Rick

i have used the pva masking technique on brush painted and airbrush/rattle can jobs. its very succesfull i find. in fact its the way i mask canopys most the time were i can.

here is a few models i have masked the windows with pva on.

[Rickpadwick1801]

I am brush painting the entire model as I have not invested in air bursh gear yet.

I agree that the all round camo scheme will be enough to make me swear, so I am going to do the bottom of the vulcan in a dark grey colour scheme (Falklands scheme) even if I don't do XM607.

I think I am going to try the blutak method as I haven't got a large scale mask created for the plane.

Hopefully have some progress later today.

I seem to recall I brush painted my canopy freehand (with a brush), then used a scalpel tip to very lightly lift/scrape any paint which strayed in to the marked window areas.

Are you hand brushing or air brushing it? I used blutak rolled in to thin sausages then laid them out to mask the edges of the camo, then stretched cling film between the sausages to mask off the in between areas. Then air brushed it.

I'm afraid I chickened out and did a grey and green gloss top with a white underside. I think full wrap around camo scheme would have resulted in even more swearing

Looking forward to seeing what you decide to do.

Edit: yes I know I quoted Rob, but my reply was directed at Rick

[robvulcan]

cool man,. ive brush painted quite a few of my vulcans and i can recomend the new humbrol rattle cans in hu165 and hu163 green grey they are the right shades and give a fantastic finish. blue tak masking is a very good way to go i use that myself.

i hope you didnt mind me sharing a few photos.

[Rickpadwick1801]

cool man,. ive brush painted quite a few of my vulcans and i can recomend the new humbrol rattle cans in hu165 and hu163 green grey they are the right shades and give a fantastic finish. blue tak masking is a very good way to go i use that myself.

i hope you didnt mind me sharing a few photos.

Hi Rob,

I don't mind you sharing a few photos at all. Your vulcans look great.

I especially like your XH558 and the anti flash white vulcans.

I am hoping I do this justice as I am really wondering if I can handle this camoufalge scheme, have made a start on the blu tack masking and am getting frustrated.

I have thought about potentially making XH558 into an anti flash white vulcan, but not sure if I want to give up and go for the easy option yet.

My wife has even offered to help with the blu tack masking, if she does that will be the first time she has shown interest in one of my models before it is finished.

Cheers,

Rick

Edited March 23, 2013 by Rickpadwick1801