mikestow Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 I mentioned a while ago,as others have done,that a decent Conversion Kit to modify the then new Airfix Valiant kit,would be greatly appreciated.I dont know how long the Airfix Valiant will be readily available?? However some one out there DID produce some excellent resin?? moulded booms with nice undercarriage bay details.Was I imagining things when it was suggested by others that such a nice conversion set could and would be produced on the market?? When I bought the excellent Freightdog Swift Conversion sets,I emailed Colin regarding the possibility of doing a Black Bomber Valiant B2,but no response was forthcoming.The trouble is the longer time goes on ,the immediate interest following the release of the great Airfix Valiant Bmk1,wains and interest in the Mk2 will die>??I did a poor conversion on a Mach 2 kit by comparison to the superb one I refer to above,but am loathe to bin it,or buy another Airfix kit,if no proper conversion set will come out?? How many others out there would be interested like myself?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xvtonker Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 I would be very interested. Neil Gaunt of AIM was looking to produce a conversion set, but put it on the back burner. XVTonker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikestow Posted January 8, 2016 Author Share Posted January 8, 2016 Just found the original thread for the "Black Bomber",and of course it was Greg Phillips's magnificent conversion in resin,that I had remembered.It was said way back in June last year that it may be too late then,as prices for the Airfix were increasing.I have just inquired of Ebay,and a few are available stil!?Maybe another tug at Colin of Freightdog may provoke a response,but time is against such a lovely idea,I feel?????????????????????My B2 efforts were recorded in the previous,so very anxious to build a much better one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xvtonker Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 There must be quite a few people like me with Valiant stored on the shelf just waiting for a B.2 conversion to be released. We can only wait with baited breath... XVTonker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVW Posted January 9, 2016 Share Posted January 9, 2016 Hello, I'm interested in a resin conversion, too. Having both the Airfix Vailiant and AIM's Valiant B.2 vacform, I haven't found time yet to study the possibility of cross-kitting the two, taking the main landing gear and nacelles from the AIM vacform. After getting Modelsvit's Tu-22 I'm playing with the idea using their main gear nacelles as a pattern and modify them to fit the B.2 and using AIM's main landing gear. Had anyone similar thoughts? Regards, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Puff Posted January 9, 2016 Share Posted January 9, 2016 I have an Airfix Valiant set aside for just this purpose! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xvtonker Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 (edited) I've just spoken with Neil Gaunt and he has sent me these CAD images of the component parts for a B.2 conversion he has been planning. If there are enough interested parties I'm sure he would look at producing a conversion set. ​ XVTonker Edited January 13, 2016 by xvtonker 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff_B Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 Count me in for a conversion set Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikestow Posted January 11, 2016 Author Share Posted January 11, 2016 Absolutely I would be in for a Conversion Set,PLEASE?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 This is really the sort of thing Kickstarter was made for. Always a surprise that more conversion sets aren't sold that way, but perhaps in the next decade we'll see more of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselweasel Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 Put me down for a couple please Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony C Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 I'd certainly in for a complete conversion set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The wooksta V2.0 Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 ME! ME! ME! I want a pair too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhaselden Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 I've just spoken with Neail gaunt and he has sent me these CAD images of the component parts for a B.2 conversion he has been planning. If there are enough interested parties I'm sure he would look at producing a conversion set. ​ XVTonker This is really the sort of thing Kickstarter was made for. Always a surprise that more conversion sets aren't sold that way, but perhaps in the next decade we'll see more of it. Good idea. Maybe if Airfix was willing to collaborate with conversion manufacturers, it would be a win-win for both. And Kickstarter would be a great way to vote for things that would sell...which takes away some of the risk, particularly for the smaller aftermarket manufacturers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elanman Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 I'd also be interested in this conversion, would need to find another Valiant kit but will do that anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Puff Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Has this any connection with this: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234995433-172-vickers-valiant-b2-conversion-set-for-airfix-by-aircraft-in-miniature-aim/ ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 (edited) Available for pre order at Hannants. Placed on my wish list. Edited January 13, 2016 by bentwaters81tfw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xvtonker Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Here's the link to the Hannants announcement and another to AIM's announcement on their website https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/TWC72017 http://www.aim72.co.uk/page163.html XVTonker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elanman Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 Added to my wish list at Hannants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikestow Posted January 14, 2016 Author Share Posted January 14, 2016 Hello again All!! Many thanks for all your interest in this subject,which has generated an actual product being manufactured to convert the Airfix Kit into the Vickers Valiant B2 Black Bomber!!Also We all owe a debt of gratitude to Neil Gaunt of AIM who has undertaken to fill this great gap in the Kit Market. It is indeed a fact that Neil will be releasing this to be sold through Hannants in the near future.XVTonker and I have contacted him direct to try to resurrect his interest,so another thanks must go to XV Tonker for his added support in generating enough wish lists of you all to get this marvellous conversion off the ground,so that Neil will be able to sell enough to make it worth while. Congratulations to one and all,and many thanks again to Neil Gaunt. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xvtonker Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 Another gem for 1/144 scale oficianado's, Neil has told me that he's looking to also produce a Valiant B.2 conversion for you as well. As I get more news I'll update the post. XVTonker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho590hm Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 +1 for me - any indication of when the kit will be available? Howard Mason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xvtonker Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Has this any connection with this: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234995433-172-vickers-valiant-b2-conversion-set-for-airfix-by-aircraft-in-miniature-aim/ ? Simply put, yes.. XVtonker +1 for me - any indication of when the kit will be available? Howard Mason Neil is finalising the design, and making some improvements e.g. undercarriage bay details and has said that it should be available within a few weeks. XVTonker 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xvtonker Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Here's the latest update from Neil Gaunt on the Valiant B.2 conversion, posted on ARC Forum; Valiant B2 update set As there is such interest in the Valiant B2 conversion set for the Airfix kit which AIM is producing, here is the current situation.As background, I was working on this project in 2012, but my wife's illness and her death in 2013 caused me to stop work on the project. It was only when considerable interest was shown that a friend persuaded me to start work on it again.One benefit of the recent interest is that several additional photographs have appeared and so better information is available. The design is being revised to add these details: - New spoke type main wheels with brake unit detail. - Retraction linkage for the main gear doors. - Internal detail for the main gear wells. - Revised jet pipe fairings.As soon as these changes are complete I will get the masters produced using stereo lithography.I am not going to estimate price or delivery, but it is progressing well.​ XVTonker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 That makes me very happy I started working on a B.2 master just after the B.1 kit landed, but as usual with these things, I got bogged down with other things, so it never came to fruition. I got the fuselage plug done, which is quite like the one Neil is planning, and I was just starting on the nacelles. You can definitely put me down for one of these. One of those "should have been" projects that might well have given the Valiant a much longer service life due to the tougher main spar, as well as making it look a damn sight cooler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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