Ratch Posted May 2, 2018 Share Posted May 2, 2018 About 12 years ago I built my first Victor. It was a daunting prospect and took me over a year (for one reason or another) to complete. But I did acquire another three Matchbox/Revell Victors with a view to backdating them to B.2 status. Then Airfix bought out their new tool Victors and I had to revise my plans. I've bought two Airfix kits, but before I start on those I figured I should at least build one more of the old kits. So a few days ago I started building the Revell (ex-Matchbox) HP Victor K Mk.2 (04326) but using the Freightdog set to convert it back to a B.2.DSC_0001 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr I have the Bentley plans and a picture of her at RAF Wittering on 30 April 1963, what could go wrong...DSC_0002 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr I had also ordered the Warpaint Series No.36 Victor, so I'm hoping it will be a useful investment. XM715 was flown to RAF Wittering and taken on charge prior to her acceptance checks. She was allocated to No 100 Squadron in May 1963. She remained at Wittering until 8 July 1964 when she returned to Radlett to take her turn on the Handley Page conversion programmes. In the box you get: A4 sheet of Security Text in 21 languages 12-page loose-leaf booklet containing: • A history of the aircraft • The Security Text • Construction advice • Replacement part ordering procedure • Symbol chart • Paint codes • 25 stage assembly sequence • 2 painting options One sprue of clear parts with raised panel detail and no flash. Three sprues of beige plastic parts with raised panel detail and little flash. An in-register decal sheet with options for: 1. 55 Squadron K2, RAF Marham; Operation “Desert Storm” 1991 2. 57 Squadron K2, RAF Marham, 1983 XM715 did not receive its EW jammer suite tail cone until July 1964, after leaving Wittering. The subject brought back memories of visits to Air-shows at RAF Gaydon with my grandfather, where I had first seen this, the Vulcan and Lightning, a most impressive trio. All runners were washed in warm, soapy water and allowed to air dry. The instructions call for 40g to be put into the nose, so I selected two tyre weights, 30g and 15g, that should do the job. I then turned to removing the carrots. My Olfa P-cutter did the heavy work and a scalpel finished the job.DSC_0003 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr I then used the carrots to cut plugs from 20thou plastic card, filed and trimmed them, glued them in place.DSC_0004 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr I then used Vallejo Plastic Putty to smooth the gaps. I fabricated a desk for the cockpit, even though it won’t be seen. The crew were given a wash with thinned black ink before they were fixed into their seats.DSC_0005 by Richard Linnell, on FlickrDSC_0006 by Richard Linnell, on FlickrDSC_0007 by Richard Linnell, on FlickrDSC_0008 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted May 2, 2018 Author Share Posted May 2, 2018 This arrivedDSC_0004 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr Stages 2 & 3 were omitted because XM715 did not have slipper tanks. More work on the carrot fillets.DSC_0001 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr My next undertaking was the major surgery to fit the Freightdog wingtipsDSC_0002 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr and cut out the bomb bay.DSC_0003 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr I superglued the tyre weights inside the nose and the resin wingtips to the wings. I then used Vallejo Plastic Putty to hide the join as best I could.DSC_0005 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted May 2, 2018 Author Share Posted May 2, 2018 DSC_0001 by Richard Linnell, on FlickrDSC_0004 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr The outer wings have been lightly scribed and had a quick wash of white paint Figures repaintedDSC_0003 by Richard Linnell, on FlickrDSC_0005 by Richard Linnell, on FlickrDSC_0006 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr Started on the intakesDSC_0007 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted May 2, 2018 Author Share Posted May 2, 2018 DSC_0001 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr more assembly DSC_0002 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr The intake vanes are notoriously poor. I've smeared some Vallejo Plastic Putty over the joints. DSC_0003 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr You won't see much when its all buttoned up. DSC_0004 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr Got the bomb bay doors in. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted May 4, 2018 Author Share Posted May 4, 2018 (edited) A question to anyone who may know: The Ram-Air Turbines (RATs) forward of the fin - when would they be raised? I can only find one picture of XM715 from above (in 100 Sqn white) and they are not open. I suppose its possible that they had not been fitted and were a later update. All help appreciated. Edited May 4, 2018 by Ratch correction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 (edited) I think if open in flight it was for emergency electrical power, but they do seem to be open quite often on the ground as with one of XM715's close relatives here: Edited May 4, 2018 by Lord Riot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 Nice work so far! The Victor is a pretty cool plane! Håkan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted May 4, 2018 Author Share Posted May 4, 2018 Thanks chaps. Tail and undercarriage workDSC_0001 by Richard Linnell, on FlickrDSC_0002 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr A dry fitDSC_0003 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr Brush paintedDSC_0028 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr MaskingDSC_0030 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr Further assemblyDSC_0031 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 Looking good! Håkan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted May 9, 2018 Author Share Posted May 9, 2018 Here she is primed whiteDSC_0001 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr I've experimented by adding the panel wash before airbrushing anti-flash white, this is an oil washDSC_0004 by Richard Linnell, on FlickrDSC_0005 by Richard Linnell, on FlickrDSC_0006 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr I then airbrushed the undercarriage with AK Interactive Dark AluminiumDSC_0009 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted May 9, 2018 Share Posted May 9, 2018 Looking good! Håkan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted May 9, 2018 Author Share Posted May 9, 2018 Thanks Håkan null Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stever219 Posted May 9, 2018 Share Posted May 9, 2018 On 5/4/2018 at 3:55 PM, Ratch said: A question to anyone who may know: The Ram-Air Turbines (RATs) forward of the fin - when would they be raised? I can only find one picture of XM715 from above (in 100 Sqn white) and they are not open. I suppose its possible that they had not been fitted and were a later update. All help appreciated. RATs would be out at speeds below 200 knots IIRC as a precaution against loss of electrical power in the circuit or immediately after take-off (why didn’t the similarly-powered VC-10 and Boing 707 have to fly with RATs out at low speed?). AFAIK they were introduced on the Mk. 2 as a “get you started again” measure should the aircraft suffer total engine failure as the pressure wave from a nuclear explosion behind the aircraft passed the intakes and blew the fires out. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted May 9, 2018 Author Share Posted May 9, 2018 Thanks Steve, that backs this up Quote The open-air inlets ahead of the fin admitted air to drive the emergency alternator turbines, used in the event of the failure of the main engine-driven alternators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isaneng Posted May 9, 2018 Share Posted May 9, 2018 Having flown both VC10 and B707 derivatives, only the VC10 had a RAT. Neither envisaged the total engine failure/gene failure as a routine risk, and their reactions/checklists were based thus. The B707 in particular, in its early versions, required very little electrical input as its' controls were unpowered. The beautiful VC10 (ok, I'm biased), had such a plethora of redundancy in its flying controls that there was no need to deploy a RAT (one way, ie down, operation only) unless severely up the creek. I guess a knowledge of Victor electrical systems, switching procedures and safety systems might answer the question, but I am sadly ignorant of such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stever219 Posted May 9, 2018 Share Posted May 9, 2018 Thanks isaneng: I can’t understand why people are biased in favour of the VC10 either😉. I can recall one incident where a Super VC10 RAT was deployed in anger: G-ASGL (IIRC) was over the China Sea when all four engines ran down and stopped. The engineer had been feeding all four from one fuel tank and had been distracted, allowing the tank to be drained. Apparently the ensuing silence on the flight deck (even quieter than usual) was broken by the captain asking what was translated politely as “What have you done?” The drills were followed, the RAT deployed, a less-empty tank selected, alll four engines restarted and the flight resumed. Definitely not a routine occurrence. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted May 9, 2018 Share Posted May 9, 2018 This one is progressing nicely Ratch! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 Looking forward to seeing it with the white coat on! That's my favourite V-Bomber scheme. Regards, Adrian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted May 10, 2018 Author Share Posted May 10, 2018 I shall be airbrushing the white in stages - this is the first oneDSC_0001 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr Despite three attempts at smoothing the fuselage join still more work is required 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted May 11, 2018 Author Share Posted May 11, 2018 More filling and sandingDSC_0001 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted May 11, 2018 Share Posted May 11, 2018 Part of the process, looking good! Håkan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted May 12, 2018 Author Share Posted May 12, 2018 Slow progress DSC_0001 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted May 14, 2018 Author Share Posted May 14, 2018 Sprayed the radar panelDSC_0002 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted May 15, 2018 Author Share Posted May 15, 2018 Today I've put the decals onDSC_0007 by Richard Linnell, on FlickrDSC_0008 by Richard Linnell, on FlickrDSC_0009 by Richard Linnell, on Flickr I'm now in a bit of a quandary. My original plan was another coat of Klear, followed by another oil/pin wash to accentuate the panels, and then Satin coat. But I'm in two minds whether to go down that road or simply fit the undercarriage, door and access ladder before the satin varnish. There is still a subtle difference over the airframe and I'm not sure whether highlighting the panels will overdo things. Time out! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted May 15, 2018 Share Posted May 15, 2018 Nice with decals on! Håkan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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