Popular Post tonyot Posted July 25, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted July 25, 2020 (edited) Hiya Folks, I was so pleased to hear that Valom were releasing the Vickers Valetta as a 1/72nd scale kit and as soon as it was released I bought `a few'! The kit is lovely and I can very highly recommend it, although the instructions can be a bit obscure in places and photos of the real aircraft are a real bonus. The decal sheet is quite limited too as the roundels are the wrong size and there are no wing walk stripes, which were prominent on the real aircraft....... hopefully a decal manufacturer who specialises in post war RAF decals might help fill a void,...I have dropped some hints and provided some info! Here is my WIP if anybody is interested; The Valetta which I have modelled is VW202/C of 84 Sqn which took off at daybreak from Nicosia, Cyprus along with 17 other Valetta`s from 30, 70, 84 and 114 Sqn plus 14 Hasting`s from 99 and 511 Sqn`s to take part in Operation Telescope, the Airborne Forces element of Op Musketeer, the Anglo French operation to regain control of the Suez Canal. These aircraft were to drop 668 men of the 3 Para Group consisting of 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment plus attached arms onto El Gamil airfield on the 5th November 1956 while French paratroopers along with British Royal Engineers and The Guards Independent Company `Pathfinders'also took off from Tymbou, Cyprus in their French Noratlas transports to jump nearby at Port Fuad, the plan being to hold both flanks of the invasion beaches for the troops coming ashore next day. Each Valetta carried 20 paratroopers and 7 of the Hasting`s carried 30 paratroopers while the remaining 7 carried a smaller number of troops plus the heavy drop consisting of Jeeps and trailers/anti tank weapons which were mounted under the fuselage on special beams. As the formation approached El Gamil a Canberra dropped a smoke bomb to mark the DZ and help assess the wind which was critical as the troops were jumping along the runway and there was water on either side. This forced the pilots to fly directly into the low rising sun but this had already been accounted for and tinted screens had been erected inside the windscreens to prevent the crews from being dazzled and the first troops jumped over El Gamil right on time at P-Hour which was set for 0515hrs. Small arms fire from the ground was encountered and a number of aircraft received hits, as did the men under their parachutes including the battalion doctor who was hit in the eye and wounded,.... but the entire drop was completed within 10 minutes and all of the aircraft returned to Cyprus safely while El Gamil airfield was swiftly secured within 30 minutes following heavy fighting. A follow up drop arrived later in the day consisting of 2 Valetta`s and 5 Hastings bringing in 3 Para`s D Company and more supplies including an ammunition resupply. The British Para`s fought along the narrow istmus where the airfield was located and down to the main beach defences in Port Said which were captured and held until the amphibious landing the next day, the 3 Para Group lost 4 men killed and 32 men wounded during the assault and subsequent fighting and the amphibious assault was a great success,..... including the very first use of helicopters in an amphibious assault. Although the military operation was a sucess,... the politics were not and the British and French were forced to withdraw under the threat of nuclear attack from Russia and financial ruin by the USA and the Anglo French built Suez Canal remained in Egyptian hands. My father in law was one of the men who stormed the beach and I am proud to know a few of the men of the 3 Para Group who jumped at Suez,.... the last time that British Airborne Forces have parachuted into action in large numbers. Here is the aircraft that I am depicting; And here is the model; And seeing as I ws asked,......here is a comparison between the Valetta and the Dakota too; All the best wishes, Tony Edited July 26, 2020 by tonyot 95 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Dyck Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Hi, absolutely perfect. Never saw this amazing plane. cheers Andy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieW Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 7 minutes ago, Andy Dyck said: absolutely perfect Totally in agreement, don't really need to say any more than that. Andy said it already. Richie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheyJammedKenny! Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 This is a really stunning build, and encourages those of us who have not tackled Valom kits previously to try our hand at this attractive subject. One of my favorite shots shows how glossy smooth the cabin transparencies are: you can see silver reflections off the engine nacelles in the windows! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VG 33 Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Hi Tony It is very nice and I like this aircraft too. Patrick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Proper little beaut and great background to it as well mate 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzby061 Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Absolutely lovely. Something I never thought I’d see in plastic. Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in a shed Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Excellent job. Great scheme. The whole project has been beautifully executed. Cheers Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 A super job, Tony! Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murdo Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Now that's niiiiice!!!!!!! The transparencies look superb. Valom have some really nice kits and their customer service is excellent! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Just to add what I have said before, a lovely build Tony, will have to crack on with mine 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Stunning 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Lovely model Tony, great work as always fella. They look very chunky and quite a large machine looking at it next to the Dakota. Looks fantastic. All the best Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binbrooksumpy Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Don't know how you keep up the pace. Lovely kite, and an absolutely fantastic finish. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorty84 Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Great model and nice backstory. Amazing how you can maintain pace and still keep your build quality that high. Wish I could manage a fraction of your output. Cheers Markus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horatio Gruntfuttock Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Great work and encouraging me to fork out some readies to get one Tony - and I did not envision it being bulkier than a Dak. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 2 hours ago, Pete in a shed said: Excellent job. Great scheme. The whole project has been beautifully executed. Cheers Pete Agree absolutely! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 That is brilliant Tony. I'm trying to resist one of these, you're making it hard though. That comparison between the Dak & the Valetta is interesting, chubby wee chap isn't it? Very similar in size otherwise. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Ranger Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 Gorgeous model of an aircraft most Norteamericanos are probably unfamiliar with, as well as the paradrop to secure the airfield. I had never heard of the latter, but I was only 10 years old at the time of the actual event. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 Great build. One of my favourite aeroplanes, whether in Viking or Valetta form. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyGair Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 A superb and well researched model as usual Tony. Resisting the urge to buy one as not the usual subject I go for. I may wait until someone releases a decal sheet, just if it's based on information supplied by yourself of course 😉 Davey 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 A marvellous model and an interesting history lesson as well. Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 That is a wonderful looking Valetta. A great paint finish and interesting scheme. I've never seen the trim in that sand/yellow colour before but it really suits it. I'm going to have to save my pennies and get one of these I think. An interesting comaprison with the Dakota. Curiously the proportions of the Valetta make it look like the model is of a bigger scale of a smaller aircraft, it that makes sense. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 That is an excellent piece of work, very interesting to have seen the amount of effort that went into the build. Sadly, my effort is on hold at the moment, but I will get there in the end, hopefully. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binbrook87 Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 Absolutely stunning! 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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