Adam Poultney Posted August 5, 2021 Author Share Posted August 5, 2021 5 minutes ago, STRAT'71 said: Can anyone advise me of the colour of the panel behind the left main undercarriage on the early white Vulcan B2? The kit has it in light brown but I thought it was black. The old kit has it in black. Kit has it wrong, it's black. You need to also remove the raised square bit pre 1974 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 I think a major problem with 558, or any attempt to get a Vulcan into the air is around the lifetime of spares and the cost of making new ones. Any spares made of a material that will deteriorate with age would probably be unusable by now. I know new parts can be made, but they are expensive and unlike a Spitfire, the Vulcan is a much larger and complicated beast. A couple of reasons given for the grounding of 558 centres around spares provision and also Rolls Royce (as design authority for the Olympus) being no longer willing to support the engine. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XrayLima Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 7 hours ago, Adam Poultney said: Yeah I gave up hope of seeing her fly to a more suitable location a while ago... Hopefully I can see one of them taxi again at some point though XL426, Southend, 11 September. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Back in the Saddle Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 The guys at Southend are doing a great job with XL426 - I hope Airfix release this as a future kit variant at some point, especially as the aircraft is almost on their doorstep! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 17 hours ago, XrayLima said: XL426, Southend, 11 September. Probably too close to moving to uni for me, I'll definitely go to another one though at some point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 16 hours ago, Back in the Saddle said: The guys at Southend are doing a great job with XL426 - I hope Airfix release this as a future kit variant at some point, especially as the aircraft is almost on their doorstep! XL426 would be a great scheme to include! They could easily enough do two variations on the scheme with the preserved markings and VDF scheme. For the modern scheme, G-VJET reg and iirc it's got different sqn markings on each side of the tail(?), for the VDF scheme well you only need to change the sqn markings and leave the civvy reg off 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 So I've just been putting together the intakes (pictures to come later) and I'm not impressed by how much of a seam thhere is between the intake parts. Modern kits can have joints with practically no visible seams, why can't Airfix do this... Or make use of slide moulding. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAT'71 Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Adam Poultney said: So I've just been putting together the intakes (pictures to come later) and I'm not impressed by how much of a seam thhere is between the intake parts. Modern kits can have joints with practically no visible seams, why can't Airfix do this... Or make use of slide moulding. Mine has very fine seams needing minimum cleaning up. There appears to be some variation between samples. On YouTube Nigel had issue but Flory didn’t. Edited August 6, 2021 by STRAT'71 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philp Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 Mine showed up yesterday at Kitlinx which is local so I don't have to cover shipping. Not sure when I will get to it. Hmmm, the US Nats is just over a week away. I wonder... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XrayLima Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 7 hours ago, Adam Poultney said: XL426 would be a great scheme to include! They could easily enough do two variations on the scheme with the preserved markings and VDF scheme. For the modern scheme, G-VJET reg and iirc it's got different sqn markings on each side of the tail(?), for the VDF scheme well you only need to change the sqn markings and leave the civvy reg off 426's current scheme does not feature the G-VJET lettering but, as you say, carries tributes to her service with 50 and 617 Squadrons. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted August 7, 2021 Author Share Posted August 7, 2021 3 hours ago, XrayLima said: 426's current scheme does not feature the G-VJET lettering but, as you say, carries tributes to her service with 50 and 617 Squadrons. Oh good to see they got rid of the reg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Back in the Saddle Posted August 7, 2021 Share Posted August 7, 2021 15 hours ago, Adam Poultney said: I'm not impressed by how much of a seam thhere is between the intake parts. I agree, I’m working away at mine but I’m still not happy with how they look… 10 hours ago, XrayLima said: 426's current scheme does not feature the G-VJET lettering but, as you say, carries tributes to her service with 50 and 617 Squadrons. She’s looking much smarter than when I last her! Note the tribute flypast lining up behind! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAT'71 Posted August 7, 2021 Share Posted August 7, 2021 (edited) My seams are practically invisible. I only glued the painted separate halves allowing the paint/glue to ouse out, and sanded smooth with Flory sticks. The supplied transfers are excellent and very thin. You have to take care to apply them before using any Microsol. Edited August 7, 2021 by STRAT'71 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted August 7, 2021 Share Posted August 7, 2021 That seems (seams?) like the right approach to take, I hope I can remember it for mine. What glue did you use please? John PS sorry for the highjack Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted August 7, 2021 Author Share Posted August 7, 2021 I'm looking for GWH 1/144 Vulcans if anyone has any they'd be willing to part with, I put up a wanted thread yesterday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAT'71 Posted August 7, 2021 Share Posted August 7, 2021 12 minutes ago, Biggles87 said: That seems (seams?) like the right approach to take, I hope I can remember it for mine. What glue did you use please? John PS sorry for the highjack Adam Tamiya Extra Thin. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted August 8, 2021 Author Share Posted August 8, 2021 Well I got a little carried away just building the other night. Instead of putting up an update of my Vulcan's intakes I've got an update showing this: It's very Vulcan shaped... Vulcanoid?... now, the canopy and IFR probe are only added for the photos but the rest is fully assembled and waiting on seams bring dealt with. I've seen a few conflicting views on whether to install parts E38 and E39 when the instructions say or whether to install them in the intake inserts before they are glued in place, which would make seam work a little easier. So I decided to do one of each. Right one before the intakes were glued in, left one as per the instructions. I haven't yet dealt with seams and gaps on the left side so I'll post the results of that in the next build update. The main control surfaces are in a slightly deflected position downwards, very slight. Even looks good from the side, just looks so much better than any other Vulcan kit. The shape is just right. Gaps around the first part of the jetpipes... The rearmost parts, which I was writing about the varied colours of earlier, will be painted seperately, from dryfitting it seems there isn't going to be any notable gap there. These intakes will definitely need new paint, it's worn down badly from the gap and seam work, the other side is going to be just as bad 😬 Yet to be filled. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted August 8, 2021 Author Share Posted August 8, 2021 So something which has been mentioned on @Back in the Saddle's brilliant thread, and I think is worth mentioning again here, is rather disappointing oversight from Airfix. The rather prominent retraction jacks from the crew door are missing. These are prominent enough that I bothered to add them to my 1/200 Vulcan B1a conversion earlier this year, even though working in that small size they are a little overscale. I'm quite surprised that Airfix missed this, considering how many museums regularly open up their Vulcans and how easy photographs of open Vulcan crew doors are to find. Here's some of my photos which show open crew doors: XL360 - Midlands Air Museum XH558 at Waddington Air Show one year XM575 with the door open but the ladder folded up. I was considering opening up the door on this model, but I'm not not sure what I'll do. I could add the retraction jacks easily enough I'm sure, but I'd want to get some good close up photos of them first. But I also wouldn't mind just having this one closed up, maybe think about having the white one open as if it were ready for its crew to board and start up, fly off and deliver its instant sunshine to some target in eastern Europe, especially since this one has one intake blanks like it's parked up. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 On 8/5/2021 at 11:34 PM, Peter O said: Any competent aircraft mechanic could just as easily work on a V-bomber given the proper tools, parts and technical information. I think you misunderstood me, Peter. As a lifelong career engine/airframe maintainer (both civil and military) I agree with you entirely but what killed XH588 was the lack of resources at a deeper level. The people required to provide support to the aeroplane in BAE workshops, etc were apparently already past retirement and had extended just to keep XH588 flying. BAE would've had to train new people in the skills require to maintain the spares supply and eventually, cost won out. Back to the subject at hand - this new Airfix moulding is looking like a kit I have to have! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philp Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Sorry to interrupt this thread Adam but have some questions and you and the other chaps watching seem to be the ones to have the knowledge. The more I think about my initial build the more I am leaning towards a white one and having just seen pics of them in the later full color roundels I am inclined to do a small dio of a QRA scramble. My questions are which squadrons would have had the normal roundels and are there decals available? I see the starter cart (accumulator) is available from Aircraft in Miniature. Would they have been in RAF blue at that time? How would the crew be delivered to the plane? I am thinking of having them running to board but would they have been sitting in the plane on alert or close by or bussed in? If the later, what kind of vehicle and is it available in 72nd? Finally what would the pad look like? I did find this thread from 2011 on Brit but lots of the links no longer work. Also found this video: And found this article: https://avrovulcan.com/vulcan/quick-reaction-alert Any further help greatly appreciated. We now return you to your regularly scheduled topic. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted August 9, 2021 Author Share Posted August 9, 2021 5 hours ago, philp said: My questions are which squadrons would have had the normal roundels and are there decals available? What do you mean? Vulcans carried three standard roundel types. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XrayLima Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 11 hours ago, Adam Poultney said: I was considering opening up the door on this model, but I'm not not sure what I'll do. I could add the retraction jacks easily enough I'm sure, but I'd want to get some good close up photos of them first. But I also wouldn't mind just having this one closed up, maybe think about having the white one open as if it were ready for its crew to board and start up, fly off and deliver its instant sunshine to some target in eastern Europe, especially since this one has one intake blanks like it's parked up. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Lime Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 6 hours ago, philp said: My questions are which squadrons would have had the normal roundels and are there decals available? Like Adam, I'm not quite understanding the question. Do you mean the difference between the pale anti-flash shades of roundels vs. Roundel Blue and Post Office Red? If so, no operational B2 in the overall white scheme wore RB/PO Red roundels, only a few early production ones involved in trials. 6 hours ago, philp said: I see the starter cart (accumulator) is available from Aircraft in Miniature. Would they have been in RAF blue at that time? No. Whilst vehicles were specified to be painted in BS381C 633 RAF Blue Grey, ground support equipment (GSE) was specified to be painted BS381C 169 Traffic Blue. This link to the IWM website gives an idea of the two shades, compare the Land Rover and tractor with the Blue Steel handling trolley. Regards, Mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Back in the Saddle Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Great reference photos of the door struts - thanks @XrayLima Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted August 9, 2021 Author Share Posted August 9, 2021 (edited) On 05/08/2021 at 13:38, Adam Poultney said: The wheel wells are in Does anyone see a slight issue with the nose wheel well here? I just realised it's positioned too far back. With the fuselage sealed up and the nose on, I have no idea how I'm going to fix this. The landing gear certainly won't fit unless I do fix it. Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix this short of cutting off the nose? Edited August 9, 2021 by Adam Poultney 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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