Vulcan Exhausts

[Christopher L]

Hi, my first post on the site.  I understand Vulcans had different exhausts.  Can someone please give a quick answer to this subject.  Do aircraft serial numbers provide a simple answer to the type fitted ?

[stever219]

Hi @Christopher Land welcome to the forum.  I assume that, for now, you’re asking about Vulcan B. Mk. 2, B. Mk. 2 (MRR) and K. Mk. 2.

 

Initial production Vulcan B. Mk. 2s were fitted with Bristol Siddeley Olympus 200-series engines.  These were XH533 to ‘539, XH554 to ‘563, XJ780 to ‘784, XJ823 to ‘825, XL317 to ‘321, XL359 to ‘361, XL384 to ‘390, XL392, XL425 to ‘427, XL443 to ‘446, XM569 to ‘573.  Of these XH557, XJ784, XL384 to ‘390 were retro-fitted with Olympus 301-series engines.

 

Vulcans built or retro-fitted with Olympus 301s were XH557, XJ784, XL384 to ‘391 (first to be built from the outset with ‘301s), XM574 to ‘576, XM594, XM595, XM596 was not completed and was used as a fatigue test specimen, XM597 to ‘612, XM645 to ‘657.

 

The first ten aircraft, XH532 to ‘556, had shallower air intakes as fitted to the lower-powered Vulcan B. Mk. 1 (Olympus 100-series engines).

 

Nine Vulcans, all powered by Olympus 200-series engines (XH534, XH537, XH558, XH560, XH563, XJ780, XJ782, XJ823 and XJ825) were converted to B. Mk. 2 (MRR) standard and of these two (XH558, XH560) plus XH561, XJ825, XL445 and XM571) were further converted to K. Mk. 2 standard in the wake of the Falklands War.

 

The obvious external difference between the tailpipes is that the 200-series are longer and more sharply tapered than the shorter and larger-diameter 300-series examples.  Both types are catered for in the new Airfix Vulcan; the older kit only features the 300 series tailpipes but they’re rather basic and not very well defined.  The 200 series tailpipes grew a number (five, I think) of squarish fairings at their forward ends after a short period in service, e.g. XL360, but I currently do not have a list of serial numbers for Vulcans fitted with them.

 

You’ll find plenty of information in The Vulcan B. Mk. 2 from a different angle by Craig Bulman if you can get hold of a copy, including the various permutations of Skybolt fittings and ECM antenna fit.

 

Edited June 3, 2022 by stever219
Fat fingers late after a long day.

[Adam Poultney]

Summed up perfectly by @stever219

Only one thing, XH532 was the last B1, XH533 was the first B2.

On 02/06/2022 at 00:53, stever219 said:

The 200 series tailpipes grew a number (five, I think) of squarish fairings at their forward ends after a short period in service, e.g. XL360, but I currently do not have a list of serial numbers for Vulcans fitted with them.

It was fleet-wide across every 201 engined Vulcan. You'll see XJ823 is preserved without, but the jetpipes on that are replicas.

 

[stever219]

8 hours ago, Adam Poultney said:

Summed up perfectly by @stever219

Only one thing, XH532 was the last B1, XH533 was the first B2.

It was fleet-wide across every 201 engined Vulcan. You'll see XJ823 is preserved without, but the jetpipes on that are replicas.

 

Thanks @Adam Poultney, poor old '532 was a FatFingers Productions production in association with BlindPugh Proof-reading Services LLC and Byeckitsbinalongday Enterprises.  I'll correct it shortly.

Edited June 3, 2022 by stever219

[Christopher L]

Thank you all.     I was told this site was crewed by gentlemen !      I'm attempting to do three of the old Airfix kits and after several gallons of Gloss White paint I think I've cured the intake seams. I do have one of the new kits and hope to finance at least another.

[stever219]

@Christopher L if you've got the old Airfix kits you really do need new exhausts; to describe the kit examples as shonky or scuzzy is to elevate them to a status of which they are entirely unworthy.

 

In the past there have been aftermarket sets, certainly for Olympus 200s, but I haven't yet checked to see if they're currently available.

Edited June 4, 2022 by stever219