Popular Post tomprobert Posted July 24, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted July 24, 2022 Afternoon all, Here's the latest model to take off from my bench - the new-tool Airfix 1/72nd Avro Vulcan BMk2. After grafting on some very long-term projects of late I decided I needed something relatively straightforward for a system reset and mojo reboot and this proved to be just the project. I found it an absolute delight to build - actual construction only took four evenings and the whole model was completed in just under two weeks. In fact, it's the first model I can remember in absolutely ages that I didn't put down for a few weeks and return to it later as I'd lost interest - I just wanted to keep going! As with most of Airfix new-tool kits, tolerances are very tight indeed and therefore I gave each surface to be glued a quick swipe with a sanding pad and this meant an almost perfect fit for all components. I was really impressed with how the intakes went together, and with a quick swipe of Milliput White they look seamless with the minimum of effort. I wanted to do a later version than is currently supplied in the box so bought an Xtradecal sheet to make a 101 Squadron machine based at RAF Waddington in the mid 1970s. Two type of jet pipes are provided in the kit, and I had no idea which were fitted to this aircraft so went with the same as the one currently preserved at Duxford as they seemed of the same vintage. The kit's bomb bay is beautifully rendered and with some careful painting comes up beautifully out of the box. If you build this kit, don't waste your time detailing the interior of the cockpit as next to nothing can be seen - I just did the absolute basics. Xtracolor enamels were used throughout and I gave it a satin varnish as these machines seemed very well maintained in service and other than a few streaks and stains here and there, I kept her reasonably clean as period photos suggest. I recommend this kit to anyone looking for a large and impressive model in their display cabinet but not requiring a huge amount of effort - it's a pleasure! Tom 80 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unfinished project Posted July 24, 2022 Share Posted July 24, 2022 Avro’s finest looking factory fresh. Superb build makes me want to dig mine out of the stash. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillF67 Posted July 24, 2022 Share Posted July 24, 2022 Old fashioned me thinks this is what a model aeroplane should look like. Super! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binbrook87 Posted July 24, 2022 Share Posted July 24, 2022 That's a stunner! Love the clean paint finish 👍 Just wish i had the room for one 😕 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pantherhawk27263 Posted July 24, 2022 Share Posted July 24, 2022 That is one beautiful Vulcan. You did a wonderful job on it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snafu35 Posted July 24, 2022 Share Posted July 24, 2022 Hello Tom, This is a very nice reproduction of this flying ray, bravo.👍 The deployed scale gives an idea of the size, however this model must be very small compared to the others you have! Regards, Eric-Snafu35 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted July 24, 2022 Share Posted July 24, 2022 Absolutely beautiful! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallBlondJohn Posted July 24, 2022 Share Posted July 24, 2022 Superb. How did you do the masking? It looks very clean 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedders Posted July 24, 2022 Share Posted July 24, 2022 Likey likey! Justin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 That is a fantastic model of the Vulcan Tom as always, all you need to do now is the Valiant and Victor 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winded Penguin Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 (edited) Quality of fit and finish superb. It's quite a treat to see a model painted to this standard 👍 Edited July 25, 2022 by Winded Penguin grammar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheyJammedKenny! Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 This was a double-take. First I saw "Vulcan," and then I saw who built it--so I just had to look. Most handsome results, sir, and you finished this in record time! Next time something a little more difficult, pleeeeese, like Mach 2's Comet IV. Thanks! Alex 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raafbloke Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 G'day Tom, Congratulations! That is a truly outstanding build and, I hasten to add, one of the best paint jobs I've ever seen and I've hung around a lot of real aircraft and hundreds of finished models. It's stunning. With the right backdrop and photographer you could pass your model off as the real thing. The only thing, I think might give it away is that overly thick 'out of the box' crew access ladder. Apart from that it's perfect. I've heard a couple of former Vulcan skippers say that the underside of their Vulcans were not as white as Airfix has them in their paint call out sheet. You've got the closest I've seen to the right 'belly colour'. Your excellent work makes me want to open my Vulcan box and start building right now. But I won't kid myself that I'll do as well as you did. Besides I've just started my attempt at a Shackleton. And I see you've done or just started a scratch Shackleton, can't wait to see that build. Thanks, mate, you've inspired me. Cheers, Bill Halliwell raafbloke 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 Perfect build, looks awesome 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Alan Bardell Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 What a great looking Vulcan. Great work. B R 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binbrooksumpy Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 Stunner of a model. Beautiful finish 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 What a beauty! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveH Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 Very nice, clean build... DaveH 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritag Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 Impeccable, and numerous synonyms thereof, Tom. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky Keg Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 I like it!!!!! Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maginot Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 Awesome result! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted July 27, 2022 Author Share Posted July 27, 2022 On 7/24/2022 at 7:16 PM, Snafu35 said: Hello Tom, This is a very nice reproduction of this flying ray, bravo.👍 The deployed scale gives an idea of the size, however this model must be very small compared to the others you have! Regards, Eric-Snafu35 Many thanks - yes it a little smaller than my usual projects but has made a really refreshing change, not to mention taking up as much shelf space! On 7/24/2022 at 7:42 PM, TallBlondJohn said: Superb. How did you do the masking? It looks very clean Thank you - the masking was done with Tamiya 2mm “bendy tape” with the remainder filled in with normal Tamiya tape. I sprayed the green first as it was an easier task masking that then the grey. When the paint had hardened, I gave it a gentle polish with some super fine micromesh to remove any paint build up along the masked edges. On 7/25/2022 at 9:19 AM, kev67 said: That is a fantastic model of the Vulcan Tom as always, all you need to do now is the Valiant and Victor They are on my ‘to do’ list, Kev! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted July 27, 2022 Share Posted July 27, 2022 Lovely model of XM575. Well constructed and painted. 575 is one of my sort of local Vulcans. On 24/07/2022 at 14:50, tomprobert said: Two type of jet pipes are provided in the kit, and I had no idea which were fitted to this aircraft so went with the same as the one currently preserved at Duxford as they seemed of the same vintage. I'm afraid you used the wrong ones. XM575 has Olympus 301 engines, which require the shorter jetpipes. XJ824 at Duxford is a relatively early Vulcan B2 (early enough that the initial order was for a B1 and later changed to B2), whereas XM575 is a mid production B2 built to carry Blue Steel (ordered for skybolt, later changed for Blue Steel when that was cancelled), and as such has Olympus 301s. I think changing them should be possible, if it bothers you. I wouldn't recommend going down the rabbit hole of Vulcan details unless you want to drive yourself crazy; other than the jetpipes you got most of the major ones right. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted July 27, 2022 Share Posted July 27, 2022 Very impressive, great build and finish ! Wulfman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted July 28, 2022 Author Share Posted July 28, 2022 On 7/27/2022 at 12:14 PM, Adam Poultney said: Lovely model of XM575. Well constructed and painted. 575 is one of my sort of local Vulcans. I'm afraid you used the wrong ones. XM575 has Olympus 301 engines, which require the shorter jetpipes. XJ824 at Duxford is a relatively early Vulcan B2 (early enough that the initial order was for a B1 and later changed to B2), whereas XM575 is a mid production B2 built to carry Blue Steel (ordered for skybolt, later changed for Blue Steel when that was cancelled), and as such has Olympus 301s. I think changing them should be possible, if it bothers you. I wouldn't recommend going down the rabbit hole of Vulcan details unless you want to drive yourself crazy; other than the jetpipes you got most of the major ones right. Thanks for that info, Adam - sod’s law dictated that I was bound to select the wrong jet pipes. As the core is firmly glued to the outer pipes themselves, changing them won’t be possible but I can live with it. It seems the Vulcan is a bit of a minefield when it comes to specific airframes and their differences! All the best, Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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