BritJet Posted September 27, 2022 Share Posted September 27, 2022 The Avro 707 was designed as a one-third scale research aircraft to test the delta planform of the Avro Vulcan bomber. It first flew in September 1949 and commenced low-speed stability and control trials after being on static display at the Farnborough Air Display. After only a few flights, the prototype crashed on the 30th September. The longer fuselage 707B was next to fly followed by the 707A (two built) and then the two-seat 707C. Today both of the 707As and the 707C survive in museums. The Avro 707 family were originally produced as part of the Project-X range of vacforms in the 1990s and were subsequently re-issued with some additional parts by Whirlybird. In both cases the decals were mostly the Press-Fix type which have caused me many problems in the past as they tend to shrink and crack after a couple of years on the model. For this build I'll be doing all five of the 707s - one of the two 707As tested the extended/kinked wing as used on the Vulcan. I only managed to get one 707A kit but did get a second 707C which has the same vacform parts, except for the canopy, so will be using that. Some of the canopies have yellowed so I'll need to do something about them. The parts for the short-lived 707 prototype, The 707B The 707A with extra parts for the later wing The 707C The new decals I've drawn and printed with the kit decals below Cutting the vacform parts out shouldn't take very long and then I can get on with building. Steve 25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted September 27, 2022 Share Posted September 27, 2022 Well this will be interesting and colorful, looks like the “B” comes in a very nice blue. Would that be a variation of PRU or another blue ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted September 28, 2022 Share Posted September 28, 2022 Marvellous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted September 28, 2022 Share Posted September 28, 2022 Great project! Hope you do a diorama for WD280 for when it spent its time in a suburban Melbourne backyard! https://www.airforce.gov.au/sites/default/files/minisite/static/7522/RAAFmuseum/exhibitions/b_scenes/avro.htm I’ve fond memories as a kid peering over the fence to look at it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted September 28, 2022 Share Posted September 28, 2022 Brilliant, looking forwards to seeing these lined up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted September 28, 2022 Share Posted September 28, 2022 That's a fine selection of baby Vulcans you have Steve and are going to make for an interesting project to watch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted September 28, 2022 Share Posted September 28, 2022 Always nice to see a vacform take shape, especially of a type I know nothing about. Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike N Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 Great choice of subjects. So many triangles... Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorty84 Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 Wow, five vacform builds at once. Seems you are not afraid of a challenge Cheers Markus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritJet Posted October 3, 2022 Author Share Posted October 3, 2022 Thanks everyone for the encouragement. On 27/09/2022 at 23:11, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Well this will be interesting and colorful, looks like the “B” comes in a very nice blue. Would that be a variation of PRU or another blue ? There don't seem to be many colour photos of the B and the shade of blue varies a lot in them probably due to the old film. I think the actual shade lies between these two. On 28/09/2022 at 11:58, Wings unlevel said: Great project! Hope you do a diorama for WD280 for when it spent its time in a suburban Melbourne backyard! https://www.airforce.gov.au/sites/default/files/minisite/static/7522/RAAFmuseum/exhibitions/b_scenes/avro.htm I’ve fond memories as a kid peering over the fence to look at it. Unfortunately no plans for the diorama! I'm glad it survived the 30 years in the garden before being preserved, unlikely to happen over here due to the weather and locals objecting..... On 29/09/2022 at 20:54, Mike N said: Great choice of subjects. So many triangles... Mike Lots more triangles to go yet! I suppose I'll have to get around to the big white one to go with them as well! On 29/09/2022 at 22:51, Shorty84 said: Wow, five vacform builds at once. Seems you are not afraid of a challenge Cheers Markus Luckily there's not many parts to each one so the builds should be quick. I've certainly built more difficult kits than these. I decided to start with the first 707 and then the 707B as they need more work than the other three due to the dorsal intakes. Progress has been pretty swift so far. The first one almost ready to be glued together. The second one at the same stage - didn't need so much weight in this one due to the longer fuselage. I've since cut out and rubbed down the first 707A so it won't be far behind these two. I'll need to cut out the wing root intakes and fit the resin parts but this should be easier than fitting the dorsal intakes. Thanks for looking. Steve 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 Thanks, looks to be a darker shade than PRU ? But could be the lighting and film as you say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 A very interesting project, great start. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomBigStu Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 49 minutes ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Thanks, looks to be a darker shade than PRU ? But could be the lighting and film as you say. It’s non standard shade used on a few prototypes in the early post war era, so recommend op finds a blue he likes to match a particular photograph. Watching along, could never contemplate a vacuform kit let alone 4 at once myself 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whirly Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Even more shades of blue 😉: 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritJet Posted October 6, 2022 Author Share Posted October 6, 2022 On 03/10/2022 at 21:52, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Thanks, looks to be a darker shade than PRU ? But could be the lighting and film as you say. PRU blue is a very strange shade and looks very different depending on the lighting. My feeling is the true shade for the 707B is closer to that seen in the photo of the three 707's as posted by Whirly. On 03/10/2022 at 22:41, bigbadbadge said: A very interesting project, great start. Chris Cheers, I've wanted to do the 707 family for a very long time. On 03/10/2022 at 22:44, PhantomBigStu said: It’s non standard shade used on a few prototypes in the early post war era, so recommend op finds a blue he likes to match a particular photograph. Watching along, could never contemplate a vacuform kit let alone 4 at once myself Pretty sure I am going to use a shade close to the Canberra prototype and Midge. Only 4 vacforms at a time! - Good job I'm doing 5 then..... Vacforms aren't difficult only different, often the only way of getting a kit of so many types. On 04/10/2022 at 16:44, Whirly said: Even more shades of blue 😉: The quality of the colour in the first photo is so poor I wouldn't trust it at all. The second photo seems much closer to me to the true colours of all three 707s - trouble is the only one we can still compare with the real thing is the orange one and that looks different depending on the light conditions! Progress - the first 707 And the 707B (with a sneak preview of the first 707A nose) Steve 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted October 7, 2022 Share Posted October 7, 2022 Strangely satisfying watching these grow from a vac. Ate you putting anything in the cockpits? Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritJet Posted October 8, 2022 Author Share Posted October 8, 2022 I always enjoy taking a sheet of plastic with a few bumps in it and seeing it turn into a recognsable 3D shape. I will be putting a seat in the cockpits but not a lot else as it's all painted black inside and not much will be seen through the tiny windows. I've never seen the point of spending hours adding details that will never be visible - too many other kits in the stash to be getting on with! Steve 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritJet Posted October 8, 2022 Author Share Posted October 8, 2022 The first 'A' is coming together, I think the resin intakes will be "fun" to fit..... The second 'A' will have the cranked Vulcan style wing. Steve 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 Tidy work so far Steve and I agree with your philosophy on such highly enclosed cockpits. I also need to stop looking at your signature GIF slideshow as it's giving me inspiration and that only leads to stash swell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dromia Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 Any recommendations for reference books on the 707? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 11 hours ago, dromia said: Any recommendations for reference books on the 707? @Adam Poultney might have an idea, if its about the Vulcan he usually knows it or where to look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritJet Posted October 22, 2022 Author Share Posted October 22, 2022 Thanks guys, not had much time to work on these recently but managed to get a bit further. On 09/10/2022 at 08:36, Col. said: Tidy work so far Steve and I agree with your philosophy on such highly enclosed cockpits. I also need to stop looking at your signature GIF slideshow as it's giving me inspiration and that only leads to stash swell I keep looking at the slidsehow and thinking "I must do that one soon...." One the positive side there are only about 20 types to do, but I've just noticed Concorde is missing! On 09/10/2022 at 10:08, dromia said: Any recommendations for reference books on the 707? I don't know of any books dedicated to the Avro 707 family but most Vulcan books cover them fairly well. The Aerofax Vulcan probably has the best photo coverage and British Experimental Jet Aircraft, 1941-86 by Barrie Hygate has 1/72 three views and technical descriptions The first three have been primed and a few problem areas filled. The second 707A needs the filler rubbing down and the 707C is ready to be glued together. Once the filler has been rubbed down I'll get all five primed and then add the seats and canopies. Steve 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 The family look to be coming together well Steve 15 hours ago, BritJet said: I keep looking at the slidsehow and thinking "I must do that one soon...." One the positive side there are only about 20 types to do, but I've just noticed Concorde is missing! The ever-growing list Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritJet Posted October 25, 2022 Author Share Posted October 25, 2022 On 23/10/2022 at 09:36, Col. said: The family look to be coming together well Steve The ever-growing list Cheers, I have got to the stage now where I'm building more than I'm buying but there's still a lot in the stash to get through... Progress, filler rubbed down on all of them After a quick spray of primer we have the Avro 707 display team! There are few minor things to tidy up and some re-scribing to do before the next stage. Steve 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 19 hours ago, BritJet said: After a quick spray of primer we have the Avro 707 display team! That's a cool formation. Red Arrows could learn a thing from them 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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