1:72 Airfix Handley Page Victor B.Mk.2

[Navy Bird]

OK, let's build this thing. It's been sitting under my coffee maker long enough.

 

 

I was so excited about this new tool kit that I bought it via pre-order directly from Airfix back in 2016. I think the shipping charge to this side of the puddle was more than the price of the kit! Oddly, I just opened the goodie bags for the first time a few weeks ago. Holy frijole, there be a lot of parts! That's OK, I'm getting tired of those short run kits that don't have enough parts so why not build something that probably has too many?   

 

I don't think I need to take photos of all the sprues, if you want to see them you can find them here. Also in my stash I found the Eduard Big Ed set for this kit. I have no recollection of ever buying it, but that's what happens when your brain has been addled by years of Mr. Color fumes. The set includes photoetch frets for the interior:

 

 

The exterior:

 

 

And air brakes, as well as a masking sheet. Yea, more parts!   

 

 

I have no clue what scheme I'll do. I like the anti-flash white scheme more than the camo version, but boy do I hate painting white. And this is a BIG model. Come to think of it, I hate painting camo too. So we'll see.

 

Ooh, I found some more stuff - the set from Master that includes the turned metal refueling probe and the pitot tubes. When did I buy that?

 

 

Here is what they really look like:

 

 

Lastly I have a bag full of resin wheels from a company called Resin Art that are intended for the Matchbox/Revell kit. Strangely, I do remember buying these at a model show. I don't suspect I'll use them (they are noticeably smaller than the kit wheels, have no additional detail, and lack any tread).

 

 

Both Eduard and Armory make resin wheel replacements specifically for this kit and I may pick up one of those. Speaking of Armory, their website seems to have vanished - are they no longer trading?

 

And speaking of Matchbox, I sold my Revell release of their Victor kit (along with some aftermarket) on eBay prior to Airfix announcing their kit. And I got paid some seriously stupid money by the auction winner who must have beat his head against the wall when this new kit rendered the Matchbox/Revell kits immediately obsolete. I can say, though, that I've seen some rather good builds of the old Matchbox jobbie, but thank somebody somewhere that I didn't have to re-scribe mine!

 

Right - I'm off to have a perusal of the instructions - almost as many pages as there are parts. Maybe I can get some ancient Roman to write a precis for me.  

 

Cheers,

Bill

[Nickthebrief]

Navy Bird is going large!

Brilliant. Will follow along with much interest and looking forward to another of your immaculate builds.

Bon chance, mon ami.

Cheers,

Nick.

[Navy Bird]

5 minutes ago, Nickthebrief said:

Navy Bird is going large!

Brilliant. Will follow along with much interest and looking forward to another of your immaculate builds.

Bon chance, mon ami.

 

Big indeed. I think it's even larger than the 1:32 Spitfire I built a few years ago. And I'm going to need that luck!

 

Cheers,

Bill

[JohnT]

1 hour ago, Navy Bird said:

 

 

And speaking of Matchbox, I sold my Revell release of their Victor kit (along with some aftermarket) on eBay prior to Airfix announcing their kit. And I got paid some seriously stupid money by the auction winner who must have beat his head against the wall when this new kit rendered the Matchbox/Revell kits immediately obsolete. I can say, though, that I've seen some rather good builds of the old Matchbox jobbie, but thank somebody somewhere that I didn't have to re-scribe mine!

 Bill, old Matchbox Victor kits are great for converting to a B1 variant. If you screw it up first or second time round just chuck it and have another go. No angst on the loss. 

[Navy Bird]

13 minutes ago, JohnT said:

 Bill, old Matchbox Victor kits are great for converting to a B1 variant. If you screw it up first or second time round just chuck it and have another go. No angst on the loss. 

 

Good to know. I bought my old Revell/Matchbox Victor at a model show after I got tired waiting for someone to make a new tool kit. When I opened the package, it had both kits - the grey plastic Revell version, and the multi-coloured Matchbox version. I think it was missing some of the Matchbox bits, but I wasn't looking to build both. For its time, not a bad kit at all. You can get one on eBay now for about $30.

 

Since I got the new Airfix kit directly from Airfix, I had it before any of the hobby shops in the US even had it in stock. One of the guys in my local club asked me why I would spend such money on a Victor - I told him because it's way cooler than any B-52.

 

Cheers,

Bill

[Martian]

Following, even before any styrene worrying has taken place. As an aside, I see that @Fritag reacted to this thread. It just got me wondering how long it would take Steve to build a Victor; longer than it took Handley-Page to build a 1/1 scale one but just how long? Answers on a post card c/o Navybird.

 

Martian 👽

 

PS: Just a thought Bill, allover anti-flash white means no masking and if you're feeling really lazy, all you have to do is point a rattle can or three at the thing.

 

 

[Hamden]

 

Looking forward to watching what you do with this one Bill.

I'll pull up a chair and order some beer and popcorn and settle in for the ride if I may

 

       Stay safe           Roger

[Navy Bird]

35 minutes ago, Martian said:

Just a thought Bill, allover anti-flash white means no masking and if you're feeling really lazy, all you have to do is point a rattle can or three at the thing.

 

Ooh, lazy! I can do lazy, without even trying. If I do the anti-flash white, I'll want to use the same paint I used on my TSR.2. I think that was Testors (yikes!) RLM21 semi-gloss white (believe it or don't). I have about 10 bottles of the stuff because I had planned on painting the Valiant in white. Hmm...that reminds me - I never bought the new Vulcan kit. 

 

31 minutes ago, Hamden said:

Looking forward to watching what you do with this one Bill.

I'll pull up a chair and order some beer and popcorn and settle in for the ride if I may

 

Welcome aboard! I'll do what I can - having just looked over the instructions for the kit and the photoetch stuff, I realise that virtually none of the cockpit will be visible once the fuselage is assembled. But I will tart it up anyway because it's there.    

 

Cheers,

Bill

[Lord Riot]

This will be good! I think if I really had to name one favourite aircraft it would be the Victor.

 

I have this in my stash too, plus the K.2 (finally!) so looking forward to seeing how you get on.

[LorenSharp]

Welcome to senility Bill, where everything is new all over again. So since its a  Wiktor I must tag along. If anything to  see if its within the realm of reality to ponder the possibility of scratch building one in 1/48.nobody would dumb crazy enough to do one in that scale. Well except for possibly me.

[giemme]

Definitely going big! Wow! Tagging along...    

 

Ciao 

[Retired Bob]

 

This is going to be interesting Bill, A Victor built to your standards will be impressive.  The kit was always going to be a K.2 tanker so there are a few things to watch out for on the moulds.  I will check on what needs adding or removing.  I too bought the kit when it first came out, I went to pick it up from a local hobby store so no expensive postal costs.  On my way there a Pheasant flew into the front of my car and caused some expensive damage, some days you just cannot win.

I must admit a personal interest in the Victor, I worked on the K.2 tankers for a couple of years so any help I can offer you are most welcome.

 

Regards

Bob

[Beard]

I almost bought one of these the other day but had second thoughts when I realised it was bigger than the space I do modelling in. Now I can live vicariously through your build (which'll be far better than I could do it).

[kev67]

This is going to be good, I have the tanker version of this 

[AliGauld]

Oh I'm so looking forward to this and I know it will be a masterclass.

 

Cheers,

Alistair

[PeteH1969]

You may find this film interesting and has some relevance for the Victor whatever you think it is a great film.

 

https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/the-iron-maiden

 

Pete

[Fukuryu]

Navy Bird is back with a vengeance! I am looking forward to this build, even if it is an aircraft that doesn't do much for me, although I reckon an overall anti-flash white one with low visibility markings sounds kind of fetching (no pressure...). In any case, I am sure I will learn new things to apply someday to some future build. Way, way future...

[Navy Bird]

2 hours ago, LorenSharp said:

...scratch building one in 1/48.nobody would dumb crazy enough to do one in that scale. Well except for possibly me.

 

There was a bloke on BM who started a thread about scratchbuilding a Victor in 1:32 scale, so I don't think you'll be alone it that padded room.    

 

1 hour ago, Retired Bob said:

I must admit a personal interest in the Victor, I worked on the K.2 tankers for a couple of years so any help I can offer you are most welcome.

 

Thanks Bob. I am sure that I'll be asking a lot of questions as the build proceeds. There aren't a lot of Victors over here. Well, actually there are none. Anyway, first question below.

 

1 hour ago, Beard said:

I almost bought one of these the other day but had second thoughts when I realised it was bigger than the space I do modelling in. Now I can live vicariously through your build (which'll be far better than I could do it).

 

It is big. I think I can make room for it in my main display case but only if some of the older builds get moved to the auxiliary case in the fruit cellar.

 

25 minutes ago, PeteH1969 said:

https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/the-iron-maiden

 

I can't stream that here in the US but I did watch the trailer. I caught some glimpses of a white Victor in the background. I see it stars the skipper from Gilligan's Island so it must be good. But spanking a grown woman? My, my how times have changed.

 

*****

 

First question - Airfix provide four "rumble seats" behind the pilot and co-pilot. Three are at the rear instrument panel/desk and the fourth is in-between that and the pilot, right in the middle of the deck. Eduard have you remove this fourth seat and its tracks in the floor. Is that correct? I hope so, as Eduard do not provide seat harnesses for the fourth seat.

 

Cheers,

Bill

[LorenSharp]

3 minutes ago, Navy Bird said:

 

There was a bloke on BM who started a thread about scratchbuilding a Victor in 1:32 scale, so I don't think you'll be alone it that padded room.    

 

Sounds almost like a @tomprobert Project

[Navy Bird]

7 minutes ago, LorenSharp said:

Sounds almost like a @tomprobert Project

 

I found it:

 

 

Hasn't been an update since 2018.

 

Cheers,

Bill

[stever219]

27 minutes ago, Navy Bird said:

 

First question - Airfix provide four "rumble seats" behind the pilot and co-pilot. Three are at the rear instrument panel/desk and the fourth is in-between that and the pilot, right in the middle of the deck. Eduard have you remove this fourth seat and its tracks in the floor. Is that correct? I hope so, as Eduard do not provide seat harnesses for the fourth seat.

 

Cheers,

Bill

 

The Victor started with a rear crew of three; nav radar, nav plotter and air electronics officer (AEO).  A fourth rear crew seat was added for a crew chief, instructor or trapper (Standards Squadron examiner).  At some point after 1982 the nav plotters’ services, and the nav plotters, were dispensed with and the centre rear seat was removed (e.g. XM717 at RAFM Hendon).

 

I’m not certain if the rear crew seats in the early Victor B. 2s were the swelling type as depicted in the kit or the earlier lawn chair affairs as seen on the Valiant, e.g. XD818 at RAFM Cosford.  The swivel seats were certainly installed in the K. 2s by 1976 when I was fortunate enough to get up close and personal with the first K. 2 XL231 at her home station of Marham.

[David H]

If the Buccaneer S. Mk. 2C is any indication, i think the Victor will be f-ing brilliant.

 

-d-

[Hook]

Ooh, a Victor!

 

Consider my chair pulled up and beverage poured, sir.

 

Cheers,

 

Andre

[Fritag]

Well Bill, your latest build seems to have caught the BM'ers attention pretty quickly

 

Deservedly so; I wouldn't miss a Navy Bird Victor for owt; such a uniquely beautiful aircraft deserves some quality care.

 

[kev67]

I know everyone has their own way of spraying white, but I use Tamiya fine white primer, lightly dry rub it down a bit using a 8000 cloth and just spray Tamiya gloss through my airbrush.