Buccaneer bomb bay tank - anyone?

[ScheF15]

Hi folks,

 

I have a classic Matchbox 1/72 Buccaneer kit lying waiting to be built, and I would like to add a bomb bay tank to it:

 

 

Anyone with tips, tricks, dimensions or even resin models I could lay my grabby hands on?

 

Thanks in advance,

Rob

[tempestfan]

The 1989 Airfix kits included both the smooth rotating bomb bay as well as the tank. There are bound to be some around as spares. If that fails, I bought a started kit a couple of years ago and think I could part with that part. How much in a hurry are you - as you are closer to Lingen than I am, I guess you will be there? Only a bit more than six months to go - OK, seven actually...

[71chally]

35 minutes ago, tempestfan said:

The 1989 Airfix kits included both the smooth rotating bomb bay as well as the tank. T

I suspect Rob is referring to the internal bomb bay long-range tank that could be fitted, not the bomb door tank as that is molded in to  the fuselage on the Matchbox kit. 

However I'm not sure that the internal tank could be carried with the bulged door tank fitted?

[tempestfan]

42 minutes ago, 71chally said:

I suspect Rob is referring to the internal bomb bay long-range tank that could be fitted, not the bomb door tank as that is molded in to  the fuselage on the Matchbox kit. 

However I'm not sure that the internal tank could be carried with the bulged door tank fitted?

You're right, I didn't look at a MB kit for quite a long time... But then I'm not enough of a Bucc connaisseur to not be left totally confused what he wants... Aeroguide 30 states (p. 49) "The bay itself could accommodate 440 gls of fuel as well if required,...", so it seems as if the belly could become a big fuel cell. 

 

Somewhat funny sentence on exports on p. 18: "Things might have been very different had negotiations with the West German gvt. re the supply of S.1s ... been conducted in a more professional manner,...". In this context "more professional manner" translates to "had had bigger briefcases of money under the table than Lockheed"...? Anyway, that would make a great WHIF.

[ScheF15]

Thanks for your help guys, however now I am pretty confused what I want, ahem.

It's this particular Bucc that I want to build, it's XW530/Q of 16 Sqn, like it was displayed in the static show of the Twenthe open house day, September 15, 1979:

 

 

(I was 14 years old then, and in the possession of a modest camera.)

I reckoned the thing under its belly is the bomb bay tank @71chally is referring to, is it? The kit has nothing of any kind:

 

 

Cheers,

Rob

[scotthldr]

That very much looks like the ‘Recce pack’ that’s installed in that picture 

[71chally]

It looks like the standard bulged bomb door to my eyes, but the camo and shadow combination is making it appear a bit different.

@ScheF15 have you got a picture of the kit fuselage halves?  I thought the kit always had the bulged door molded into the fuselage halves, but maybe the earliest releases didn't?

 

If yours hasn't got the bulge, then I would take up TempestFan advice and kind offer.

 

[Phone Phixer]

No, not a recce pack. Definitely a bomb door tank, the link below is to a clearer photo from the same air display.

https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1699739

 

To clear up the definitions of what is needed. You need the bulged bomb bay door tank. A bomb bay tank was an extra fuel tank, the shape of a cylinder that was bolted and plumbed into the full length of the bomb bay. It filled the space that would be taken up by bombs. The bulged bomb bay door and bomb bay tank could be used together, usually when the aircraft was rolled for air-to-air buddy refuelling. That was a major job fitting the tank.

 

As to getting one.......I guess, what has already been said.

 

Rob.

[ScheF15]

Thanks a lot @Phone Phixer, that's by far the best pic of the plane that I've seen thus far!

So, it's the 'bulged bomb bay door tank' I need (one has to be careful with the correct order of words!). @tempestfan: do you think you have this particular part as a surplus? 

 

Cheers,

Rob

[Giorgio N]

10 hours ago, 71chally said:

It looks like the standard bulged bomb door to my eyes, but the camo and shadow combination is making it appear a bit different.

@ScheF15 have you got a picture of the kit fuselage halves?  I thought the kit always had the bulged door molded into the fuselage halves, but maybe the earliest releases didn't?

 

 

That's what I thought too. I built the Matchbox kit in IIRC 1982 and had the bulged bomb bay door.

The boxart for the kit always showed this feature but the same also showed a great bomb load that was never present in any issue of the kit. I remember being very disappointed when I opened the box and found no bomb at all, not even the pylons

[theplasticsurgeon]

It is part No 10, in this kit and its previous incarnations.

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/airfix-a04049-hawker-siddeley-buccaneer-s2b-s2d-smk50--128727

So leftover by anyone building the South African, or Royal Navy options.

I built mine as Gulf War, but kept the flat bay part No 11 - just in case.

 

I've built the Matchbox Buccaneer twice, and just looked over the instructions. 

I hadn't noticed the lack of bulged bomb-bay previously. 

Like @Giorgio N I was dissapointed that Matchbox probused the world's only clean Buccaneer,

so fitted weaponry and slipper-tanks leftover from my Airfix build.

[tempestfan]

12 hours ago, ScheF15 said:

Thanks for your help guys, however now I am pretty confused what I want, ahem.

It's this particular Bucc that I want to build, it's XW530/Q of 16 Sqn, like it was displayed in the static show of the Twenthe open house day, September 15, 1979:

 

 

(I was 14 years old then, and in the possession of a modest camera.)

I reckoned the thing under its belly is the bomb bay tank @71chally is referring to, is it? The kit has nothing of any kind:

 

 

Cheers,

Rob

That's a good looking one - you can't go wrong with the Saints... And I also note a very early KLu F-16 behind.

This is highly interesting and something that has eluded me so far - the fact the MB kit was upgraded - EDIT: Or was it? I just had a quick look around and found an early boxing on the net that has the bulged doors. [And I am highly interested in such information. Would have to check the kits I have - possibly when they went to the striped boxes, in the early 80s - EDIT: or probably earlier, if at all]

Edited August 18 by tempestfan

[Paul Thompson]

Just checked my Matchbox kit. Bulged bomb bay present in plastic, but not in instructions.

 

Paul.

[tempestfan]

41 minutes ago, theplasticsurgeon said:

 

Like @Giorgio N I was dissapointed that Matchbox probused the world's only clean Buccaneer,

so fitted weaponry and slipper-tanks leftover from my Airfix build.

 

Not only you and Giorgio - MB had a track record for showing non-existant armament/equipment on the boxtop or versions thereof, like the tanks on the Mirage and the SNEB pods on the Strikemaster...

 

@ScheF15 Rob, I am a bit confused now - have you actually checked the plastic and have a very early version (which may better be kept unbuilt), or does your plastic have the bulge?

[Paul Thompson]

Matchbox Buccaneer left hand fuselage side.

 

 

 

 

Rob, if your issue of the kit is the same as that then you already have what you need for the aircraft in the profile.  (Apart from all the details, of course, but that was Matchbox for you).

 

Paul.

[ScheF15]

Gee guys, thanks, and @Paul Thompson in particular for taking the trouble checking out his kit.

I feel rather embarrassed now, I finally checked the contents of my kit box and indeed, there is the bulge!

 

 

And there is the bulge on the front painting as well:

 

 

(No bombs, though...)

I feel like a fool, and once more to myself: "First check, then scream!"

So sorry for the panic, guys, but on the other hand, we had a nice chat about Buccaneers for a while, and that is a good thing too, eh?

 

Cheers,

Rob

[Paul Thompson]

Funny, I had that kit when I lived in Arnhem.  Well, maybe not that funny. Still, glad to be of service.

Paul.