Airfix 1:72 Avro Vulcan B.2 New tool

[Jim R]

Hi Colin
A truly iconic aircraft of the Cold War era. I've read good things about this kit. Looking forward to your build.
Jim

[papa 695]

Very nice Colin, it looks a lot better than the old one detail wise. has it go the bomb bay detail? I had to scratch build mine when I built it.

[boatman]

Yes Neil, most of my builds have a big fan or more on the front. But the Vulcan, is a bit special.


The kit looks very good. The 'new tool' Airfix releases are generally spot on. Always a good balance between detail and cost.

This will probably be straight out of the box. The decision to make will be to keep the air frame clean, or doors / air brakes open etc.

I've actually done that some years ago. But that was the old kit of the Airfix Vulcan.

HI Colin cheers for the lovely pic of all three V Bomber's they look great all ready to go on a one way misson an back in the 60' at an B/B airshow at RAF COLTISHALL i walked around all three of these planes in real if i only could have affored a camera as dint have much money in them days as always skint as i never got given pockect money as my parents were poor SO no p- money for a camera an now got a video camera an nothing to vid that crazy an'it it as raf coltishall is now a prison What a come down an sad to me anyway
chris

[JayCee]

I will always remember when I was working at RAF Akrotiri in about 1970 there was a Vulcan in the air 24/7 with a full load of armament. The most amazing thing I saw was a Vulcan take off and proceed to do aerobatics. The pilot must have thought he was flying a Tiger Moth ! How something so big could be so nimble defied belief.
John.

[Tim Marlow]

Aircraft are sometimes more acrobatic than they appear John. During testing for the prototype 747 the test pilot performed a barrel roll because the design figures said it should be possible…..it apparently never went down very well with the project team :smiling2:

[colin m]

During testing for the prototype 747 the test pilot performed a barrel roll

And another big aircraft was rolled as well. air show vulcan rolls at farnborough - YouTube

[colin m]

Very nice Colin, it looks a lot better than the old one detail wise. has it go the bomb bay detail? I had to scratch build mine when I built it.

Indeed it has.


There's no comparison between this Vulcan and the previous, not surprising really since the other was released in the early 80's. Good lord, somewhere around 40 years ago.
Anyway, I've just put this little lot together, and nearly built a cockpit, but there's still more to add yet on the next page of instructions. The original kit had about 8 parts making the cockpit, and that included two pilots. Things have moved on.

[Mini Me]

This is a terrific looking airplane.........my first and only experience with it being the 1965 James Bond thriller, "Thunderball"! Will there be Nukes aboard? :thumb2: Rick H.

[boatman]

This is a terrific looking airplane.........my first and only experience with it being the 1965 James Bond thriller, "Thunderball"! Will there be Nukes aboard? :thumb2: Rick H.

YEA Rick i love that bond film Thunderball with the vulcan bein crash landed in the sea fantastic film but it upset me to see a beautifull vulcan bein dumped in the sea i know now that it was proberly a plastic one or one where the airframe hrs were up so the film company bought it for the film but it still got to me an still does whenever i see the film :crying:
Chris

[dave]

Always remember staying with my grandfather, the morning V bomber flight taking off was my signal to go downstairs and have a cup of tea with him before he went on duty.

[colin m]

but it upset me to see a beautifull vulcan bein dumped in the sea i know now that it was proberly a plastic one

Not to worry Chris, it was a fake Vulcan.

So, a couple of evenings gave me this. I didn't spend to much time here. You really can't see much when the canopy is in place. So, it was paint, dry brush and a filter coat, nothing else added.




Just for comparison, the original Airfix Vulcan's cockpit was made of these few parts. But ironically, once the canopy is on, you might not spot the difference.

[Guest]

Oh, talking of the cockpit:

[Jim R]

Hi Colin
The cockpit looks good and as you say streets ahead of the previous version.
Jim

[Isitme]

Hi Colin,
I can remember spending long days hanging over the fence at Waddington and Scampton during my spotting days when they were in service. And even had a couple of base visits to get up close and personal with them.
Mike

[colin m]

I can remember spending long days hanging over the fence at Waddington and Scampton during my spotting days

Many of us, of a certain age, have fond memories of these amazing aircraft.

I've done a bit. Airfix provide this - for the weight. Nice, I stopped piling in the lead at 58g. Is anyone actually brave enough just to add what the kit manufacturer recommends ?


And then built the bomb bay. It's nicely detailed, but sadly all hidden away on the Blue Steel aircraft.




Speaking of Blue Steel. If this is your choice of aircraft, you will need to chop up your newly acquired kit. You have to chop the wings up a bit to fit the Blue Steel recess.
This is not a Tamiya etc, this kit needs a bit of modelling to make it work.



I'm sure there's a few of us who remember the 'vintage' Vulcan and its air intakes. Well things are a bit better this time around, but there's still so difficult seams to deal with.


But oh dear, what was Mr Airfix thinking here. The oleo of the main gear are split. The below is two pieces glued together. It's fixable, but why ?


Right, I think I've got some air intakes to shape.