V-Bomber options
Discussion
What are my kit options for the V bombers? I see airfix do a Valiant (not sure if this is discontinued as it's reduced at a lot of retailers) and a Vulcan, but are they decent enough kits?
Also - I can't find a Victor anywhere apart from very expensive ebay sales - is that because there is no current supplier?
Cheers!
Also - I can't find a Victor anywhere apart from very expensive ebay sales - is that because there is no current supplier?
Cheers!
All the V bombers are available in 1/72 - but their quality varies markedly.
The Airfix Vulcan dates from 1980 and shows it. I've seen them built up into impressive models - but to get a good result takes a lot of work. It is a B Mk 2 but there were sub variants of the Mk 2 with slightly different engine jet pipes and other differences so as it comes in the box it comes as one variant only.
I've seen it converted into a B Mk 1 as well - which is a pretty big job requiring the replacement of the wing leading edges and alterations to the rear end of the aircraft.
Matchbox released a tanker variant of the Victor (K Mk2) around 1983 or so. It is currently available in a Revell boxing. Like the Vulcan, it is a child of its era but can be made up to look very good. It requires significant changes to turn it into a B Mk2. I think turning it into a a B1 would be very hard.
The Airfix Vickers Valiant is one of their new kits (about three years old now) and is therefore pretty good. I've seen them built up and they all look very, very nice. It looks like Airfix have just discontinued it for the moment as they have been selling off remaining stock from their website at reduced prices over the past week or so.
On the slightly more obscure front, Rareplanes produced a Vacform Vulcan B2 (I have one in my loft - it will never be built now).
Contrail did a vacform Valiant and in more recent years, Mach 2 did a poor short run injection moulded Valiant (best ignored).
In other scales, Lindberg did a 1/96 scale Vulcan and Victor. They were mid 50s products and are very basic. The Victor was closer to the prototype than a production Victor. FROG also did a 1/96 Vulcan.
The Airfix Vulcan dates from 1980 and shows it. I've seen them built up into impressive models - but to get a good result takes a lot of work. It is a B Mk 2 but there were sub variants of the Mk 2 with slightly different engine jet pipes and other differences so as it comes in the box it comes as one variant only.
I've seen it converted into a B Mk 1 as well - which is a pretty big job requiring the replacement of the wing leading edges and alterations to the rear end of the aircraft.
Matchbox released a tanker variant of the Victor (K Mk2) around 1983 or so. It is currently available in a Revell boxing. Like the Vulcan, it is a child of its era but can be made up to look very good. It requires significant changes to turn it into a B Mk2. I think turning it into a a B1 would be very hard.
The Airfix Vickers Valiant is one of their new kits (about three years old now) and is therefore pretty good. I've seen them built up and they all look very, very nice. It looks like Airfix have just discontinued it for the moment as they have been selling off remaining stock from their website at reduced prices over the past week or so.
On the slightly more obscure front, Rareplanes produced a Vacform Vulcan B2 (I have one in my loft - it will never be built now).
Contrail did a vacform Valiant and in more recent years, Mach 2 did a poor short run injection moulded Valiant (best ignored).
In other scales, Lindberg did a 1/96 scale Vulcan and Victor. They were mid 50s products and are very basic. The Victor was closer to the prototype than a production Victor. FROG also did a 1/96 Vulcan.
The Airfix Valiant and Vulcan are still fairly easy to find, but the Victor is a bit different. It was originally released by Matchbox, then reboxed by Revell, but is currently out of production, hence quite expensive.
ETA this is my Matchbox Victor, currently being rebuilt to a higher standard than 30 years ago:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=138...
It's a good kit overall, raised surface detail, goes together nicely.
ETA this is my Matchbox Victor, currently being rebuilt to a higher standard than 30 years ago:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=138...
It's a good kit overall, raised surface detail, goes together nicely.
Edited by dr_gn on Monday 15th September 16:19
If the OP is willing to travel to a few model shows, there is always the chance that you can pick up discontinued kits at reasonable prices.
This Saturday (20th September) Farnborough IPMS's Modelfest is on. As the OP is in Berkshire it might be worth a trip down to Camberley to have a rummage.
http://www.ipms-farnborough.co.uk/index.php?id=mod...
This Saturday (20th September) Farnborough IPMS's Modelfest is on. As the OP is in Berkshire it might be worth a trip down to Camberley to have a rummage.
http://www.ipms-farnborough.co.uk/index.php?id=mod...
Thanks for all the speedy replies!
So seems like the Victor is going to be the tricky one to find.. If I start with the other two I can hunt for a Victor in the meantime!
Eric - very tempted to have a look at the Farnborough show, and it's not tooo far from Legoland which is where I'll be in the morning
So seems like the Victor is going to be the tricky one to find.. If I start with the other two I can hunt for a Victor in the meantime!
Eric - very tempted to have a look at the Farnborough show, and it's not tooo far from Legoland which is where I'll be in the morning
Don't go near the contrail valiant, its a horrible kit, i have once that i have yet to complete, whether i do or not is another matter seeing as i have a airfix valiant to build at some point.
The airfix vulcan can be done very well. There are lots of upgrade kits now, i had none when i was building them about 6 years ago, making my own bomb bay etc for a Falklands model.
I have two victors, one being made into a bluesteel model yet to be finished.
The only one finished is my Skybolt vulcan its in need of new undercarriage after a dvd case fell on it.
Work in progress about 6 years ago, i should now have space and time to complete them all soon
The airfix vulcan can be done very well. There are lots of upgrade kits now, i had none when i was building them about 6 years ago, making my own bomb bay etc for a Falklands model.
I have two victors, one being made into a bluesteel model yet to be finished.
The only one finished is my Skybolt vulcan its in need of new undercarriage after a dvd case fell on it.
Work in progress about 6 years ago, i should now have space and time to complete them all soon
pmessling said:
stuff...
Sorry to OP for off topic post. I know you from theMGZR forum don't I. My username was just Bullitt on there. Didn't you get a set of the stainless steel badges I had made many moons ago?I have the 1/72 Victor and Vulcan, there are some Revell boxed Victor kits on eBay every now and then and they all sell for around £30 ish. There was about 4 kits on eBay a few weeks ago so not all that hard to find but being Revell, don't expect an accurate kit, Tamiya they are not.
Just need to get a Valiant kit to complete, if they're discontinued I better get a move on.
Jadlam (run by a PHer) are doing it for £26 here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AIRFIX-A11001-Vickers-Va...
Or another retailer here for £24 (same price as on their standalone website): http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Airfix-Aviation-Vickers-...
Will have a mooch around the model show on Saturday and if nothing crops up will grab one of those.
Eric - are you going to be there on Saturday?
Or another retailer here for £24 (same price as on their standalone website): http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Airfix-Aviation-Vickers-...
Will have a mooch around the model show on Saturday and if nothing crops up will grab one of those.
Eric - are you going to be there on Saturday?
pmessling said:
Yes you do indeed know me from there. I pop over from time to time but it's just not like it used to be back in the day.
I don't log in at all anymore. Cerbera still looking well by the way.Your Vulcan looks spot on, have you got any pics of the Victor and Valiant finished?
BULLITT Rich said:
There was about 4 kits on eBay a few weeks ago so not all that hard to find but being Revell, don't expect an accurate kit, Tamiya they are not.
On the whole, I think Revell probably make the best kits in terms of accuracy/detail/price at the moment.The "Revell" Victor kit is a straight re-boxing of the old Matchbox kit with raised panel lines and not too much detail. What it lacks in fidelity it more than makes up for in presence though, when built with some love and attention.
No haven't finished them yet. I've just moved so hoping to have a second man cave in the small bedroom where I can finish the ones I started years ago and build the other kits i brought at the time.
Might take a back burner for a while due to needing to change the clutch on the cerbera.
Might take a back burner for a while due to needing to change the clutch on the cerbera.
Welsh Models used to make all three as vacuum formed 1:144 scale kits too.
I have a Revell boxed Victor I don't really want. It's a terrible excuse but I am absolutely shocking at motivating myself to package things up and get myself to a post office during opening hours when useful people are generally at work.
I have a Revell boxed Victor I don't really want. It's a terrible excuse but I am absolutely shocking at motivating myself to package things up and get myself to a post office during opening hours when useful people are generally at work.
dr_gn said:
On the whole, I think Revell probably make the best kits in terms of accuracy/detail/price at the moment.
The "Revell" Victor kit is a straight re-boxing of the old Matchbox kit with raised panel lines and not too much detail. What it lacks in fidelity it more than makes up for in presence though, when built with some love and attention.
Personal choice I guess. I'm just not a fan of kits that need modifying just to fit together properly. Granted not all Tamiya kits do either but better than most in my experience. As said though, it's all personal choice.The "Revell" Victor kit is a straight re-boxing of the old Matchbox kit with raised panel lines and not too much detail. What it lacks in fidelity it more than makes up for in presence though, when built with some love and attention.
I'm currently collecting just about every big bomber/plane kit there is, just after a B-29 and B-52 now, quite hard to find and by all accounts the B-52 will dwarf just about everything!
BULLITT Rich said:
dr_gn said:
On the whole, I think Revell probably make the best kits in terms of accuracy/detail/price at the moment.
The "Revell" Victor kit is a straight re-boxing of the old Matchbox kit with raised panel lines and not too much detail. What it lacks in fidelity it more than makes up for in presence though, when built with some love and attention.
Personal choice I guess. I'm just not a fan of kits that need modifying just to fit together properly. Granted not all Tamiya kits do either but better than most in my experience. As said though, it's all personal choice.The "Revell" Victor kit is a straight re-boxing of the old Matchbox kit with raised panel lines and not too much detail. What it lacks in fidelity it more than makes up for in presence though, when built with some love and attention.
I'm currently collecting just about every big bomber/plane kit there is, just after a B-29 and B-52 now, quite hard to find and by all accounts the B-52 will dwarf just about everything!
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