Handley Page Victor B.Mk.2(BS) (Airfix)
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/9/7/4/1469974-10105-95-720.jpg)
Big box with lots of parts. My plan is to build the anti-flash white scheme with the Blue Steel missile.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/9/5/7/1469957-10105-83-720.jpg)
I bought the Eduard "Big Ed" set to go with it - almost as much money as the kit! Here are the cockpit frets.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/9/5/9/1469959-10105-79-720.jpg)
And the exterior/landing gear photoetch bits.
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/9/5/8/1469958-10105-10-720.jpg)
Lastly, the PE details for the tail cone/air brake and the masking sheet.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/9/6/0/1469960-10105-65-720.jpg)
Master provide nice turned pitot tubes and refueling probe.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/9/6/1/1469961-10105-60-720.jpg)
I bought these resin wheels ages ago to use with the old Matchbox kit. I don't think I'll use them on this build as I've ordered the set from Armory.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/9/6/2/1469962-10105-68-720.jpg)
As usual with the Eduard sets, they have you remove all moulded in detail. You can see the PE on the step sidewalls.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/9/6/3/1469963-10105-61-720.jpg)
Take a good look at the rudder pedals. Once the fuselage is closed up they'll never be seen again!
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/9/6/4/1469964-10105-29-720.jpg)
Cockpit painted and the PE going on. The throttles are an accordion-like folding job, lots of fun in 1:72 scale! The rear control panel consists of 18 individual PE bits - and it's not done yet.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/9/6/5/1469965-10105-95-720.jpg)
Front instrument panel uses 5 separate PE parts. The control yokes are from the kit, but with a smaller diameter column needed to fit into the holes in the panel. I simply used some Evergreen rod for that.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/9/6/6/1469966-10105-64-720.jpg)
The cockpit and flight deck is pretty much finished. I used smaller diameter rod for the shafts protruding from the top of the ejection seats (these held the wires to activate the emergency hatch removal). The rods moulded into the kit seats were much too large. The Eduard PE parts really improve the cockpit.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/9/6/7/1469967-10105-27-720.jpg)
Another view. The yellow portion under the pilot and co-pilot seat cushions was a plastic container for the emergency kit.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/9/6/8/1469968-10105-16-720.jpg)
You can see a better view of the photoetch braces from the floor to the back of the ejection seat rails. The kit simply provide a triangular styrene shape with no detail at all.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/9/6/9/1469969-10105-46-720.jpg)
I couldn't resist adding a couple of Mayfair magazines from the mid-60s. The boys need some reading material.
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/9/7/0/1469970-10105-73-720.jpg)
Apparently, the Victor had massive girders inside the wings. Actually, these do a great job of stiffening the wing assembly and setting the proper dihedral.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/9/7/1/1469971-10105-55-720.jpg)
Getting ready to tackle the intakes by spraying them white. The way Airfix engineered this is quite clever, and I "think" it will ease the removal of any seams that may be visible. I like how the splitter plates slip down through the slots. Way better than moulding them into the intake trunking.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/9/7/2/1469972-10105-79-720.jpg)
I'll leave the elevators off the tail until later in the build so I can pose them as I like.
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/9/7/3/1469973-10105-27-720.jpg)
The nose gear strut and wheel bay went together easily. Just one bit of Eduard PE on top of the actuator arm - the rest is all Airfix.
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/9/7/5/1469975-10105-92-720.jpg)
Paint is Alclad Aluminum with the wash made from Future and Mr. Hobby black. Most of this will never be seen again either!
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/2/8/7/1660287-10105-94-720.jpg)
A splash of Alclad and a dark wash for the engine faces.
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/2/8/6/1660286-10105-83-720.jpg)
Airfix did a good job of engineering these intakes to minimize seeing the seams.
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/2/8/8/1660288-10105-93-720.jpg)
Note the use of big honking spars to keep everything in proper alignment.
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/2/8/5/1660285-10105-78-720.jpg)
Starting to go crazy with Eduard PE for the gear wells. The bits add detail for sure, although what comes with the kit is pretty good.
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/2/8/9/1660289-10105-24-720.jpg)
Note the positive alignment devices for the wing spars. Clever Trevor.
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/2/9/0/1660290-10105-42-720.jpg)
Oops, forgot to use this! Oh well...
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/2/9/1/1660291-10105-53-720.jpg)
This notch on the wing trailing edge needs to be cut out for proper installation of the wing "carrots."
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/2/9/2/1660292-10105-67-720.jpg)
View from above. Wing tips have yet to be added - this is a big model.
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/2/9/3/1660293-10105-59-720.jpg)
Lots of PE to play with for the air brakes actuators.
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/2/9/4/1660294-10105-35-720.jpg)
Looks nice to me!
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/2/9/5/1660295-10105-48-720.jpg)
This significantly enhances the Airfix parts.
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/2/9/6/1660296-10105-42-720.jpg)
The inside of the air brake petals get the PE treatment as well.
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/2/9/7/1660297-10105-19-720.jpg)
Can't leave out the main gear legs. I think all this PE will look really nice after painting.
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/2/9/9/1660299-10105-39-720.jpg)
PE for the gear doors too. There is PE everywhere I look...
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/2/9/8/1660298-10105-86-720.jpg)
Main fuselage components are coming together.
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/3/0/0/1660300-10105-61-720.jpg)
The Blue Steel fairing that covers the bomb bay is too short - so I've added a shim at the back to make up the difference.
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/3/0/1/1660301-10105-38-720.jpg)
Working on the seams. They've all needed at least a little work to clean up.
![Album image #37 Album image #37](/albums/img/3/0/2/1660302-10105-74-720.jpg)
Look Ma, more PE.
![Album image #38 Album image #38](/albums/img/3/0/3/1660303-10105-85-720.jpg)
The bomb bay fairing was a horrible fit, and needed a lot of extra seam work. Ugh.
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/3/0/4/1660304-10105-64-720.jpg)
Note the sink holes on the intake scoops and the fairing itself. Really nasty compared to the rest of the kit.
![Album image #40 Album image #40](/albums/img/3/0/6/1660306-10105-78-720.jpg)
Wing tips are on, along with the wing carrots. I love the crescent wing shape.
![Album image #41 Album image #41](/albums/img/3/0/5/1660305-10105-69-720.jpg)
Almost ready to paint. Why Airfix moulded the wing tips in clear is beyond me. The navigation lights are but a tiny bit...
![Album image #42 Album image #42](/albums/img/6/4/4/1672644-10105-52-720.jpg)
White is the new white.
![Album image #43 Album image #43](/albums/img/6/4/5/1672645-10105-43-720.jpg)
Need to break up the monochromatic look...
![Album image #44 Album image #44](/albums/img/6/4/6/1672646-10105-37-720.jpg)
A couple of spots to clean up, but overall I'm happy with the white - not my favourite colour to paint.
![Album image #45 Album image #45](/albums/img/6/4/7/1672647-10105-93-720.jpg)
Internals will be aluminum. Plus, the flaps will be down and the elevators in a non-neutral position.
![Album image #46 Album image #46](/albums/img/8/3/2/1750832-10105-42-720.jpg)
Panel line wash will be toned down, it's a bit too dark for a white aircraft. A few highly thinned coats of white should do it.
![Album image #47 Album image #47](/albums/img/6/4/4/1751644-10105-93-720.jpg)
Alclad Aluminum and a light wash of "instant skill" for the gear struts and gear wells.
![Album image #48 Album image #48](/albums/img/6/4/3/1751643-10105-61-720.jpg)
The same for the nose gear.
![Album image #49 Album image #49](/albums/img/6/4/5/1751645-10105-57-720.jpg)
And the air brake mechanism.
![Album image #50 Album image #50](/albums/img/7/3/5/1752735-10105-20-720.jpg)
Some detail painting on the radome and forward dielectric panel,
![Album image #51 Album image #51](/albums/img/7/3/6/1752736-10105-77-720.jpg)
And on the rear panel and tail cone.
![Album image #52 Album image #52](/albums/img/9/3/7/1766937-10105-75-720.jpg)
Stickers are on. Stencil city!
![Album image #53 Album image #53](/albums/img/9/3/6/1766936-10105-57-720.jpg)
Very impressed with the decals - hardly any film and they reacted really well with the solvents. Just a few bits left to add now.
Kommentare
54 12 May 2023, 18:22
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Tuning in for the show - cockpit already looks fab, incl. the mission-read elements! 👍🏻
14 May 2023, 14:27
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I've uploaded more photos that document the build progress, which has been very slow. Sorry about that, but life keeps getting in the way. I've had a variety of health issues and I'm heading to the oncologist next week to set up a time for a biopsy on some nodes in my neck. Hopefully it's just related to a sinus infection I've been fighting and not the lymphoma coming back. Keeping my fingers crossed. Cheers, Bill
10 February, 20:06
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I'll keep my fingers crossed for you too, Bill. Great job on the model btw. Keep it up!
10 February, 22:19
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I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes well with your health, Bill. 🍀
10 February, 22:36
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I also keep my fingers crossed that everything will be fine with your health.
11 February, 20:14
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I used up a few bottles of semi-gloss white, but the Victor is now a "white whale." Thanks for the kind words on my health - I go in on Feb. 29 for a sinus surgery and tissue collection for biopsy. Fingers crossed. I tried to cross my toes but was unsuccessful... Cheers, Bill
26 February, 14:47
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Hope the biopsy doesn't find anything bad Bill.
The Victor looks excellent so far.
26 February, 15:54
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Oh, by the way - after two weeks (!) of testing my oncologist decided the biopsies were negative. Dodged another bullet.
17 June, 14:07
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Thanks mates. I've added a couple more photos that show the painting of the landing gear and air brake internals. I've also painted the wheels, gear doors and air brake petals (photos soon). Up next is to paint the dielectric panels on the underside as well as the H2S radome. Cheers, Bill
19 June, 13:34
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Two more photos added showing some detail painting. I'm off to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware tomorrow for a week of spending what's left of my retirement portfolio. Unfortunately there are no hobby shops anywhere near where we'll be. But the Air Mobility Command museum at Dover AFB should make up for that.
21 June, 11:16