It's a Vulcan Jim but, not as we know it ( the reprise!)

[albeback]

FINISHED!! Well, almost!!

Time for a little back ground "whiffery" first!

The 1982 "Black Buck" missions finally convinced the RAF ( as if it were needed) that the service could not afford to lose the long range strike capability offered by the Vulcan. The Tornado, despite being streets ahead in terms of technology , just couldn't cut it. So, the decision was taken (at last) to proceed with a upgrade already proposed by BAE to maintain currency of the aircraft into the 21st Century. The upgrade project came under the title of Radical Mid life Refurbishment and Capability Augmentation or, (  R M R C A).  Needless to say, cynics soon began to announce it actually stood for Really Must Refurbish Canberra Again!

The upgraded aircraft - officially designated Vulcan B3 was to be assigned to nos 9,& 617 squadrons. 32 airframes were selected for conversion - enough to equip 2 squadrons ( 8 aircraft each),an operational conversion unit and, provide an attrition reserve. Crew complement was reduced to 4 - Pilot, RSO and, 2 Electronic Warfare Officers

The most obvious external differences were the wingtip fins/rudders ( a throw back to the original Avro 698) and, a completely redesigned forward fuselage with tandem cockpit for the Pilot/RSO. The rear cockpit behind & below, housed the remaining 2 crew members. All four crew members sat on Martin Baker Mk 9 ejection seats with the rear crew ejecting through a frangible roof panel. Avionics were state of the art & included FLIR / LLLTV equipment in the former bomb aimer blister compartment.

A new generation of munitions was available to the Vulcan B3. Internally, the bomb bay held 2 x 4 round clips for Paveway series/ JDAM type bombs in the 2000lb class. Alternatively, up to 21 x 1000 GP or cluster bombs could be carried. The aircraft also featured 4 Heavy Store Attachment Points (HSAP) rated for 5000 kg each. Maximum disposable load was 20,000 kg ( internal and external).

Model is shown carrying 4 x 4500 kg BAE Systems Tallboy II Deep penetration bombs - much better than those tiddlers dropped by the USAF during Operation Desert Storm! . Although the official name was a tribute to Barnes Wallis's original Tallboy, RAF armourers  gave it a new name - the MFAB.!! Not wishing to be outdone by the USAF and its GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Burst (MOAB) weapon ( also colloquially known as the Mother Of All Bombs), the Tallboy II was christened MFAB  (Monstrous F***** of A Bomb)

And there she sits! Still a few decals to add & still to re install (again!) the u/c doors but, that's it folks! Hope you like her. In case you are wondering, the whizz bangs are the 1/48 scale GBU-24 Paveway III. However, "scaled down" to 1/72, they are actually fairly close (dimensionally) to the original 12,000 lb Tallboy.

[Stargazer]

"Kiiiiiiit-bashin' across the universe
On the What If mod'lers' site
Doin' crazy stuff

Kit-bashin' across the universe
Always goin' forward
Coz I can't get enuff..."

[scooter]

Even more gorgeous with the whizz bangs onboard.

[albeback]

"Kiiiiiiit-bashin' across the universe
On the What If mod'lers' site
Doin' crazy stuff

Kit-bashin' across the universe
Always goin' forward
Coz I can't get enuff..."

"There's Vulcans on the starboard bow"
"Starboard bow"
"Starboard Bow"
"There's Vulcans on the starboard bow"
"They've whiffed the Klingons too"

[PR19_Kit]

Oh yes, I DO like that! 

And as for 'MFAB', that's an inspired title, I'm sure it will run and run! 

[albeback]

Oh yes, I DO like that! 

And as for 'MFAB', that's an inspired title, I'm sure it will run and run! 

I'm sort of counting on it!!

[Mr.Creak]

Not wishing to be outdone by the USAF and its GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Burst (MOAB) weapon ( also colloquially known as the Mother Of All Bombs), the Tallboy II was christened MFAB  (Monstrous F***** of A Bomb)

Not wishing to start a fight but isn't Monstrous F***** of A Bomb rather, er, you know... American?
Surely those nice chaps in blue would call it RLET: Rather Large Explodey Thing.
This combines British understatement and an officer's lack of interest in technical nerdiness.

[scooter]

Surely those nice chaps in blue would call it RLET: Rather Large Explodey Thing.
This combines British understatement and an officer's lack of interest in technical nerdiness.

Just like most avionics (and ground radio guys) tell the pilots that their radios don't work in the "OFFicial" position. 

[NARSES2]

Really nice 

As for the bombs, probably get nicknamed "tinys" or "tich" in service 

[Army of One]

Oh....I do like that......those bombs look great...!!! Love the work done to the Vulcan as well....

[Supertom]

Holy crap.

[GTX]