Handley Page Victor B Mk 20

[Pellson]

As I was in dire need of another set of AAR pods, I bought another Revellobox Victor off Evilbay  However, it seems an awful waste just binning an entire and perfectly workable (well..) kit, so I gave the matter some thought and this is what I came up with.

What if the Australians actually did buy a low level adapted Victor to replace their Canberras? We're now talking late fifties, early sixties, so quite a few years before the Aardvark became an option.
To make it feasible, you would have to consider some changes to the basic Victor to make it last. Stronger spars, sure, but obviously using the K Mk 2's shorter wing span and negatively trimmed ailerons would also help somewhat. So, methinks, a de-tankerised K.2 would fit the bill nicely, wouldn't it?

But how would the RAAF paint them? Well - it doesn't seem too far fetched to assume a Canberra scheme, would it? But what hues is that? ESDG/DG? They've always seemed darker to me than their British sisters.  Anyone have a clue?

[Dizzyfugu]

RAF Dark Green and Dark Sea Grey, with Light Aircraft Grey undersides (or a two-tone wraparound scheme for the low level role?) should be appropriate colors (e.g. Humbrol 163, 164 and 166); they appear darker on the Canberras because the finish was AFAIK glossy. Result could be kind of this:



However, I'd suggest a more "modern" USAF SEA scheme, also for a less RAF-ish look?

[Pellson]

I have thought about the US SEA scheme, but I just don't fancy it for some reason, even on US types. If I ever build American, I tend to go with Europe One, in one form or another.
On the other hand - where would the Aussies fight, Southeast Asia, perhaps..? 

Having scrolled through all RAAF B.20 pics I can find, I fear you're right. But somehow, the impression, in particular when looking at Canberra's in wraparound scheme (or rather, it seems, all DSG underneath) is that the grey hue is darker. Extra Dark Sea Grey, perhaps?

Many thanks for that profile, though. Food for thought.

[kerick]

That profile looks awesome! Thanks for that Dizzyfugu.
This Valient project looks very intriguing. I'll be looking forward to seeing its progress.

[Pellson]

I have thought about the US SEA scheme, but I just don't fancy it for some reason, even on US types. If I ever build American, I tend to go with Europe One, in one form or another.
On the other hand - where would the Aussies fight, Southeast Asia, perhaps..? 

Having scrolled through all RAAF B.20 pics I can find, I fear you're right. But somehow, the impression, in particular when looking at Canberra's in wraparound scheme (or rather, it seems, all DSG underneath) is that the grey hue is darker. Extra Dark Sea Grey, perhaps?

Many thanks for that profile, though. Food for thought.

Hmm. They seem to be very much standard RAF colours, albeit with the DSG underside, when chasing colour codes.

Ah, well. The upside is that I have to build it before I need to decide on colours. And that can take a little time.. 

[Scotaidh]

Once it is built, O Son of Pell, the choice of colours is still completely up to you - since it's a mythical beast, perhaps its coat is of mythical hue ... Maybe it's a unicorn.   

My preferred palette is tints and shades of blue, and I've applied that palette to several different aircraft - a Canadian F-101, an American F-14, and my own mythical Cloud Lightning of the Royal Scottish Airforce. 

Y'know, 'cos ... what if?

[rickshaw]

RAAF aircraft tended to wear the colours they were delivered in until they had their first major overhaul.  Which is why Canberras were delivered initially in silver and then migrated to dark grey/green.  The F-111s were delivered in USAF SEA Camouflage and stuck with it until relatively late in their careers when they changed to air superiority grey.  I could imagine a Victor being delivered initially in RAF Grey/Green and then going to a RAAF Grey/Green camouflage and then finally perhaps to air superiority grey wrap around.  The RAAF has always been a rather conservative organisation as far as camouflage is concerned.   

[Pellson]

Some help from Howard:

Received another Revellobox Victor (my third, the built K.2 included) but this one is not (just) for parts, but rather to be built as a RAAF B Mk 20. I need the AAR pods for something else, and as outlined elsewhere (my blog, I think), why not do something cool with the remains? So a low level strike Victor it is, and why not a Canberra replacement? I think the Aussies once considered Victor, didn't they?

They did. I have seen some of the HP tender documents presented to the RAAF Air Staff via the MoS/Air Ministry years back in the Archives section of the RAF Museum Hendon but the photo copies I took of certain papers are long gone.

IIRC Pellson HP would have configured a RAAF Victor for the medium level bomber role based on the Mk1 or Mk2 series Victors as required less the nuclear bits. Not seen any references to AS30 or Martel ASM carriage as the documents dated from the early 1960s. Again no details on production run size but perhaps up to 20 would have been ordered.

[Captain Canada]

Another great idea !