The other Wolverine

[The Rat]

The Wolverine

(Note; The name 'Wolverine' was applied to this project long before, and without prior knowledge of, Ollie's SU-34 project of the same name. Mr. Lacombe has graciously given his consent to my retention of the name.)



It was perhaps inevitable that when such an advanced bomber as the Handley Page Victor was introduced into service it would be tested in roles for which it was not designed. After HP test pilot Johnny Allam achieved Mach 1.1 in a very shallow dive the RAF crews were determined to wring every bit of performance they could out of this exotic looking machine, and the creativity among them is legendary.

Thus it was that in December 1957 shortly after its introduction with 232 Operational Conversion Unit an excuse was found to take a B1 on a trip to Goose Bay, Labrador, on the pretence of cold weather testing and a Christmas goodwill trip. Armed to the teeth with their NATO duty free tickets the target for that night was actually the base liquor store, with a mind to a high-speed restocking of the mess back in the U.K.











Upon arrival the initial reaction of the RCAF personnel was unbridled jealousy. Whispers were that the upcoming Avro Arrow could catch anything made now and in the foreseeable future, but here was a big brute of an aircraft that could certainly give present-day fighters a run for their money. After the requisite low passes that the RAF enjoys so much it found Terra Firma and parked close to the ogling multitudes. "Looks as mean as a bloody wolverine!" exclaimed one crusty old Flight Sergeant, and the name stuck. That, however, was not good enough. In the minds of the assembled gawkers the RCAF simply had to possess one, and a plan was hatched.

The Victor's crew were trooped, with no resistance whatsoever, to the Officer's Mess and entertained in the grandest manner. The Victor was towed to the paint shop. After darkness had fallen the rest of the plan was enacted. The well lubricated crew was escorted through a blinding snowstorm to their quarters, drunkenly oblivious to two things; the clear weather forecast they had received for the next three days, and the dozens of base workers on the roof cheerfully sweeping mother nature's recent bounty of snow down upon their heads. After consultation with the base commander the Met office then issued a report of a rare winter hurricane travelling between Labrador and Greenland, contrasting with ideal conditions for ice fishing to the west. A vehicle was procured, augers, tackle, and victuals loaded, and the RAF lads were introduced to another Canadian tradition.



The result of two days of labour brought a tear to the eyes of all who saw her. An RCAF Wolverine, resplendent in grey/green camouflage complete with Maple Leaf roundels, was brought into the cold crisp air of a bright winter morning, with a drill team escort carrying hockey sticks at the shoulder and marching to the music of Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians. The crew of this most graceful bird accepted the hoodwinking with very good nature. They had been treated to a wondrous weekend, a prank had been pulled, and when the carpenters showed up with a hastily customized cargo pannier to hold tons of booze in the bomb bay honour had been fully satisfied. The Wolverine's service with the RCAF was brief, but memorable.

[The Rat]

The Model

Being my first attempt at this, and due to the limitations imposed by the small and primitive model, I have done nothing other than a different paint scheme on this project, with a simple story. Call it 'wetting my toes'.

For years I hadn't the foggiest notion who manufactured this model. I bought it through mail order back in the early seventies, with no idea as to the quality. It came bagged, but whatever paper or cardboard piece may have held it closed has since disappeared into the ether. But cruising the HyperScale discussion board one day I noticed a posting about Lincoln International kits, and a reply to it from one Matt Hopson was very helpful. It seems to be their Victor alright, and they made some other interesting stuff as well, such as a 1/160th Vickers Valiant and 1/144th Sunderland and Rotodyne. If I could own those moulds I would be in heaven!


Model with Canadian quarter dollar for size reference

Instructions are a simple exploded drawing and the decals can charitably be described as crap. Thirteen pieces altogether; fuselage halves, four wing pieces, three for the tailplane, cockpit glazing, pitot tube, and a two-piece stand. No gear, no interior, nose glazing represented by depressions. Roundels and number are represented by raised lines. Checking the dimensions gives it a scale of about 1/153rd. I think it may be the same model used in that cinematic classic 'Gammera the Invincible!', where Victors of some variety definitely appear in the opening scenes. The kit seems to represent a B1, which unlike all subsequent versions was not equipped with the heat exchanger intake at the base of the vertical stabiliser which cooled the ECM equipment.

Way back when I got it the idea of building an interior was not even considered, and I didn't bother with trying to make the engine intakes realistic. I did however grind off the raised markings, and carved out the nose windows. These were filled with good old Elmer's glue, which for some reason did not dry clear. The pitot tube has gone missing and was replaced by scrap. Aileron, flap, and elevator lines are recessed, but in this scale I was not about to scribe panel lines.

Just about done, and tragedy befell me. Enemy forces of unknown origin, but believed to be a cat or a cleaning lady, knocked it off a shelf and broke the port tailplane about halfway in, and the pitot tube. I didn't bother replacing the length of pitot because I was going to shorten it to just about where it broke anyway. The problem was the tailplane. After tearing apart the most recent vacuum cleaner bag I have determined that it has disappeared into some uncharted region of intergalactic space. I had to fashion another out of scrap plastic, and do my best with my limited skills to blend it in evenly. You can still see the scar if you look closely, maybe one day I will try to smooth it out a bit better.

The comment in the story about the wooden cargo container is based on a true incident. Back in the 70's I was working with Airfield Maintenance at Pearson International Airport, and one evening shift a fireman dropped in from next door to say that he had heard a Vulcan was coming in on its way back from a Red Flag exercise. Sure enough it arrived about half an hour later, and I went over for a look. As I wheeled the truck up, camera in hand, one of the crew was ascending a ladder into the bomb bay, which actually did have a wooden cargo pannier. Walking under the belly of the beast I snapped a photo of him taking out a case of Bell's Scotch (for a wee party at the hotel?), but unfortunately the lens was not wide angle enough to fully catch the humorous aspect of the situation; standing near the foot of the ladder was a customs officer who asked the standard question "Anything to declare?" The crewman must have had 'big brass ones' because while cradling the crate of whisky he casually looked back over his shoulder and replied "No". My hero!

Paints are Model Master Acryl brushed on. Underside is #4765 Light Grey, topside is #4779 Schwarzgrau and RAF Dark Green. Roundels and fin flashes were salvaged from a Hobbycraft F-86F Sabre. I tried to use the original kit decals for the identity number, but they turned to wet powder. Rather than trying to paint the canopy frames I decided to simply use a black 'Sharpie' permanent marker.

Nice to finally have it done after more than 30 years since 'first glue', and my first finished 'Whiffer'. I'm happy with it. In fact I like the looks and concept of it so much that one day I may get around to building it in a larger scale. I've seen the old Lindberg one collecting dust at a local store. Anyone do RCAF markings in 1/96th?

[Alvis 3.1]

Fan-freaking-tastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^      



Alvis 3.1

[The Rat]

Fan-freaking-tastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^      



Alvis 3.1

YOWZA!!! High praise indeed.

I'm humbled, honoured, ...

And aroused!  

Thanks Alvis!!!

[Captain Canada]

Awesome stuff, Ratman ! Love the story as well............you'lkl have to continue it when you do your 'in CDN service' bird, eh ?

Revell have re-issued Matchbox' 72nd scale bird.

And 96th scale CDN decals won't be hard to cobble together, Arrow Graphics and LE both make lots of markings. Especially AG. Which reminds me, I gotta give Howard a call and stock up on roundels and flags etc.

Cheers !

 

[The Rat]

Awesome stuff, Ratman ! Love the story as well............you'lkl have to continue it when you do your 'in CDN service' bird, eh ?

Thanks, but now I have to come up with another story?!

I've coveted that old Lindberg one for a while now, and at $25 it's probably cheaper than the Revell product. Also, working with older style models is half the fun for me, it really takes me back to my youth.

Which is getting further away by the second...  

[Ollie]

Nice job Rat man!

       

[Swamphen]

You forgot the most important part...


The reaction by the RAF when their bird returned home wearing the enemy's colours!!      

[The Rat]

You forgot the most important part...


The reaction by the RAF when their bird returned home wearing the enemy's colours!!    

Believe me, if I know the RAF (and I do!) once they see a load of cheap booze on board all would be forgiven!      

[nev]

victuals

y'know, even if the rest of it was naff (which it isn't) I would love it, just for your use of this word, one of my personal faves, and a most under-used one

[Gary]

Rat, On the charge that you have constructed an exceptionally cool model, this court finds you guilty.
On the charge that you have constructed an equally exceptionally cool back story, this court finds you guilty.

This court will proceed with sentencing. You , The Rat, are hereby sentenced to continue building cool models and writing cool back stories and thus receiving our praise until such a time as you don't wanna do it no more, which we hope that time never comes.

Great job dude.

[The Rat]

Your Honour, I humbly throw myself upon the mercy of the court.  ^_^

Thanks for all the comments guys, I really appreciate them.

(Do we have a blushing smilie?)

[Joe C-P]

Nothing to say but:  B)    

Take off, eh!