THE EMPIRES TWILIGHT

[thedarkmaster]

this is a continuation of my previously posted Concorde b1 topic

During the late 1960's the RAF had come to decision the the V force would have to be redeployed into a low level role. However the air staff issued a new requirement for a new supersonic bomber with trans continental range to fourfill the world spanning role still envisioned by UK planners.
B.A.C. looked at the proposal and came back with a bomber version of their new Anglo French airliner, Concorde. At first the RAF where frankly dismissive of the idea but once the detailed proposal landed on the desk of the accountants whom saw the saving of using an existing airfame, the deal was done.
The concorde B1 entered service with the RAF rapidly with all the UK's initial production being of this version, leaving Air France to be the worlds first supesonic airliner operator , a honour they soon could do without for the concorde airliner proved a costly white elephant and never made a profit.
The first B1 entered RAF service in August 1976 with the famous 617 sqd on quick rediness alert

RAF concorde B1 on full power as it scrambles from base

The RAF then stated to use its new bomber on a series of high porfile world wide deployments, nominally to help "western" contries deter Soviet encroachment but more a glorified sales tour.

Concorde B1 landing at Singapore

Unfortunatly no new customers appered and so the UK stayed the only operater of the bomber, meanwhile BAC had proposed a new upgrade of the airframe, installing canard wings, new power plant, digital flight controls and the ability to carry the new and upgreded Blue Steel missile. Though expensive the RAF accepted this redical plan and put the UK's 32 irfames into a series of rolling updates over the next 8 years.

The concorde B1 thru B4 (as the varients became coded) gave excellent service, with it's high altitude and high speed the concorde gave many NATO interceptors a hard time in excercises !

Concorde climbing away fast from Norwegian interceptors, Artic shield 79

The airfame stayed in the classic anti flash white for the entire service of the aircraft due to airframe cooling requirements, and became a beloved sight at airshows around the world, not to mention it's popularity to this day with plastic kit manufacture's .

RAF display, Battle of Britain Day 1980

the only time that the concorde was ever called to war was when during the falklands conflict, two ship formations , operating from bases within South Africa used conventially armed blue steel missiles upon the Argentine fleet bases. Forcing Argentina to withdraw from UK territory.

Two aircraft formation on way to Argentina 1982

Concorde B3 buzzes base in unauthorised flypast to celibrate sinking of Argentine carrier



I decided to build the last of the Concorde bomber versions the B4, i was going to call it B1 but the back story took over.

The kit is the basic 1/72 Airfix kit which i picked up cheap in a moment of unsurpressed madness one day whilst on my lunch break.........you can watch too much cctv !

I filled in all the windows and all but one of the door in the fuselage and then spent many hours sanding it down to the finish i wanted.





Blue steel missile in the bomb bay was sourced through the site and kindly came gratis from Bexwh773   (whom I'm eternally gratefull too) and with a little cutting, filling, sanding, more filling and more sanding was away.



Not much else in major modifications was made, the cannards are from a matchbox Phantom, the rear radome is a mig 15 drop tank and the various extra bumps etc come from the spares box.



The anti flash finish is from a Rattle can of Wilco's appliance white ( yes wilco's, all in the uk know how cheap they are )which covered really well,












the decals are from the Freightdog Models "Cold War British Anti-flash" set and the detail picked out by hand.























not the best photos, hope to get some better in the daylight tomorrow.

I'd like to thank all who gave advice and encouragement with this build as it went on.

TIM

[pyro-manic]

All kinds of awesome, right there. I love the way you picked all the little panels out, and all the little added details make it look like a proper bomber. Splendiferous job!

[Shasper]

Dude, you are Seriously tempting me to spend more $$! Good show mate!

Shas

[K5054NZ]

Oh wow! Canard Concorde!  Where do I sign up to join this RAF?!


Top notch effort! That looks like it'd be right at home on the line at Farnborough or one of the bomber bases. My gosh, I love it!

[retro_seventies]

Magnificent! 

[Sisko]

Wow top stuff!!!!!!!

[upnorth]

Wow! some seriously good whiffing there.

[MartG]

Lovely model 

[Ed S]

Nice.  A real looker!

Ed

[Tojo633]

Hi
I was hoping to model a scrap Airfix 1/144 Concorde in a similar manner some day....................
Thats a different story.
One question Wilcos Appliance White? what paint is this and where can you aquire some?
Thanks
Sandy

[BlackOps]

DM, I think this is your best work yet! Came out wonderfully well 

[Damian2]

 

SWEET

[AeroplaneDriver]

Beautiful job!   

[pyro-manic]

Hi
I was hoping to model a scrap Airfix 1/144 Concorde in a similar manner some day....................
Thats a different story.
One question Wilcos Appliance White? what paint is this and where can you aquire some?
Thanks
Sandy

"Wilcos" is Wilkinsons, a discount superstore in the UK. Sells all kinds of stuff.

[thedarkmaster]

as promised a few more photo's of her.

this is the last of her for a while as i'm going to concentrate on an arrrow and an upgraded canberra for the same timeline next.





















all your kind comments have been great, thank you all very much


TIM