Pellsons Perceivings

[frank2056]

The Valiant looks very nice. The drop tanks almost look like floats!

[NARSES2]

The Centaurus-engined Marauder is a brilliant  idea.

It is, isn't it 

It really is a nice kit, the Airfix Valiant. Having sorted the gear doors, everything else almost attaches itself.

I've found with most of the new tool Airfix kits there's one part which requires just a little more thought ? It's almost as though they are determined not to make it to easy for us ? 

[Pellson]

I've found with most of the new tool Airfix kits there's one part which requires just a little more thought ? It's almost as though they are determined not to make it to easy for us ? 

I bet they've got some old fart in a reference group moaning about "real model building" and "in my time, in the good old days when we had to hand craft propellers from lollipops" etc, and that's why.. 

[PR19_Kit]

Trevor Snowden most likely. 

I think he's still listed as an 'adviser' there.

[Pellson]

Nicer weather today so the mrs lured me outdoors to sort stuff in the garden. That took time, but despite losing half the day, I managed to sort the remaining Valiant construction, including some touch up painting in and around the cockpit.
Speaking of that - test fitting the canopy I realised that it is a little larger than the cockpit well, necessitating some extra paint around the cockpit. While at it, I took the opportunity to paint the same areas on my second Valiant, in preparation for final assembly if I ever gather the courage to cut for the Tupolev landing gear containers.



I had to go by a cutaway drawing, but I think I got the pods in a good enough position under the wing. They're further out than on the Victor, but still in what looks to be a solid part of the wing. Also, the extra space between the two pods will give a pair of fighters refuelling simultaneously some extra wiggle room when hooking up.



Leaving out the bombardiers blister also seems to have been a good idea, cleaning up the Valiants lines quite a bit.

Next is painting. I think I'm going for an end of service scheme, like Gulf War, and I think I have just the nose art to go with it. We'll see if it works out.

[PR19_Kit]

Next is painting. I think I'm going for an end of service scheme, like Gulf War, and I think I have just the nose art to go with it. We'll see if it works out.

Oooooooh, that's sounding VERY interesting! 

[Gondor]

While at it, I took the opportunity to paint the same areas on my second Valiant, in preparation for final assembly if I ever gather the courage to cut for the Tupolev landing gear containers.

Transport Wings do a B.2 conversion set for the Victor which includes the type of undercarriage houseing your talking of along with the undergarriage legs themselfs.

Gondor

[Pellson]

While at it, I took the opportunity to paint the same areas on my second Valiant, in preparation for final assembly if I ever gather the courage to cut for the Tupolev landing gear containers.

Transport Wings do a B.2 conversion set for the Victor which includes the type of undercarriage houseing your talking of along with the undergarriage legs themselfs.

Gondor

Assuming you meant the Valiant - Indeed, but cutting out for the pods in the wings is still scary. It took some fiddling to sort the extension plug in the fuselage as well, so I can't say I expect easy sailing.
Then again - it's most likely not AIM's fault, but rather me being a bit hamfisted.

[Gondor]

Yes, sorry I did mean for the Valiant. I have one and have yet to cut out the section of wing as well although mine will become the proposed PR.3 with longer wings.

Gondor

[The Wooksta!]

If you're doing the B.2 as an in service variant, there were serials allocated for 17 aircraft, only to be reallocated to more new build B.1s when the B.2 was cancelled.

WZ389-WZ405 inclusive.  Allocated under contract 6/Acft/7376/CB.6(B).  Order changed to B.1 later. Serials allocated 1st October 1951.

Scheme?  I'd suggest Dark Green over Dark Sea Grey with PRU Blue undersides.  That's what I'll be doing with mine when I eventually do it.

Well, no Hemp Valiant tanker for me now that someone else is doing it.

[Pellson]

If you're doing the B.2 as an in service variant, there were serials allocated for 17 aircraft, only to be reallocated to more new build B.1s when the B.2 was cancelled.

WZ389-WZ405 inclusive.  Allocated under contract 6/Acft/7376/CB.6(B).  Order changed to B.1 later. Serials allocated 1st October 1951.

Scheme?  I'd suggest Dark Green over Dark Sea Grey with PRU Blue undersides.  That's what I'll be doing with mine when I eventually do it.

I was thinking that RAF, when modifying some B1's to K1's also modified some B1's to B2's, much along the same lines. Fuselage plugs, new inner wing sections and the same uprated Avon's as the K1. That would allow for using B1 issued serials. Yes, I hate cutting and pasting serials.. 

On the other hand - I just realised that one of the aircraft actually included on Airfix' decal sheet is WZ404..

Well, no Hemp Valiant tanker for me now that someone else is doing it.

Ah, come on! If we all were to stay off what someone else already has done, then Dizzy would be the only one ever building anything.. 
Make an earlier one in DSG/DG over grey/white?

Looking at her today, I realised she needed some aerials and stuff to last into the nineties, so I added a couple of blade antennae and a towel rack.



Also, RWR bullets to the fin and tail.

[Pellson]

In addition to the aerials above, I actually sorted some broken aerials on a few fighters as well. From time to time, it seems half my modelling is about repair work, but then again, it is nice when things look complete. So - some small blade antennae, some minor painting and now it looks alright again. 

Also took a dive into missile hell and completed some twenty odd AIM-120 and about twice as many Sidewinders. Oh, the days when a missile was all white and that's that. These days, the fuselage is one colour, seeker head a second, wings a third and sometimes even a fourth hue somewhere. Tedious..
But if I just find time, this will allow me to complete the Tornado interceptor tomorrow. And that's nice, in particular as its fifth (or sixth?) pitot tube still is in place.. 

[Pellson]

I have one and have yet to cut out the section of wing as well although mine will become the proposed PR.3 with longer wings.

Looking much forward to see that. And I'll keep you posted on my progress in cutting. If there is any. 

[NARSES2]

Valiant is looking really nice 

[Old Wombat]

Valiant is looking really nice 

It is, isn't it!