The Other Other V Bomber

[CammNut]

No, not the Short Sperrin...

In a fine example of British military planning, Whitehall in the mid-1960s ended up with a perfectly serviceable nuclear missile and nothing to carry it. English Electric's Blue Water battlefield missile had beens intended to be carried by the TSR.2, but was left without a ride into battle when the strike aircraft was cancelled.

After much moustache stroking, many cups of tea, multiple lunches at the Club and mounds of inter-departmental ministry memos, British defense chiefs decided that Blue Water should be carried by an Anglicised version of the North American RA-5C Vigilante. The US Navy aircraft was big enough the carry two Blue Waters and already had a long range when operated from land bases - made even longer by re-engining with Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans and adding a large belly tank intended for the TSR.2. The RAF's Vigilante B.1s were assembled by Shorts Brothers in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and ended their lives converted to tankers to support the RAF's Tornado fleet.

by TheWoracle, on Flickr

by TheWoracle, on Flickr

This one has not been in work anywhere near as long as the Agile Flacon, but has still taken a while to finish. It's a 1/72 Airfix RA-5C fitted with resin Blue Water missiles, pylons and belly tank from a Freightdog TSR.2 conversion set. Other than the RAF camouflage and markings (from a Model Alliance what-if TSR.2 sheet), the modifications are resin Spey nozzles, Martin Baker ejection seats and Tornado-style inlet blow-in doors to provide the additional airflow required by the turbofans at take-off power.

by TheWoracle, on Flickr

by TheWoracle, on Flickr


One slightly off thing – for some reason Airfix moulded the Vigilante's landing gear with the oleos fully extended, so the aircraft looks like it is standing on tip-toe. I have thought about shortening the oleos in situ – tricky, I fear, but I may yet do that.

by TheWoracle, on Flickr

by TheWoracle, on Flickr

[McColm]

Great build

[PR19_Kit]

MAGNIFICENT! 

A cracking model and really good backstory too.

The Vigi and the TSR2 look remarkably similar in shape and size, although different in mission profile of course. They're so similar I grafted the back of a Vigi onto the front of a TSR2 to make my BAe Barracuda umpteen years ago.

[chrisonord]

Wow, that is very nice indeed
Chris

[TheChronicOne]

 

That is fantastic!! Great work!

[Snowtrooper]

Stunning.

Though are you sure about shortening the oleos? The ground clearance with that lovely CFT might become an issue.

[sandiego89]

Superb, really like it!

Yes the real Vigilante stance is a real A$$ dragger, definitely sits tail down with the oleos compressed. I have walked around several static birds and The middle of the burner cans and linear weapons bay are chest high.   

[The Rat]

Wow, she's a looker! 

[zenrat]

Noice.

[Doug K]

Always liked the Vigilante

[Hobbes]

Excellent!

[NARSES2]

That is glorious  Didn't recognise it as a Vigilante at first

[darthspud2]

now that is gert lush
very nice build.

[Caveman]

Looks great in british dress. With a curved tail it could almost be a Hawker product.

[CammNut]

Thanks, folks