Handley Page Victor B.Mk.2(BS) (Airfix)

1
May 12, 2023
Big box with lots of parts. My plan is to build the anti-flash white scheme with the Blue Steel missile.
2
May 12, 2023
I bought the Eduard "Big Ed" set to go with it - almost as much money as the kit! Here are the cockpit frets.
3
May 12, 2023
And the exterior/landing gear photoetch bits.
4
May 12, 2023
Lastly, the PE details for the tail cone/air brake and the masking sheet.
5
May 12, 2023
Master provide nice turned pitot tubes and refueling probe.
6
May 12, 2023
I bought these resin wheels ages ago to use with the old Matchbox kit. I don't think I'll use them on this build as I've ordered the set from Armory.
7
May 12, 2023
As usual with the Eduard sets, they have you remove all moulded in detail. You can see the PE on the step sidewalls.
8
May 12, 2023
Take a good look at the rudder pedals. Once the fuselage is closed up they'll never be seen again!
9
May 12, 2023
Cockpit painted and the PE going on. The throttles are an accordion-like folding job, lots of fun in 1:72 scale! The rear control panel consists of 18 individual PE bits - and it's not done yet.
10
May 12, 2023
Front instrument panel uses 5 separate PE parts. The control yokes are from the kit, but with a smaller diameter column needed to fit into the holes in the panel. I simply used some Evergreen rod for that.
11
May 12, 2023
The cockpit and flight deck is pretty much finished. I used smaller diameter rod for the shafts protruding from the top of the ejection seats (these held the wires to activate the emergency hatch removal). The rods moulded into the kit seats were much too large. The Eduard PE parts really improve the cockpit.
12
May 12, 2023
Another view. The yellow portion under the pilot and co-pilot seat cushions was a plastic container for the emergency kit.
13
May 12, 2023
You can see a better view of the photoetch braces from the floor to the back of the ejection seat rails. The kit simply provide a triangular styrene shape with no detail at all.
14
May 12, 2023
I couldn't resist adding a couple of Mayfair magazines from the mid-60s. The boys need some reading material.
15
May 12, 2023
Apparently, the Victor had massive girders inside the wings. Actually, these do a great job of stiffening the wing assembly and setting the proper dihedral.
16
May 12, 2023
Getting ready to tackle the intakes by spraying them white. The way Airfix engineered this is quite clever, and I "think" it will ease the removal of any seams that may be visible. I like how the splitter plates slip down through the slots. Way better than moulding them into the intake trunking.
17
May 12, 2023
I'll leave the elevators off the tail until later in the build so I can pose them as I like.
18
May 12, 2023
The nose gear strut and wheel bay went together easily. Just one bit of Eduard PE on top of the actuator arm - the rest is all Airfix.
19
May 12, 2023
Paint is Alclad Aluminum with the wash made from Future and Mr. Hobby black. Most of this will never be seen again either!
20
February 10, 2024
A splash of Alclad and a dark wash for the engine faces.
21
February 10, 2024
Airfix did a good job of engineering these intakes to minimize seeing the seams.
22
February 10, 2024
Note the use of big honking spars to keep everything in proper alignment.
23
February 10, 2024
Starting to go crazy with Eduard PE for the gear wells. The bits add detail for sure, although what comes with the kit is pretty good.
24
February 10, 2024
Note the positive alignment devices for the wing spars. Clever Trevor.
25
February 10, 2024
Oops, forgot to use this! Oh well...
26
February 10, 2024
This notch on the wing trailing edge needs to be cut out for proper installation of the wing "carrots."
27
February 10, 2024
View from above. Wing tips have yet to be added - this is a big model.
28
February 10, 2024
Lots of PE to play with for the air brakes actuators.
29
February 10, 2024
Looks nice to me!
30
February 10, 2024
This significantly enhances the Airfix parts.
31
February 10, 2024
The inside of the air brake petals get the PE treatment as well.
32
February 10, 2024
Can't leave out the main gear legs. I think all this PE will look really nice after painting.
33
February 10, 2024
PE for the gear doors too. There is PE everywhere I look...
34
February 10, 2024
Main fuselage components are coming together.
35
February 10, 2024
The Blue Steel fairing that covers the bomb bay is too short - so I've added a shim at the back to make up the difference.
36
February 10, 2024
Working on the seams. They've all needed at least a little work to clean up.
37
February 10, 2024
Look Ma, more PE.
38
February 10, 2024
The bomb bay fairing was a horrible fit, and needed a lot of extra seam work. Ugh.
39
February 10, 2024
Note the sink holes on the intake scoops and the fairing itself. Really nasty compared to the rest of the kit.
40
February 10, 2024
Wing tips are on, along with the wing carrots. I love the crescent wing shape.
41
February 10, 2024
Almost ready to paint. Why Airfix moulded the wing tips in clear is beyond me. The navigation lights are but a tiny bit...
42
February 26, 2024
White is the new white.
43
February 26, 2024
Need to break up the monochromatic look...
44
February 26, 2024
A couple of spots to clean up, but overall I'm happy with the white - not my favourite colour to paint.
45
February 26, 2024
Internals will be aluminum. Plus, the flaps will be down and the elevators in a non-neutral position.
46
June 17, 2024
Panel line wash will be toned down, it's a bit too dark for a white aircraft. A few highly thinned coats of white should do it.
47
June 19, 2024
Alclad Aluminum and a light wash of "instant skill" for the gear struts and gear wells.
48
June 19, 2024
The same for the nose gear.
49
June 19, 2024
And the air brake mechanism.
50
June 21, 2024
Some detail painting on the radome and forward dielectric panel,
51
June 21, 2024
And on the rear panel and tail cone.
52
July 14, 2024
Stickers are on. Stencil city!
53
July 14, 2024
Very impressed with the decals - hardly any film and they reacted really well with the solvents. Just a few bits left to add now.
54
August 1, 2024
The turned metal refueling receptacle is a bit undersize relative to the plastic boom, but looks good nonetheless.
55
August 1, 2024
Masks are finally off the clear parts after almost a year in place!
56
August 1, 2024
A little instant sunshine added to the underside.
57
August 1, 2024
And the finished behemoth. A rhapsody in white.
58
August 1, 2024
Enjoy the photos!
59
August 1, 2024
60
August 1, 2024
61
August 1, 2024
Way cooler than a B-52.
62
August 1, 2024
63
August 1, 2024
Airfix have you paint the ladder green, but white Victors had a blue boarding ladder.
64
August 1, 2024
The antennae and elevators were the last bits to attach.
65
August 1, 2024
All that Eduard PE made a difference, but you have to look for it.
66
August 1, 2024
67
August 1, 2024
Lots of wing...I like that Airfix provide a way to lower the flaps.
68
August 1, 2024
More of that PE.
69
August 1, 2024
70
August 1, 2024
From a normal viewing perspective - the Victor looks very futuristic.
71
August 1, 2024
The turned metal pitot tubes from Master are brass, and very easy to bend. Both of my mine were bent in the package, but I managed to straighten them out.
72
August 1, 2024
You can see precious little of the flight deck on the finished model. All that work on the cockpit - oh well, I know it's in there.

Comments

88 12 May 2023, 18:22

James C
Me too! 👀👍

12 May 2023, 21:09

Villiers de Vos
Very nice progress.

12 May 2023, 21:15

DerMattes
Watching 👍

14 May 2023, 14:18

Slavo Hazucha
Tuning in for the show - cockpit already looks fab, incl. the mission-read elements! 👍🏻

14 May 2023, 14:27

Robert Podkoński
Joining the party!

14 May 2023, 15:02

Zbynek Honzik
That looks like an awesome ride! I'll take the seat!

10 February, 19:27

Bill Gilman
I've uploaded more photos that document the build progress, which has been very slow. Sorry about that, but life keeps getting in the way. I've had a variety of health issues and I'm heading to the oncologist next week to set up a time for a biopsy on some nodes in my neck. Hopefully it's just related to a sinus infection I've been fighting and not the lymphoma coming back. Keeping my fingers crossed. Cheers, Bill

10 February, 20:06

Robert Podkoński
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you too, Bill. Great job on the model btw. Keep it up!

10 February, 22:19

Zbynek Honzik
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes well with your health, Bill. 🍀

10 February, 22:36

Nicolas
I also keep my fingers crossed that everything will be fine with your health.

11 February, 20:14

Bill Gilman
I used up a few bottles of semi-gloss white, but the Victor is now a "white whale." Thanks for the kind words on my health - I go in on Feb. 29 for a sinus surgery and tissue collection for biopsy. Fingers crossed. I tried to cross my toes but was unsuccessful... Cheers, Bill

26 February, 14:47

gorby
Hope the biopsy doesn't find anything bad Bill.
The Victor looks excellent so far.

26 February, 15:54

Bill Gilman
Oh, by the way - after two weeks (!) of testing my oncologist decided the biopsies were negative. Dodged another bullet.

17 June, 14:07

Guy Rump
Looking great following. 👍

17 June, 16:00

Robert Podkoński
Good to hear this, Bill. Carry on!

17 June, 16:06

James C
Looking fantastic 👍

17 June, 17:24

Ekki
Missed this one.
Following.

17 June, 18:19

Nicolas
Great news Bill.

17 June, 19:14

Rando
Love the Victor but even more glad to hear the good news!

19 June, 13:33

Bill Gilman
Thanks mates. I've added a couple more photos that show the painting of the landing gear and air brake internals. I've also painted the wheels, gear doors and air brake petals (photos soon). Up next is to paint the dielectric panels on the underside as well as the H2S radome. Cheers, Bill

19 June, 13:34

Augie
Love the work so far 🙂 watching in my usual seat.

19 June, 13:41

Bill Gilman
Two more photos added showing some detail painting. I'm off to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware tomorrow for a week of spending what's left of my retirement portfolio. Unfortunately there are no hobby shops anywhere near where we'll be. But the Air Mobility Command museum at Dover AFB should make up for that.

21 June, 11:16

Michael Kohl
Very nice progress so far.

21 June, 18:19

Bill Gilman
Nearing the finish line on this one. The stickers are all on, and I really like how they performed. Hardly any film outside the design, and they snuggled down nicely with the usual solvents. I didn't see any silvering. Next up will be a few coats of a semi-gloss clear, and then I can attach the remaining bits. It's been a long build, but it was interrupted several times. Next project will be smaller! Cheers, Bill

14 July, 20:13

Thomas Kolb
That is an exceptionally clean build and paintjob, I am super impressed with the decals too.

1 August, 14:03

Robert Podkoński
Beautiful plane, Bill! Chapeau bas!

1 August, 14:43

gorby
Amazing model of a remarkable aircraft!

1 August, 14:50

Villiers de Vos
Very nice work on this unique subject.

1 August, 14:56

Bill Gilman
Thanks everyone. It took me more than a year to build it, but I think it was worth it. Now, where to put it? Cheers, Bill

1 August, 18:35

Rando
Beautiful work, sir!!

1 August, 20:01

Palo M
I also wonder about the same question (where to put it), that's why mine is still in the box 🙂 . Beautifully done, Bill, congrats on such a great result. Please do share once you have an idea for how to show it off permanently 🙂

1 August, 20:02

Ekki
Brilliant result! Very well done!

1 August, 21:17

Zbynek Honzik
Fantastic job, Bill! 👏👏👏

1 August, 21:25

Bill Gilman
@Palo M - I have a display case large enough to hold it, but it's currently full! I've decided to get a smaller enclosed bookcase (like an IKEA Billy with glass doors) and move all my smaller models over to that. That will free up more than enough room. For now though, the Victor is in a large cardboard box awaiting its permanent home. Cheers, Bill

2 August, 12:18

Palo M
Thanks Bill! May I ask what kind of case it is? I'm familiar with Billy - I instead use an IKEA MILSBO glass vitríne for all of my models. I just can't find a decently priced one for larger models like this Victor, 1:48 F-111 or larger 1:32 planes. If you know the name of the display case, would appreciate the info.

2 August, 19:02

Bill Gilman
Hi Palo, My big display case is a homemade custom one that I got from a local club member's estate after he passed away. It's really nice, with internal lights and some storage drawers at the bottom. Whoever made it knew his/her woodworking. Oh yeah, it weighs a ton. Cheers, Bill

2 August, 19:13