1/144 Trumpeter Vulcan B2

The Avro Vulcan was a quad engined delta wing tail-less jet nuclear bomber designed for the RAF. It was part of the trio of bombers that made up the UK's V-Force (V for Vengeance) as part of the UK's nuclear strike force. The Vulcan served from 1956 – 1984, the 2nd longest career of the three V-Bomber types.

During its long career of nuclear deterrence and conventional strike, the Vulcan were involved in only one combat operation, codenamed “Black Buck”, a series of conventional bomb strikes on the Falklands airfields during the Falklands War (ironically, Argentina had wanted to purchase Vulcan bombers for, um, reasons but was stopped by the British Foreign Office because they had suspected (correctly) that the Argentinians might use the Vulcan to bomb the Falklands. Argentina invaded the Falklands three months later.)

The Vulcan came in two main versions, B1 and B2. The B1 version was the original version that was optimized for high altitude, long range nuclear strikes with limited ECM and no aerial refuelling capabilities. The B2 version had improved more powerful engines, electronic/ECM upgrades, aerial refuelling and reinforced superstructure for low level missions as the dangers of the USSR's high altitude SAM network became obvious to NATO planners. Later upgrades included provision for the US Skybolt nuclear tipped standoff missile (cancelled) and UK Blue Steel nuclear tipped standoff missile (cancelled.) The entire V force would be pulled from the nuclear strike role when the Royal Navy acquired the Polaris SLBM to be placed into their own boomer subs (SSBN.)

It also starred in a James Bond novel and film, Thunderball, whose plot started with a SPECTRE agent who stole an RAF Vulcan (B1 model) equipped with two nuclear bombs in an attempt at nuclear blackmail of the West.

Info gleaned from Wiki

Construction/Etc
The Trumpeter Vulcan was a straight forward build except the intakes because of the design which makes it hard to get right. I left some of those seams alone because it wasn't worth all the headaches. All the external seams used CA glue and the internal ones or those parts whose seams were along a panel line were glued with Tamiya extra thin glue.

I opted for the mid 60s - 70s camo option of Dark Sea Grey and Dark Green camo over top anti-flash white. I sprayed on Vallejo Gloss Acrylic as the gloss coat for the decals. The decals were pretty good and would stick to the surface unlike earlier Trumpeter decals.

The various small parts were painted and glued on. I don't know where Trumpeter got their colors for the landing gear as they don't match any photos I've looked of the Vulcan's landing gear. I painted the gear black with silver hubs as per photos not the Trumpeter instructions.

Lastly I used Tamiya dark panel line wash to bring out the details. Unfortunately, it looks a bit too dirty as most of the photos of Vulcans show very clean aircraft. Oh well, sometimes things like that happen.

When the panel line wash was dry I sprayed on Vallejo flat coat to seal it all in.

I had fun building the Trumpeter Vulcan. Unlike its 1/72 counterpart, it doesn't take up much space and I finally have a V-bomber on the shelf.

16 additional images. Click to enlarge.