Vickers Valiant repaints

[nazca_steve]

Roger that, Dave, the plan sounds good to me. Your last Gannet research was very useful indeed, so I'm sure anything you can provide on this project will come in very handy (indeed, Techy's links have been very good as well). As soon as do some more tonight I'll post some W.I.P. shots on here.

Why, out of interest, is it dangerous to go in the nose section? What is the strat chamber when it's at home as well? Sounds ominous! Too bad, whatever the case. We'll see how I get on with the panel stuff, as that's new territory for me. Should be worth it though.

**OK, here are 3 WIP shots, very much early work, still have some things to figure out and fix, plus weathering to do. Long way to go, but you get the idea...

[DaveB]

That looks c o o l Steve

Re the Brooklands Valiant nose (XD816).. a lot of the problem is to do with areas of paint they put on her. Can't remember the exact reason for it now but the paint is 'ever so slightly' radioactive. Likewise, her flightdeck is completely intact and the gauges all send a geiger counter off the scale. With a nod and a wink, you used to be able to get inside but with HSE as they are now.. this just isn't possible. I've no idea what the heck they're going to do with it. It's sat in the Strat Chamber for years now (the chamber currently not open to visitors due to some hideous goo being sprayed in there to remove pigeon droppings!).. sealed up to all intents and this is probably why the radiation levels in there (the nose section) are so high. Shame as Valiants are a rarity :-(

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Seaking]

Did a little leg work on this one, came up with a nice clear pic of one in camo for ya.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Vali ... 750pix.jpg

[nazca_steve]

Well Dave, sounds very comic-book like, it in it's sealed-in chamber glowing a pale shade of green. Maybe it will re-emerge in a few years with superpowers and grow the rest of its body back! Seriously though, that is interesting story, I wonder what they will do with it...bury it under the ground in a lead coffin probably.

In the meantime, the WIP will continue this week, unfortunately I am juggling it with some 'real world' freelance work which keeps getting in the way, oh for a long uninterrupted spell...

Thanks Seaking for the camo shot; I reckon I have enough photos now, unless any real gems surface. What I do need are tail marking variations, as it seems there are some sqn ditties above the fin flash in some cases. These would make for some more interesting repaints.

Stay radioactive for now, chums. ;-)

Steve

[Bridon Bear]

Steve....check your PM ;-)

Regards.

Bridon Bear

[nazca_steve]

Thanks a lot, sir, I believe that is 'the motherlode' to use a western expression. That absolutely gives me all the markings I need, and confirms something I just read - that the roundels and flash were not pale on the anti-flash white, which I had incorrectly shown on my WIP. This will be duly amended. Those tail markings look good though in the PDF, can't wait to give the old girl a bit more colour, plus some of the b/w photos show underwing weathering, which is something I needed more of. All in all, a real gem, so thanks very much!

[Bridon Bear]

Glad to be of assistance.... ;-)

Regards.

Bridon Bear

[DaveB]

Brian..

Can you PM a link to that PDF mate. I don't want to waste a day scanning if you've already sent what I have planned ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Bridon Bear]

No probs Dave

Regards.

BrianG

[nazca_steve]

You know, on closer reading, it seems that white anti-flash Valiants did feature pale roundels, but only on later versions, so I'll probably do some with and some without. It certainly looks like XD875 (the one I'm working on) had standard non-pale roundels from the b/w photo on the cover of the PDF.