Kader (Lincoln Int.) 1/144ish HP Victor Prototype conv *FIN*

[JamesPerrin]

The MikroMir Victor B1 was a bit to much of project to start now with builds for CBK underway so I zigged instead of zagging and threw this down from the loft when I was up there. I had always had this down to build as one of the prototypes. Initially intention was to do it OOB and get to the painting ASAP. Of course things have started to spiral rapidly. The intakes and exhausts are horrid see below and the kit is B1 ish and lacks the intake and fillet at the base of the tail that the prototypes had ( this differs from the chunkier version on the B2) and then once into the build I found that the nose needed to be 5mm shorter - I was still trying to talk myself out of it when I found a saw in my hand and a headless fuselage on the desk. I suspect foul play!

Full review of the contents here https://uamf.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=8264; so I'll dive straight into the build.

I got the fuselage together without issue and proceeded to fill a number of sink marks. The raised roundels and serials were removed, the silver plastic still clearly shows their position afterwards. The control surfaces were a bit lumpy and got flatten too. The plastic is hard but sands very nicely.




The intakes have been cut out from the side rather than straight on! Someone was evidently not at their best that day. These were reshaped and elongated. The insides will be built up later with Milliput.




The exhausts are no better being complete blanks, concave at that with no tail pipe. I start to ream them out when I realised that set of was ~1.5mm thinner than the other! I've started to set about how to pad this one out the match.



I saw mention elsewhere that the nose of the prototype is even shorter, ~5mm. It would have been easier and more accurate to cut the separate fuselage halves hence my need to add a shim of card after correcting my mistakes. All looks good now it's sanded back though.



I've built the tail spine up with card laminations and some plastic tube for the intake. These and been secured in place with "gloop" and needs to be set aside for a couple of days to cure.



I really know how to pick'em ... or do they pick me?

[ronald alvarez]

mmmm interesting I will be pending the end of this project I like the beginning of the metal color, work that promises!

[ShaunW]

Oh my, this looks like it's going to be a challenging one, James. The Victor prototype's two-tone black and silver colour scheme was a cracker though (was the scheme worn by all of the prototypes, how many were there, two?) so it will be worth the work just to have something looking like that on your shelves

[JamesPerrin]

.. thanks Shaun. Actually, I'm not going with the black/silver red cheatline scheme as I don't personally think it suits the Victor. Instead, I'm going for the allover PRU Blue of the 2nd (IIRC) prototype. Looks it's a nice colour and easier!.

[PaulBradley]

Ooh, this'll be interesting! Good start, James.

[JamesPerrin]

Back to work on this now.

The reshaping of the tail and inlet has been completed.



I've also made some progress with reshaping the intakes and exhausts. I've added blanking plates as a precursor to shaping the insides of the intakes with milliput. The undersized exhaust was cut either sides and the spaced with some plastic card. I did that a while ago and completely forgot that only one was undersized and repeated the surgery to the healthy exhaust whoops!

[ShaunW]

It's good to see this back on the go, James. The issue regarding the exhaust work highlights one of the problems with returning to builds after a period of time - it's all too easy to forget what was being done or had been done at that stage and what was planned to be done!

[The Great Auk]

I can only admire your dedication and perseverance, Mr Perrin.

The Great Auk

[DavidWomby]

I'm intrigued as I have this and their Valiant in the stash. The Valiant, sadly, is an odd 1/166 or thereabouts.

David

[JamesPerrin]

@Shaun if there was only someplace where I’d written it down

@dwomby I’ve one too though it’s a rescue job

@auk cheers mate

[Dirkpitt289]

I was going to sak hot it was to sand the "Goop" but it looks like it sanded well. I thought it would have been a bear... Nice work so far. I love working with 1/144 scale kits. So many possibilities.

[JamesPerrin]

You need to apply the gloop in thin layers as with any hot filler. The advantage is that when fully cured it’s just styrene you are sanding.

[PaulBradley]

Very cool, James.

[splash]

That’s coming along nicely.

[JamesPerrin]

I got around to forming the inside of the intakes. I did this quickly and roughly with milliput; yeah, I didn't trim the crust off the grey half of the milliput but this won't be seen. A squared off paint brush handle to form the inner shape of the intake by following the lip. I then trimmed the milliput level with a wet scalpel knife to reduce the amount of sanding required. Once dry plenty of sanding and trimming was still required to get the wing halves to fit comfortably.



I then decided to glue the wings together so I could finish shaping the intakes and filling the seam. I've inserted them into the fuselage as they are a snug fit and it works perfectly as a clamp.