Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA39405
Vickers Valiant B.Mk 1 Diecast Model
RAF No.1B Sqn, WZ365, RAF Finningley, England, December 1959, RELEASE CANCELLED | |
| 1:144 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Vickers Valiant B.Mk 1 | | 9" | | 9.5" |
One of the many Valiants to have something of a turbulent service life, WZ365 ranks among only a select group of Valiants to perform at the Farnborough Air Show, performing a flypast there with three other machines prior to its delivery to 232 Operational Conversion Unit based at RAF Gaydon in 1955. While serving there it suffered a canopy separation on the 6th June 1956 and after repairs, was transferred to 199 Squadron RAF Wyton. It remained with the Squadron until its final operational move to 18 Squadron at RAF Finningley on 25th January 1959. It was with this unit that the aircraft was to see out the last of its days, moving in April 1963 to St Athan for storage as a non-effective aircraft. It was scrapped in 1965 along with nearly all of the other Valiants. Plagued by structural issues, their time as an effective V-bomber was over and only one survives today.
Designed for use as a high-level strategic bomber, the Vickers Valiant was first flown on May 18, 1951. This four-jet bomber was used in the RAF's V bomber force, first as a bomber and later as a tanker. A Valiant B.1 was the first RAF aircraft to drop an operational British atomic bomb (a test bomb dropped in October 1956). Valiants were originally used for high-level bombing, but increasing SAM threats forced the V bombers to train for low-level bombing-a role that the Valiant could not adjust to. The aluminum alloy used in its construction caused premature fatigue at low altitudes, and the Valiant fleet was grounded in early 1965. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Corgi 1:144 scale Valiant is constructed almost entirely of diecast metal with only the smallest amount of plastic components used, a quality common to most of Corgi's 1:144 series aircraft. The fuselage features pad-printed cockpit and upper and lower cockpit windows that do not interrupt the lines of the aircraft. The all metal shoulder mounted wing features four “spectacle” shaped engine intakes and separately applied exhaust fairings at the rear in addition to integrated wing fences and delicate metal pilot tubes on each wing tip. The landing gear and doors are reproduced as robust sub-assemblies for easy ground display. Additional features include wing mounted fuel tanks.
© Copyright 2003-2015 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Corgi "Aviation Archive" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The vast Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight, and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. Famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation are all honored.
Corgi "Aviation Archive" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
- Poseable presention stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
- Detailed, hand-painted pilot and crew member figures.
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Selected interchangeable features such as speed-brakes, opened canopies and access panels.
- Selected moving parts such as gun turrets, control surfaces and swing-wings.
© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
