Vulcan Models Guide
Created by Adam Poultney
Vulcan Kits
As of 2021, there have been seven plastic kits of the Vulcan released in total. In release order:
FROG Vulcan B1
Scale: 1/96
Released: 1958
Status: moulds missing/destroyed
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FROG produced a full set of V Bombers in the late 1950s, their Vulcan kit features the standard Phase 2 kinked wing fitted to most B1s. It is a basic kit with questionable shape as is to be expected of kits of this age, although it features (somewhat uneven) recessed panel lines. The intakes are represented by only a simple splitter plate and there is no interior detail, just the hollow wing. Markings and serials are engraved in the plastic for XA891, the third production Vulcan, the fuselage roundels are the only raised lines on the kit. Although the instructions say to paint it white, this Vulcan only ever wore High Speed Silver.
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The moulds went missing some time around 1977. You can read more about that here. Due to its rare status it is considered a collectors' item and highly sought after, unfortunately this means that to purchase a mint condition one, if you can find one at all, you can expect to pay anywhere between £150 and £300.
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Kit: FROG Vulcan B1
Scale: 1/96
Modeller: Rob Hayes
Lindberg Vulcan prototype/early B1
Scale: 1/96
Released: 1959
Status: last reissued by Lindberg in 2007
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Lindberg released a Vulcan model only a year after FROG released theirs. This kit is based on the second prototype, VX777, rather than a standard Vulcan B1. Its most notable features are the original pure delta wing shape as opposed to the kinked version depicted by FROG, and the fully moveable control surfaces. Of all the Vulcan kits, this one has the least accurate shape and more closely resembles a toy than a serious model.
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These kits are more common than the FROG one as it has been reissued up until 2007. They sell typically between £15 and £40. Be careful when cutting parts in this kit, the old plastic can be brittle.
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On my build of this kit I decided to shorten the landing gear to a more appropriate length, which is an easy modification to make and significantly improves the look of the model.
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Kit: Lindberg Vulcan B1 (early)
Scale: 1/96
Modeller: Adam Poultney
Modifications: shortened landing gear
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Airfix Vulcan B2 (old tool)
Scale: 1/72
Released: 1983
Status: last produced in 2019, replaced by a modern retool
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The venerable old Airfix Vulcan B2 is widely considered to be the first accurate kit of this aircraft to be produced. Its shape is very good, especially considering it is a 1983 tooling, it contains a respectable set of options including a Blue Steel Vulcan or conventional bomber, wheels up or down and parts for a Black Buck aircraft.
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Despite all it got right, it is still a difficult kit to build well. The intakes will require a lot of work and there will be large gaps between the upper wings and fuselage parts if you follow the instructions. The generally accepted best method is to attach the upper lower wings and fuselage parts, do the same with the upper counterparts and then bring them together. By the time it was last produced, the moulds were worn out and Airfix was using a softer plastic leading to a lot of warpage, sprue flash and worsening fit. if you want to build this kit, the older the boxing you find the better. you can expect to pay between £25 and £40 for this kit depending on how old he kit you buy is (older is generally worth more due to the better condition of the moulds).
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There is a great selection of aftermarket parts available for this kit. You can replace the model's crude Olympus 301s with 201s or 202s, even metal 301s, seamless resin intakes are popular and there are countless etched and resin detailing sets that you could add. There is even a conversion kit by Flightpath to build a Vulcan B1 or B1a.
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Cyberhobby/Dragon Vulcan B2
Scale: 1/200
Released: 2011
Status: currently not in production
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The smallest kit on the list is the 1/200 tooling sold by Dragon's Cyberhobby brand. Despite the scale it is a well detailed and high quality kit, one that I personally rate as one of the best on the list. In terms of shape, it is quite good, not as good as either of Airfix's kits but it easily is the next best, accuracy of details isn't perfect but most significant errors are trivial to fix.
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The first error is that there is an additional pitot tube on the upper left side of the nose which did not exist on any Vulcan. Simply do not add this and fill the gap left for it. The second is the nose landing gear has four wheels instead of two. You can fix this by shortening the axles and adding only the outer wheel on each side. Although the kit is OOP, you can get them for around £15 to £20.
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There have been two releases so far, the first features XL321 in white on the box and the second features XH558 in wrap around camouflage. It is important to get the correct box for the scheme you want to do as there is no aftermarket for this kit.
The first box contains parts to build only a Blue Steel carrying Vulcan. It features only the original rounded top tailfin and does not include the parts for a Black Buck Vulcan. Decals are provided for XL321 in anti flash white and XM595 in early camouflage with the original three colour roundels.
The second release contains decals for a later camouflaged scheme with two shade roundels. Markings are provided for XM607 and XM597 in their Black Buck schemes and XH558 in the VDF/VTTS display scheme. Plastic parts are included for everything in the first box plus a standard bomb bay, Black Buck parts and squared cap RWR tailfin.
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Great Wall Hobby/Pit Road Vulcan B2/K2
Scale: 1/144
Released: 2012
Status: currently not on sale in Western countries
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The first 1/144 scale Vulcan kit to be produced was the GWH model. The kit is well detailed and the fit is superb, a modeller of any skill level will be able to build this kit. The standout feature that really sets this kit apart are its one piece slide moulded intakes with no seams; so far this is the only Vulcan kit to use slide moulded intakes and it is a great addition which simplifies the build significantly. Also provided is a very nice stand and parts to build ti with the landing gear retracted. However, this kit is slightly let down by poor shape throughout; it looks enough like a Vulcan but falls apart under any scrutiny. I would still recommend it regardless.
There are three versions of this kit that have been released under both the GWH and Pit Road brands:
The first version of labelled as a Vulcan B2 on the box, it contains decals for either XM597 or XM607 in Black Buck schemes, a sprue with parts for the relevant pylons and other equipment is included.
The second version is labelled as a Vulcan K2 and features a wrap around camouflage K2 as the box art, it contains everything from the first release (decals and plastic) in addition to new parts and decals for a K2 tanker. The K2 decals cover XJ825 and XM571, neither of which were wrap around Vulcans like the box art. If you want to do a wrap around ones there is an abundance of aftermarket decals that are suitable in this scale.
The third version is only available under the Pit Road brand and must be imported from a country where it is sold if you are not in one of those countries (Hobbylink Japan is a good option to but it from). It contains additional parts and decals for a Blue Steel Vulcan, the decals cover XL321 of 617 Sqn in white and XM571 in early camouflage.
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Apart from the Blue Steel pit road version, this kit is not in production and is becoming a little scarce now. Prices range from £25 to £40.
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Kit: Airfix Vulcan B2 (1983)
Scale: 1/72
Modeller: Adam Poultney
Modifications: removed TFR and RWR
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Kit: Cyberhobby Vulcan B2
Scale: 1/200
Modeller: Adam Poultney
Modifications: General corrections, fitted a stand
Kit: GWH Vulcan B2
Scale: 1/144
Modeller: Adam Poultney
Modifications: Reshaped tail cap, aftermarket decals
Trumpeter Vulcan B2
Scale: 1/144
Released: 2020
Status: in production and on sale
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Trumpeter's kit is the second plastic 1/144 scale Vulcan B2 released, it is a moderately detailed kit that isn't too hard to build and will look great on display. Unlike the GWH kit it has two part intakes which can be quite awkward in this scale, they are better shaped than GWH's version so the extra effort may be worthwhile. However the nose shape looks a bit off, and the radome panel line is entirely incorrect (important if you are doing a scheme with a black radome), so it's not perfect.
The options in the kit are very restrictive in what can actually be modelled without some modification. I will get into the configuration details elsewhere on this site, for now this is just an overview of each kit. In the box you get decals for two aircraft: Xh558 in the display scheme and XL361 in 70s camo over grey. It is implied that you should use Blue Steel for them, this is incorrect for the schemes they have chosen (XH558 never carried it and the scheme for XL361 is too late for Blue Steel). XL361 can be built accurately with few modifications, XH558 will need more.
An annoying inaccuracy in the kit is a missing fin from the Blue Steel Missile, the lower fi which could fold is not included. A replacement can be easily fabricated from plastic card.
RRP for this kit is £32.99, it may sound expensive for a 1/144 scale mdoel but you do get a lot of plastic in a Vulcan kit.
You can read a superb build article here.
Kit: Trumpeter Vulcan B2
Scale: 1/144
Modeller: Adam Poultney
Modifications: conversion to original configuration, aftermarket decals
Airfix Vulcan B2 (new tool)
Scale: 1/72
Released: 2021
Status: in production and on sale
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Perhaps the most anticipated kit on the list was the new Airfix Vulcan B2, announced in November 2019 it was originally set to be released in November 2020, but after multiple delays it was eventually released in July 2021. This model is the first Vulcan kit to be based on LiDAR scanning data, which has been huge benefit but has also caused some problems. The shape of this kit is as close to perfect as plastic moulding allows and the detail is superb. It features a full and detailed interior, which of course you can get various aftermarket sets for (I recommend Kits World's 3D printed interior detailing decals which I personally used on my first one if you want to do this).
In this kit, the variety of options provided is incredible. You have the parts to build a conventional bomber or Blue Steel carrier, there is an option to have the bomb bay open with 21 1000lb bombs- a first for any Vulcan kit- there are parts for both tail caps, the different tailcone tips, the majority of different aerials that were fitted to Vulcan B2s, Olympus 202 or 301 jetpipes, intake blanks (but no jetpipe covers), crew door open or closed, gear up or down, and more. Provisions have clearly been made for a future Black Buck option, but parts for that are not in the original 2021 box.
Decals in this kit are printed by Cartograf so are of incredible quality, aside from a few minor, but fixable, errors in the stencil markings, they are very accurate as well. Two schemes are included in the kit: XM602 in white c.1963 and XM594 in early camouflage c.1966.
RRP for this kit is currently £65.99
Kit: Airfix Vulcan B2 (2021)
Scale: 1/72
Modeller: Adam Poultney
Modifications: minor corrections