Vulcan Models Guide
Created by Adam Poultney
Tail of XM603, the only Vulcan with the original rounded tail today - fitted in preservation
Original
Rounded tail
The original tail of the Vulcan is rounded in shape at the top along the front edge and the trailing edge is straight until the corner which is slightly rounded. On white Vulcans with the exception of the prototypes (and XM603's first post-retirement white scheme) it was always painted black. On Silver Vulcan B1s and the single silver B1a (XA895), it was also painted black. Camouflage schemes until the 1970s usually had it painted black, most frequently earlier on. There were exceptions to this, such as XM594's 1966 scheme represented in the 2021 Airfix kit, you should check reference images for any individual airframe you intend to model with camouflaged aircraft.
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Note that the Vulcan B1's tail was different as it had a longer rudder due to the smaller tailcone. You can red about that elsewhere on the site.
RWR
Radar Warning Receiver
The first Vulcan to receive the RWR fairing on the tail was XM597 which trailed it from 1971. RWR was fitted to more Vulcans starting in 1975, being fleetwide within two to three years. As the Mk1 Vulcans had been retired before this, none of them ever received RWR. No white painted Vulcan received TFR, again the white scheme was phased out before RWR was in introduced.
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Vulcans which did not receive RWR were (aircraft written off before the mod are marked with *:
All Vulcan B1s and B1as (including XA903 which was still flying), XH533, XH535*, XH536*, XH539, XH555, XH556*, XJ781*, XL384*, XL385*, XM576*, XM600*, XM601*, XM604*, XM610*
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Modifying an RWR tail to be an original tail on a plastic kit is very easy, careful filing and sanding is all that is required. For the rear part, use the edge of the rudder as a guide of where to sand to.
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XL360 with the later RWR tail