history

The Avro Vulcan was a jet-powered delta wing strategic bomber, which was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1956 until 1984.
The Vulcan B.1 was first delivered to the RAF in 1956; deliveries of the improved Vulcan B.2 started in 1960. The B.2 featured more powerful engines, a larger wing, an improved electrical system and electronic countermeasures (ECM); many were modified to accept the Blue Steel missile. As a part of the V-force, the Vulcan was the backbone of the United Kingdom’s airborne nuclear deterrent during much of the Cold War. Although the Vulcan was typically armed with nuclear weapons, it was capable of conventional bombing missions, a capability which was used in Operation Black Buck during the Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina in 1982.
In the final years of service six Vulcans were converted to the K.2 tanker configuration for aerial refuelling. Fitted with three bomb-bay drum tanks, it was the only mark of Vulcan that could jettison fuel in an emergency.
History adapted fromWikipedia

The Kit

This kit is the B.2 model released late in 2012 with the addition of the two parts for the Hose Drum Unit and decals for two K,2 Vulcans.
The contents of the box are the same as reviewed by Luciano
The box art shows camouflage on the underside of the aircraft in flight but the aircraft represented by the decal options had light grey undersides.
Due to Luciano's extensive review I will review only the K.2 items in this kit issue.
Sprue E is cast in light gray plastic and includes the necessary parts to make a tanker, these being the tail insert #E2 with location pins for the Hose Drum Unit #E1
The hose drum unit is nicely cast with drogue hood and two sets (3 per side) of lights which were used to assist aircraft to line up with the tanker.

Decal options

All markings from the B.2 sheet with are included plus a sheet with numbers for two aircraft and unit markings for 50 Squadron which was the last squadron to fly the Vulcan. Both aircraft on the decal sheet were equipped with Olympus 201 engines, for which the proper exhaust nozzles are included in the box. This neatly avoids the problem with the original boxing whose marking options were equipped with Olympus 301s
Also included are red outlines for the fuel tank doors.

Instructions

One double sided page of colour drawings for the K.2 is included. Paint colours are given for Mr Color and BS colour codes.
Checking photos the actual aircraft, the colours look lighter than those called for. This may be due to fading of the paint at the end of their operational lifetime.
The B.2 instruction sheets (2 pages double sided) have been reprinted with a new title on the first page. Sprue E is not shown on the parts map.
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