Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA39403
Vickers Valiant B.Mk 1 Diecast Model
RAF No.207 Sqn, WZ404, RAF Luqa, Malta, Suez Crisis 1956 | Limited Edition
1000
Pieces Worldwide |
|
| 1:144 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Vickers Valiant B.Mk 1 | | 9" | | 9.5" |
Following President of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser's decision on 26th July 1956 to nationalise the Suez Canal, Britain, France and Israel all declared war on Egypt almost simultaneously on October 25th 1956. While carrier borne aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm struck at various targets throughout the Canal Zone, it was left to the RAF to attack Egyptian bases and installations further afield. It was during these attacks that the RAF's V bomber force first saw action, rather than a nuclear strike against the Soviet Union. The force attacked Egyptian airfields dropping conventional bombs on their runways and taxiways, putting them briefly out of action. This machine attacked Kabrit on the night of October 31st. The Valiant, while being the most conventional of the three V bombers, also saw the shortest amount of service. Proved to be unsuited to the low level role, the V bomber force was transferred in the early 1960s, suffering fatigue cracks in its wing spars. The fleet was retired in 1964.
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 2003-2020 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.
