Avro 707
The Avro 707 is available in three boxings; 707A straight wing, 707A kinked wing and 707C. All have colour options that they attained through their service life.
Avro 707A
The first boxing; Avro 707A (144001) straight wing is supported with the decal sheet enabling the modeller the choice to model either WD280 or WZ736, the kit is supplied with glossy colour reference profiles.
A third prototype in the 707 series WD280, was the first of the high speed aircraft. Different to the slow speed variant 707B having a larger wing span and fuselage, with redesigned wing root intakes. Designated 707A made its first flight June 14th 1951. It was one third scale to the Vulcan. WD280 was rolled out in salmon pink but was quickly change to red after a few weeks service.
The second 707A high speed variant WZ736 took to the air on the 20th February 1953. Other programme developments included general delta research and automatic throttle development. It had an overall orange paint scheme though at some point a yellow scheme with black cheat line was applied as seen at the Cottesmore Battle of Britain display 1961.
The second boxing 707A WD280 (144002) Kinked (Vulcan) wing is available with three colour option profiles. After converting to the new wing shape, WD280 retained it’s overall red scheme whilst in the UK.
In buffet boundary trials it was evident that the 707A had wing buzz (vibrations) which severely increased with height and speed, caused by air flow over the wing tips. Reshaping the wings leading edge (kinked wing) solved the problem eventually incorporated on the production Vulcan bomber as a phase two wing. July 13th 1956 it was shipped to Australia, over the next seven years WD280 was used in a great number of trials with RAAF’s Aircraft Research and Development Unit Laverton. On her last flight in 1963 it had flown 203 hours 30 minuets down under. During its service in Australia it flew in an overall silver scheme and and later silver with black port wing.
Avro 707C
A third boxing 707C WZ744 (144003) two seat variant. Originally four 707C side-by-side seat models where ordered for the purpose of crew delta training. Side-by-side seating arrangement was extremely cramped as the C was identical to the A except for the modified cockpit. To save weight and space bucket seats replaced ejection seats. WZ744 was the first of the batch, making its first flight on July 1st 1953. By August 1952 the 698 (Vulcan) was flying with the second and third well advanced at Woodford. The need for four 707Cs was now questionable, resulting in three being cancelled. With the 698 advancement, the 707C was unable to make any contribution to the programme. 1958 WZ744 transferred to RAE Bedford for supersonic test and fly-by-wire electronic servo on the right hand seat, manual control on the left. All her service career the colour was overall silver as exhibited at Cosford museum.
Boulton Paul P111/P111A
Our fourth kit the Bolton Paul P111/111A VT935 (144004) is available with three colour options, silver prototype (roll out), silver with blue trim as displayed at Farnborough 1951 SBAC display, and the yellow variant with black cheat lines.
VT935 suffered several landing accidents with considerable damage due to a wheels up forced landing 29th August 1952. During the lengthy lay up opportunity was taken to modify the systems/airframe. The main noticeable exterior differences, pitot tube projecting from the intake, and the four petal airbrakes fitted mid fuselage. It was given a new paint scheme yellow with black cheat line and re-designated P111A. VT935 is an exhibit at Coventry museum.
Boulton Paul P120
The Bolton Paul P120 is our fifth offering, VT951 (144005) has two colour options. Rolled out in natural metal with chromate primed areas for data markings/serials to be applied over. The second choice black with yellow cheat line.
VT951 was a development of the earlier P111 with a high horizontal tailplane to broaden the knowledge of direction stability. Part of the proposed research programmes was to evaluate the new tailplane configuration in view of the forthcoming Gloster Javelin. The P120 had the briefest of careers lasting only 23 days with total destruction in a crash 29th August 1952.