The Valiant was the first of Britain’s three V-Bombers.

It was designed to give Britain a nuclear armed bomber fleet capable of attacking Eastern Europe and Russia.

It was replaced in service by the later Vulcan and Victor bombers.

Like the other V-Bombers, development of the Valiant began in 1945 but as it was the most conventional of the three designs it was the first one to fly (on 18 May 1951) and the first to enter service, in 1955.

In 1956 Valiants took part in the Suez Campaign using conventional bombs, the same year a Valiant dropped Britain’s first atomic bomb over Maralinga and also dropped Britain’s first hydrogen bomb in May 1957.

Production ended in August 1957 after 107 had been built and they were withdrawn from service in 1965.

This model represents WP211 flown by 18 Squadron, Bomber Command, RAF, c.1958.

Mach 2 1/72 kit and Kits at War decals completed by Leigh Edmonds in July 2007.