The Victor was one of three large British bombers designed in the late 1940s and early 1950s to serve in Britain’s nuclear deterrence force. They remained in service until the 1980s, in later years serving as aerial tankers.

Victor design began in 1945, using the latest German high speed aeronautical research. It was designed to deliver heavy bomb loads (including atomic bombs) at high altitude and high speed to targets in Russia.

The prototype first flew on 24 December 1952, production versions began entering service in November 1957 and the 86th and final Victor entered service in May 1963.

They were replace by submarine launched missiles as Britain’s nuclear deterrent in the 1960s but many were remained in service as tankers until the 1980s.

This model represents XM715 of 100 Squadron, RAF, 1963.

Matchbox 1/72 kit Scale Aircraft Modeller magazine decals completed by Leigh Edmonds in September 2002.