Vickers Viking
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Vickers VC.1 Viking 1B (1946)
The VC.1 (Vickers Commercial 1), a mid-wing British airliner was derived from the World War Two Wellington Bomber. Eight Vikings were used by SAA from 1947 to 1952 on routes in Southern Africa.
Normal passenger load: 24 to 27
ZS-BNE, BNF, BNG, BNH, BNI, BNJ, BNK, BNL
Vickers Viking |
ZS-BNE ZS-BNJ ZS-BNK ZS-BNL |
Simonsberg Cathkin Peak Mont Aux Sources Gulakop Devil’s Peak Signal Hill Leewkop/Lion’s Head Mount Prospect |
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Modelling
The following kits have been produced over the years that will allow the modeller to build a model of this aircraft.
Airways produced a 1/72nd scale vac-u-form kit many years ago. Like many vac-u-forms it is a basic kit but with work one can achieve results I built one many years ago to represent the Viking that resided on top of Vic’s Viking garage many years ago. I replaced the cowlings (they are unusable) with a pair from a Wellington and the propellers were sourced from a (two) Matchbox Tempests.
Maquette released a 1/72nd scale injection moulded kit based on the Frog Wellington (for the wings) of the Viking. From all accounts this kit also needs much work to get a decent model out of the box.
Magna models have a 1/144th scale resin kit in their range
Welsh Models have a 1/144th scale vac-u-form aircraft in their range.
Colours
Natural metal overall with Dark Blue trim on top of the cowlings with a pin stripe and a fuselage cheat line below the windows. The tail fin had a blue band on it. SAA logo carried on nose and the aircraft had SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS (right) /SUID- AFRIKAANSE LUGDIENS (left) struck through by a blue band with wings enclosing the airlines name. This band had a black pin stripe to it. There was a flying national flag and the aircraft registration was carried in small letters above the fin band.
Note. The Viking that stood for many years atop of Vic’s Viking garage is not an ex-SAA one. The SAA flew Viking 1b’s which had metal wings and a 28 inch fuselage extension whereas the preserved aircraft is a Viking 1A with fabric covered wings. This aircraft now forms part of the SAA Museum society’s collection and is under restoration at SAA Technical. It is now on dispoaly at the SAA Musuem located at Rand Airport.
Decals
At the time of writing no dedicated decals for a Vickers Viking have been produced.