The Airfix Blackburn Buccaneer S.2 in 1:48 scale joined the range in 2022 and offering a stunning and highly detailed injection moulded kit to add this powerful naval strike aircraft to your collection.

The Blackburn Buccaneer S.2 project started with Britain's response to the naval expansion of the Soviet Navy in the 1950s. The Buccaneer was designed to have exceptional low altitude performance and the ability to effectively neutralise the new naval threat.

The S.2 was required to operate from Britain's aircraft carriers and was the most capable aircraft of its kind in the world. In order to allow its operation at sea, the Buccaneers design not only included the ability to fold its wings, but also the nose (radar housing) and rear speed brake could be folded back and split open respectively, allowing for more effective carrier stowage, whilst maintaining the aerodynamic integrity of the aircraft.

The first entered service with the Royal Navy in Jul 1962. The introduction of the S.2 variant of the aircraft in late 1965 saw a major upgrade of the Buccaneer's capabilities, but centred around the adoption of a new powerplant, the famous Rolls Royce Spey turbofan which gave greater thrust and an increased range to the aircraft. With its increased power, the S.2 was now able to land back on its home carrier with one engine shut down if required, but still having enough thrust to safely go around again, should the aircraft fail to catch the arrestor hook.

The Buccaneers of No.800 Naval Air Squadron were famously involved in the destruction of the stricken oil tanker Torrey Canyon, off Land's End in March 1967, as the government attempted to avert an environmental catastrophe by breaking open the vessel and burning its flammable cargo. Operating from RAF Brawdy, eight Buccaneers from No.800 NAS dropped 42,000 lbs of high explosive bombs on the tanker, achieving an impressive 75% success rate.

The Airfix plastic kit for the S.2 airframe includes 288 separate parts to assemble and intricate and detailed 1/48 scale model of the airframe. It also includes four sets of markings in the boxing:

• A12012 - Blackburn Buccaneer S.2D No. 809 Naval Air Squadron, HMS Ark Royal, August 1978. (A)
• A12012 - Blackburn Buccaneer S.2C No. 801 Naval Air Squadron, HMS Hermes, 1969. (B)
• A12012 - Blackburn Buccaneer S.2C No. 809 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth, Scotland, 1970. (C)
• A12012 - Blackburn Buccaneer S.2C No. 803 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth, Scotland, 1969. (D)

Full instructions and paint scheme colour references from the Humbrol range are included, with the model requiring full construction using modelling tools including a craft knife, cutting mat, sanding boards, tweezers and glue.

Check out the full Airfix Model World magazine build of the Airfix S.2 in AMW142 (September 2022) or visit Key Model World to read our full collection of Blackburn Buccaneer aircraft news reviews and features here.