Corgi AA38604 BAC TSR-2, XS954, RAF No.40 Sqn, RAF Coningsby, Special 'What If' Operational Livery

For anyone fortunate enough to have ever visited the Test Flight hangar at RAF Museum Midlands, you will undoubtedly have marvelled at the sight of an aircraft which enjoys an almost mythical status within the annals of British aviation. This aircraft looks as impressive today as it did when making its first flight back in 1964. 

BAC TSR-2 was arguably the most advanced aircraft in the world at that time and could present the RAF with a world-leading strike platform against which every design followed would be judged. 

Unfortunately, the aircraft wasn’t allowed to reach its potential, and the project was cancelled with just a single aircraft taking to the air. However, as you stare in amazement at the still futuristic aircraft on display at Cosford, you can’t help imagining how spectacular a squadron of these aircraft would have looked wearing the camouflage of a Cold War RAF strike jet unit. 

In this 60th anniversary year of the aircraft’s first flight, we have attempted to recreate such a sight in 1/72nd scale diecast, selecting a serial number allocated to a service TSR-2 aircraft and a squadron destined to operate the aircraft, initially on a trials basis, but then potentially as the RAF’s first operational TSR-2 Squadron. 

All this is clearly the subject of aviation speculation. However, there’s no doubt how good a TSR-2 would have looked in RAF service.