Corgi AA35603 Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR.1Prototype – Royal Aircraft Establishment, Bedford, 1981

The DH airframe 6477 started life as the very last Comet 4C and was subsequently converted to become the first prototype Nimrod. Built at Chester as a Comet 4C in 1962, it was however not sold and remained partially completed when it was stored pending further use. When Hawker Siddeley developed the plans for the Nimrod it was decided to complete XV148 as the aerodynamic prototype. In 1972, XV148 participated in Searchwater development work and then returned to HS at Woodford before being allocated to the RRE at Pershore on 23rd December 1975 for avionics and weapon systems research. XV148 moved to RAE Bedford in 1977 and was finally retired form use in 1982. The final flight was made in 1982 when it returned to Woodford for structural stress and fatigue testing. Estimated release date 3rd November