HK Models Avro Lancaster Mk.I WIP: Canopy Attached 3/31/2021

[Dennis7423]

All-

 

When I left you last, I was finishing up the forward turret. I have since completed the turret, and sealed the halves:

 

117122746_312562269983226_8167892514025512063_n by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr

 

117225214_749147109261129_5768932312431124410_n by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr

 

117597172_632388224374044_1691775739841017005_n by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr

 

117645106_607605849957330_6287595375774356453_n by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr

 

A little smoothing out, and then some paint hopefully this weekend to round it out. Getting something on the kit "completed" helps the mojo!

 

After finishing the turret, I turned my attention back to the forward nose, specifically the bombardier's station. I was humming and hawing about which bomb sight to use... the kit Mk.XIV, or scratch build a Mk.IX CSBS. As I studied photos more, I realized that I had already installed the computer for the Mk.XIV, so I went ahead and decided to use the kit part, with some alterations. I'm not sure it's accurate for Phantom at the point of the war I am modelling, but it's what I am going to go with:

 

116877587_2931106913662259_5240486897092291091_n by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr

 

Another very, very weak part on the kit (and quite visible!) is the bomb sight mount. The kit part as supplied is a bit of a clunky beast:

 

117295036_285405739426375_5407417053890889489_n by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr

 

116909249_578262852838472_2922658167582022953_n by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr

 

So, out came the saw, and the plastic rod, for something more accurate:

 

116839265_307034260732013_7966114306502428928_n by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr

 

116878754_220872905933860_8354700899743658530_n by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr

 

Feeling much better about this guy than the kit part. It may not be completely accurate, but it's much, much better.

 

While I was on a roll, I started tackling the bomb bay. I figured that I needed to get the majority of the bomb bay basics completed and installed before I started laying paint on the cockpit area, as I didn't want to handle the kit too much and ruin the paint in the cockpit. It was a good idea. For those wanting to tackle the Eduard set for the bomb bay, you must have a micro chisel in your arsenal. Without it, I never would have been able to accomplish the removal of ejector pins and the kit bomb mounting hardware. my Dad used to say, "He doesn't know whether to sh** or go blind." I know what he meant by that now. So tedious, but totally worth it:

 

117292318_1875523899256791_7985159970135171811_n by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr

 

Now, I just have to build and install 16 different bomb carriers to install. Each one is about 10 pieces. Can't wait :-p

 

While we're on the topic of bombs, I understand the Cookie in the kit is undersized. Does anyone make a proper sized one for a Lancaster Mk.I/Mk.III? I know of a resin one that is the larger Cookie, but it is intended for Lancasters with the bulged bomb bay. Or, does anyone make 1/32 SBC's (Small Bomb Canisters)? I would love to have those to hang inside. But, I am not aware of any.

 

That's all for today folks! Hopefully next time, I can greet you with some paint getting laid down in the cockpit and bombardier's station. As always, comments and critiques are most welcome.

 

- Dennis S.

  Thornton, CO USA

[vvwse4]

Great work!

 

I wonder what a micro chisel is. Google translate left me puzzeled.

 

Rick

[Dennis7423]

1 hour ago, vvwse4 said:

Great work!

 

I wonder what a micro chisel is. Google translate left me puzzeled.

 

Rick

 

Rick-

 

Here's the one I use, from Mission Models:

 

31zfFLqcj7L._AC_ by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr

 

https://www.amazon.com/Micro-Chisel-MIO009-Mission-Models/dp/B01NBEPJJR

 

- Dennis S.

  Thornton, CO USA

[Uncarina]

Stellar Dennis, stellar! Great work on the turret and bomb sight+mount. Would Shapeways have what you’re looking for?

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Dennis7423]

1 hour ago, Uncarina said:

Stellar Dennis, stellar! Great work on the turret and bomb sight+mount. Would Shapeways have what you’re looking for?

 

Cheers,  Tom

 

Thanks!

 

I haven't checked yet, but that's a good idea. I'll go peruse.

 

- Dennis S.

  Thornton, CO USA

 

 

[Captain Boogaloo]

Hello Dennis,

You need to see Iconicair's website; Graham has 4,8 and 12,000lb Cookies, accurately sized and with trailers, to boot! Beautifully cast and very good value, he also ships internationally too. Great trolley accs, also!

Hope that helps!

Blue Skies!

Captain Boogaloo

 

 

[Finn]

Dennis, for info including markings and measurements of British bombs this comes in handy, it's 50MB :

 

http://www.lexpev.nl/downloads/britishexplosiveordnance1946.pdf

 

and here is a nice video showing bombs being prepped and loaded:

 

Jari

Edited August 12, 2020 by Finn

[Uncarina]

Dennis, just checking in, hope you and your family are thriving. 

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Dennis7423]

8 hours ago, Uncarina said:

Dennis, just checking in, hope you and your family are thriving. 

 

Cheers,  Tom

 

Thanks Tom! We're getting by. The pandemic, and the current unrest in the US (I'm in law enforcement) has caused us to switch gears with our adoption, so we're grieving and moving forward. As for modeling, other projects have gotten in the way... preparing our 1/1 scale home for children and to pass our home study, and building a 1/1 scale deck on the back of the house! Additionally, another fun project has taken what little bench time I do have.

 

Years ago, my brother and I were contracted by a museum to construct many scale models for display there. This Lancaster will eventually end up there, as part of a display about the air war in Europe during WWII. Another part of the display is a to-scale, in 1/72, B-17 box formation. We've completed 6 aircraft so far, and were asked to build another 8! We're going historically accurate with it, depicting the 91st BG during late 1944, and the research and recreation has been real fun. So far we've completed Nine-O-Nine, Priority Gal, Cheri, Sweet 17, Shirley Jean, and Betty Lou's Buggy. Judy's Little Ass, Outhouse Mouse, Super Mouse, Hi-Ho Silver, Margie, Happy Valley Express, Old Battle Axe, and Ramblin' Rebel are under construction. We're using the newer Airfix kits, and a couple Revell ones to make it all happen. The hope is to have a scale display, as a teaching tool, to show visitors how the combat box worked.

 

This whole project, including the LSP's, has been a modeler's dream. Outside of the combat box display, we've been contracted to build close to 30 models for display. It's a huge undertaking, but a hoot, too, all at the same time!

 

- Dennis S.

   Thornton, CO USA

[Uncarina]

You are definitely busy! I wish you the best with your home projects, and that is exciting news about your museum contract. A testimony to your skills!

 

Cheers, Tom

[Dennis7423]

On 8/12/2020 at 10:24 AM, Captain Boogaloo said:

 

You need to see Iconicair's website;

 

 

 

Graham was nice enough to sell me a 4000 lb. cookie, sans the trolley, to strap into the belly of my Lancaster! Much nicer than the kit piece. I had originally purchased an 8000 lb. cookie from Model Monkey, and it wasn't until it arrived that I realized I had made a mistake and gotten one that was too big! It's a shame, really, because its a beautiful piece of molding. I'm kicking the tires on different ordinance for the remainder of the bomb bay, because I just like doing things a little different. It's maddening sometimes... like the 32 100 lb. bombs I'm in the process of strapping into the belly of my 1/48 HK B-17G. I'd entertain getting several of the bombs from the Tamiya Spitfires, but that would be a lot of separate sprue purchases just for two bombs each. Fortunately, I'm a ways away from getting anything into the belly, and it's all also super easy to get into there after the kit is completed.

 

Updated post coming, as I have begun painting the interior.

 

- Dennis S.

  Thornton, CO USA

[Dennis7423]

Update time!

 

It's been a while, and this work was actually completed several weeks ago, and I am just now getting around to posting it. Sorry everyone! The kit has since been shelved, temporarily, while I work my brain power to work on some other portions of the interior. I'm trying to decide just how nuts I want to go inside with the rest of it... her side windows aren't painted over, but really, how much will be visible? Plus, there's the ole problem of we all know what's in there, and what isn't! What if someone asks! What if someone gets in there with a super small camera! Oh the horrors of modeling...

 

Anywho, here's some photos to whet your taste. This kit sure is fun!

 

The Eduard instrument panel is quite nice, and if you take your time and bend the throttle levers appropriately, and add a little drop of CA to make a round handle, your work will be rewarded.

 

 

 

The converted and improved pilot's seat was also attached to the completed pedestal. I really enjoy how this piece turned out:

 

 

 

 

 

You'll notice, too, that I have done some conversions to the Navigator's station as well. As this was an early Lancaster, I elected to build her as a true early bird, which means no radar equipment. I found a few photos of early Lanc interiors, and I enjoyed the simplicity and space of this position as depicted. So, out came the saw, putty, and I ended up here. The map was made with a piece of scrap paper, with some faint pencil scribbles on it to create a semblance of a Western European target area. Some additional bits and bobs from the scraps box, to include Eduard bits from other LSP sets, and a scratch build pencil bin, rounded out the space. I quite enjoy how it looks inside the bird:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last little bit of the cockpit proper was the wireless operator's position. I used Barracuda Resin's lovely radio set to replace the kit stuff, and ran some wires to and froe. It's delightfully busy, even though it will hardly be seen through two windows:

 

 

 

And that's where I'm currently at! I'm working out filling in the large fuselage interior gaps where the wings meet the fuselage, and ultimately deciding how much work is really necessary there to be seen through the small fuselage windows. I'm also working out how much fitting of gear I want to do in the rear of the plane, as the only visible access is, again, small fuselage windows, and the rear entry hatch. At the very least, I'd like to add flares, so I'm working out how to build several of those.

 

As always, comments and critiques are most welcome!

 

- Dennis S.

  Thornton, CO USA

Edited November 13, 2020 by Dennis7423

[Rockie Yarwood]

Looking great, Dennis!

[Uncarina]

Dennis,

 

Once again, you show the way! I especially love how the pilots seat turned out. Did you scratchbuild the back of the seat as well? Also, are there references for the Lanc you’d recommend?

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Dennis7423]

On 11/15/2020 at 7:00 PM, Uncarina said:

Once again, you show the way! I especially love how the pilots seat turned out. Did you scratchbuild the back of the seat as well? Also, are there references for the Lanc you’d recommend?

 

Tom-

 

Thanks for your kind words! This is a fun build indeed.

 

I did not scratch-build the back of the seat. I drilled out the lightening holes in the frame from the sides, which was quite easy to do. T hey all don't line up quite right, but don't fret. It's hard to tell in the end. The only scratching I did to the rear of the seat was the back pad. Because I chopped off the lower seat pan and used the resin bit that didn't have a cushion in it, I had to scratch the lower part of the rear seat pad. I wish I had a better way to describe the conversion of the pilot's seat for everyone, but I was only really successful because I happened to have that resin Mosquito seat. Others here who have converted the kit parts will have a better handle on what to do with the kit parts proper.

 

As for references, I have been going strictly online for this one! There are lots of wartime Lancaster photos on the old Google machine, and I spend most of my time surfing there for what I am looking for. I find that not searching strictly for Lancaster stuff, but rather looking for RAF interior shots, seems to show many as Lancasters that simply aren't labelled as such. There's lots of ways to skin the cat, but just poke around, and I think you will be rewarded with what you find. As is true with the B-17, however, steer clear of restored birds... they are just as inaccurate to wartime aircraft as the Fortresses are.

 

- Dennis S.

   Thornton, CO USA