#2 Stokesy's Chastising Lancbuster

[Stokesy44]

Just checking in to the crew room for the pre-brief. The kit is still at my old house and the bench isn't set up yet.

Couple more days and I'll be up and running

[Stokesy44]

The schedule for today suggested moving all my books to the new place. Screw that, I went and got all the kit stuff instead. You can just see the Lanc under the Eduard Spitfire VIII box!

Nearly up and running -

[Twokidsnosleep]

Well congratulations on the move
That looks to be an excellent modelling space with tons of potential
We have four months, so lots of time to get organized.
I am cleaning up messy nerd lab #1 so as to use the secondary bench in it for more space. The wingspan of these beasts at 1/72 is 16 inches!
Almost ready to get started as well

[aur0ra145]

New house? That explains the cleanest bench I've ever seen.

I'm moving house in about 3 weeks, so I'm torn on if I should start or not on my build. Any tips, tricks or things you wish you'd done differently for moving (in regards to models and modelling.) I've already staked out a room, and trying to decide on either the plastic 6 foot tables I currently use or building something else.

[alextheblue]

Man after my own heart, lifes all about getting your priorities sorted!

Best of luck with the Lanc, it's a great kit.

[Stokesy44]

New house? That explains the cleanest bench I've ever seen.

I'm moving house in about 3 weeks, so I'm torn on if I should start or not on my build. Any tips, tricks or things you wish you'd done differently for moving (in regards to models and modelling.) I've already staked out a room, and trying to decide on either the plastic 6 foot tables I currently use or building something else.

My 1 tip would be this. Hoard your heavy duty carrier bags from super markets and department stores. They can take a full load of books, DVDs, model supplies and still be carried easily with their handles. Much easier than putting stuff in boxes. I'm average build and I can carry a bag in each hand. I'm moving from a second floor flat so just being able to pick these things up and do trips down the stairs has been a massive help.

I will be using holdalls like the red and blue one you see in the picture for moving my actual kits. Careful placement in the bag and then a bit of care on the move will see me home.

[Stokesy44]

Man after my own heart, lifes all about getting your priorities sorted!

Best of luck with the Lanc, it's a great kit.

Cheers. First 1/72 kit in years. Should be a giggle....

[Les0012]

Good luck with the house move, hope it goes well and you can get stuck into that Lanc.

Les

[digger303]

Wow all that space

[Stokesy44]

Good luck with the house move, hope it goes well and you can get stuck into that Lanc.

Les

Wow all that space

Thanks Guys. As my Mum always said, you're not getting the bigger room when we move, you'll only make more mess. I fear the same will apply here.

[Kevthemodeller]

As my Mum always said, you're not getting the bigger room when we move, you'll only make more mess. I fear the same will apply here.

The ever wise words from mums and we all know she was absolutely right

Good to see the move went off ok good luck with the setting up of the bench work/area

[RossiM1]

Hope the house move has gone well look forward to seeing another Lanc build good David.

[Twokidsnosleep]

You have been sprinkling in some good memes through the threads
Door prize draw coming up this weekend

[Stokesy44]

You have been sprinkling in some good memes through the threads
Door prize draw coming up this weekend

Nowhere near enough activity on my part - apologies my friend, am aiming to do better over next few days.

I came within an inch of actually doing some modelling today. Its the first day that I haven't been going backwards and forwards to the flat. I got the lights sorted out over my bench and sorted out plugging in the extractor and compressor. At the moment the compressor's still on the bench but I don't know how long that will last. It may end up going on the floor underneath.

Point of fact I lied, I did actually do some kit - if mending the move casualties counts. U/c on the Spit wasn't up to it and the Falcon needed a little TLC before going back on its stand.





As Red Leader so famously said, 'Almost there, almost there...'

[Twokidsnosleep]

Right proper looking modelling space
Good for you for organizing so well

[Stokesy44]

Hey hey, finally up and running.

Here's the kit. Airfix new tool and rerelease of their recent Dambuster. New decals I'm told.



Extras, cockpit coloured PE, PE belts and a mask set for the clear parts and the markings if I want to paint them.



Clever thing with the fuselage windows, they're in strips so less chance of them popping out during the build.



Bomb trolley and Upkeep.



Nice detail on the Upkeep, should look good under paint.



Decals look nice, never had a problem with Airfix new release decals



Plastic is crisp and there were no bits floating around in the bags.







I like the new Airfix plastic, its got a nice matt finish to it.



Those classic Lancaster lines - and spot the weighted wheels, a nice touch for a 'heavy'.





Lovely detail in the bomb bay, a painter's dream me thinks.



Hope to make a proper start to this beast in the morning

[demarcation]

Really looking forward to follow this one. Good luck with the build!!

[Stokesy44]

Finally got started this morning!

Bomb bay and wing spars. Plenty of detail in the bay for weathering but a fair bit will be covered up by the forward and aft shrouds around the Upkeep mine.



The pilot's seat is nice and detailed and I've got a PE harness to add once its been painted. I've also sanded the IP flat for a PE replacement (no pic, sorry).





Its boggling how much there is to attach, even down to individual levers which are frighteningly small. I may not bother as the reason I bought the set is the IP and various other panels in the fuselage. I'll see how my patience (and sausage fingers) lasts.



Really nice detail on the interior of the fuselage. The panel fronts need sanding flat for the PE.





Hopefully there will be a lot to see once its buttoned up and the glass house canopy is on.





Feeling better now I've made a start. Cleaning up the panels for the PE is next, then a coat of black/grey over all the forward interior sections.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Looking great indeed. I really like the pilot's seat
PE is a double edge sword..awesome detail vs stupid small bits.
Often with minimum instructions on placement or destruction of perfectly good kit detail to fit the PE. I don't use it all if certain bits don't make sense to justify their placement.
Glad to see she is rolling along for you

[Stokesy44]

Looking great indeed. I really like the pilot's seat
PE is a double edge sword..awesome detail vs stupid small bits.
Often with minimum instructions on placement or destruction of perfectly good kit detail to fit the PE. I don't use it all if certain bits don't make sense to justify their placement.
Glad to see she is rolling along for you

Yep, she's taken a while to roll out of the hanger but hopefully I should get a bit of steam up now and she'll soon be roaring down the runway.

Totally agree with the PE question. If I could have bought a set which was just the IP and various panels I would have - but the smallest cockpit set still came with all the stupidly small levers and boxes

That's one of the things about PE instrument panels by the company called Yahu. You get the IP and that's it. Its also reflected in the price because you're not paying for loads of crap you don't want.

[Twokidsnosleep]

How is the new hobby space working out for you??
Up to full steam yet or rattling around looking for stuff in boxes?....like I still do a full 17 months after moving in

[Stokesy44]

How is the new hobby space working out for you??
Up to full steam yet or rattling around looking for stuff in boxes?....like I still do a full 17 months after moving in

Thanks for asking mate.

Still getting used to the new bench. Trying to find the optimum position for everything now I've gone for the 2 position approach, building on the right, painting on the left. There will probably be some brush painting and weathering work on the right side as the left end is for the spray booth. The new chair is great because I can wizz (yes, I said wizz!!) about on the wood floor when I need thinners, primers and washes etc. that are stored in my new little bookcase to the right of the bench. I like the wizzing but the chair also stays put when I want it to

Overall I'm really happy with it, its an improvement on my previous setup.

As for unpacking. Still a little bit to do. Probably need a couple more bits for storage and I'm waiting on a nice large chest of drawers for the bedroom which will take the pressure off the wardrobe as its full of T shirts and polo shirts that really belong in the drawers.

And re finding stuff, I spent far too much time hunting for a mouse mat yesterday as I had no clue where it was. Also had a panic attack last night when I came home with some beers and couldn't remember if my bottle opener had made the trip to the new place from the old flat.

Bit of good news re the old flat. Got every penny of my deposit back after I made the effort to leave it as close to the condition it was in when I took the place over back in 2014. I'm a tidy person and I take care of things but there's always the worry the Landlord or the Lettings Agency will try to screw you over.

[Kevthemodeller]

Chocks away mate

[Stokesy44]

Chocks away mate

Thanks Kev

Bit later than I had hoped but I'm up and running now

[Twokidsnosleep]

Awesome, glad the space is working put for you, David
I am sure more top notch modelling will take place at those benches

[pourquoi61]

Nice work space and a great subject.
Looking good so far.

[Stokesy44]

Nice work space and a great subject.
Looking good so far.

Thanks mate

Got on with painting the cockpit and bomb aimer's position today. I figured a black interior would be too dark (authentic, but too dark) so I added some white to the Vallejo black I was spraying. After that I dry brushed with white and then added the PE.

Quite happy so far. There's a few bits left in the 'pit' to do. There's a map decal for the navigator's table and a PE harness for the pilot's seat. I'll also 'dress up' some of the original panels that have not been replaced by the PE.

Radios look nice - will not be seen when closed up



Instrument panel - the reason I bought the PE set!





Port side PE and dry brushing



Starboard



Test fitted







A little bit left to do then it will be the windows and the inserts where the upper turret and radome would have been before this Lanc got 'specialed' for the raid.

[alextheblue]

Nice work on the cockpit, that PE looks really good, brings it to life. Best of luck with the inserts, I failed dismally with mine. Thinking back on it, I should have held them in place with a bit of masking tape from the outside,first and then glued them bit by bit. Oh well, wise after the event I guess.

Looking forward to the next bit.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Cockpit looking good
That white dry brush technique I told you about looks like it worked well for you
Good to see you modelling again

[Stokesy44]

Nice work on the cockpit, that PE looks really good, brings it to life. Best of luck with the inserts, I failed dismally with mine. Thinking back on it, I should have held them in place with a bit of masking tape from the outside,first and then glued them bit by bit. Oh well, wise after the event I guess.

Looking forward to the next bit.

Yep, there's always the worry with bits that can push back into the fuselage. I haven't looked at them yet but I may shore them up from the inside when I put them in. Belt and braces approach I guess.

[Stokesy44]

Cockpit looking good
That white dry brush technique I told you about looks like it worked well for you
Good to see you modelling again

Thanks. TBH its been a bit of a struggle getting back to the bench. After all the upheaval of the move I have found it hard to relax as my mind seems to be 'on' all the time.

And as for the white dry brushing, I seem to remember the advice going in the other direction maybe? Perhaps my mind is playing tricks on me (see above)

[Twokidsnosleep]

Cockpit looking good
That white dry brush technique I told you about looks like it worked well for you
Good to see you modelling again

Thanks. TBH its been a bit of a struggle getting back to the bench. After all the upheaval of the move I have found it hard to relax as my mind seems to be 'on' all the time.

And as for the white dry brushing, I seem to remember the advice going in the other direction maybe? Perhaps my mind is playing tricks on me (see above)

It is ok, you have been through a lot lately with the move and all
Memories do seem to slip as the years pile on.....

[Stokesy44]

It is ok, you have been through a lot lately with the move and all
Memories do seem to slip as the years pile on.....

[Willem]

That cockpit is looking pukka. Dry brushed with white huh? Very nice effect.

[Tomcat64]

Great work on the cockpit detail mate - that's looking really tidy so far!

[Stokesy44]

Great work on the cockpit detail mate - that's looking really tidy so far!

Cheers TC.

Finished off the cockpit today. Harness for the pilots seat and map decal for the nav's table. Note to self - if there's a next time do the PE harness before you put the seat into the fuselage!





Then it was time to put the fuselage together. Lots of flat to flat joins and despite this being a new tool, the fit is a little 'agricultural' shall we say. So I responded in kind with my full suite of Ultimate sanders. No filler yet, just getting all the seams level. No point putting filler down if its just going to be blasted away as the two mated sides get levelled up.











Some nice detail for the wheel bays. There's a front bulkhead to go in too with the oil tank on it, should look good with paint and effects etc.



I've assembled the tail planes but I may leave them off until the end because they (and the fuselage) will be much easier to mask and paint while they're separate. They fit superbly so there will be no filling issues when they go on. Much easier to leave them off for now.

Filler work tomorrow then I'll start on the wings. They look fine, the engine nacelles may be a bit more tricky.....

[alextheblue]

Ohhhhh! All that cockpitty goodness! Very nice!

The engine nacelles aren't too bad. They do look it when you dry fit them, but with a bit of gentle pressure when the TET is wet they sort of get there. Didn't need too much filler on mine.

Very nice work sir!

[pourquoi61]

Beautiful work, it always feels a shame to hide it.

[Stokesy44]

Beautiful work, it always feels a shame to hide it.

Thanks mate

The problem of hidden detail seems endemic to ww2 heavies. You get all the stuff in the fuselage and you know it won’t be seen. The majority of the PE goes the same way too. I ended up building some of the PE just so I could feel it wasn’t wasted!

Some of the interior PE sets for these aircraft give you a situation where 90% of the extras will not be seen. It’s crazy. I don’t subscribe to the ‘I know it’s there’ school of thinking. I like aftermarket stuff but it’s got to make sense to me!

[Stokesy44]

Ohhhhh! All that cockpitty goodness! Very nice!

The engine nacelles aren't too bad. They do look it when you dry fit them, but with a bit of gentle pressure when the TET is wet they sort of get there. Didn't need too much filler on mine.

Very nice work sir!

Thanks Alex

Forewarned is forearmed

[pourquoi61]

Beautiful work, it always feels a shame to hide it.

Thanks mate

The problem of hidden detail seems endemic to ww2 heavies. You get all the stuff in the fuselage and you know it won’t be seen. The majority of the PE goes the same way too. I ended up building some of the PE just so I could feel it wasn’t wasted!

Some of the interior PE sets for these aircraft give you a situation where 90% of the extras will not be seen. It’s crazy. I don’t subscribe to the ‘I know it’s there’ school of thinking. I like aftermarket stuff but it’s got to make sense to me!

PE therapy, must be good for the inner model builder.

[demarcation]

Beautiful work on the cockpit, well done Sir!!

[Les0012]

Awesome work on the office, the rest ain/t looking bad either. Don’t you just love a Lanc

Les

[Twokidsnosleep]

Excellent looking cockpit, really like the map on the table
You are having some great progress
I am stuck on those darn rotating front and rear turrets...proving to be a slow move forward for me :scratch:

[Stokesy44]

Awesome work on the office, the rest ain/t looking bad either. Don’t you just love a Lanc

Les

Thanks Les

Believe it or not I’ve never built one until now. Don’t know why. Done the Wimpey, the Halifax, Liberator, Mitchell and Fort but never a Lanc!

[Stokesy44]

Excellent looking cockpit, really like the map on the table
You are having some great progress
I am stuck on those darn rotating front and rear turrets...proving to be a slow move forward for me :scratch:

Thanks mate. I was pleased with the pit in the end.

As for your tribulations with the turrets I’ve got all that yet to come, although I do have a mask set so hopefully my head won’t explode!!!

[Kevthemodeller]

She's coming on very nicely mate, lovely cockpit detail.

[Tomcat64]

Fantastic work on the interior mate - that looks brilliant! (Note taken about fitting seatbelts before attaching the seat - got that coming up!)

And very clean and tidy all around - love the lines on the Lanc

[Stokesy44]

Fantastic work on the interior mate - that looks brilliant! (Note taken about fitting seatbelts before attaching the seat - got that coming up!)

And very clean and tidy all around - love the lines on the Lanc

Thanks mate, the Lanc surely is a thoroughbred compared to its contemporaries in terms of looks. That's even before you look at it's performance.

[Twokidsnosleep]

I was going to bug you that not much has been updated, then looked at my own build and haven’t done any updates since Monday
...and likely none today
Oh well four hours in a hockey rink sounds good too
I did buy some fancy paints for her though