Airfix 1:72 Avro Lancaster B.III (Special) The dambusters

[Pedronski]

Yes, I too will be building this bomber (a Xmas gift). I'm looking forward to this.

[T3hGuppy]

Great choice dude.

Look forward to this one.

[Raptor]

Such an awesome plane. Good luck, will be keeping an eye on this one

[HWGuderian23]

Great subject! Looking forward to see your Lancaster built ...
Good luck ...

[Pedronski]

Time for the first update...

This is going to be quiet a jump in skill level for me, and it's the first project I'm going to be airbrushing. I've also purchase the Airfix WWII RAF Vehicle Set and some modelling grass to build an airfield.


Here is what is effectively the first four pages of instruction:


1. One half of the fuselage and the cockpit was constructed... Nice and easy this bit. I've decided not to use the pilot.










2. Next to prime and paint I've used a right old mixture here: Black (Model Air), Cockpit Green (Tamiya) and Linoleum Deck Brown (Tamiya). The brown is for the leather seats.

I used Frogtape for delicate paint to mask the interior. I put a piece of tape on my cutting mat and cut useful lengths off as I required them.

I had to touch up the paintwork in places where I had carelessly brushed black onto the green etc. Decals were applied; pilots head-rest, navigator maps and control panels.
















3. The windows were added and the pieces assembled. I used PVA glue for the windows.

The fit was incredibly tight you can see how the paint was scrapped off the wing supports as they were pushed through the fuselage.










4. I've got to the other half of the fuselage and it's a case of prime and paint again, same paints.

I've also got to the first part where I've to choose A: The Canadian version or B: the Australian Version. I had already decided to complete the Aussie version but I did like the Canadian version with its machine gun sticking out of the lancaster's belly.

I'm sticking to the Aussie (B).


A or B?


Frogtape ready










I'm going to let this dry then I'll add the last decal and clear parts for this stage in the next update.

Thanks for all your comments it really is appreciated.

[Pedronski]

Here is my 2nd update. I've a lot of photos so I'm using a Photo collage program to group photo's together.


So I added the final cockpit decal and added the clear parts for the windows. The fuselage half were put together.

I then went about preparing the wings. I decided to try some maskol liquid mask to keep the surfaces clear where the wings would attach to the wheel wells. I then used regular masking tape and sprayed the necessary parts as per the instructions (see below)





The maskol left a few flakes on the edges so when I attached the wings they would need touching up with some black paint. No problem really, I think I may have to let the paint really cure before removing the maskol. I think this is a technique I can improve on.

While the upper wings were setting on the Lancaster I constructed the engine nacelles.

I then attached the lower wings and the engines and left it to dry.





At this point I realised the one of the wings halves had not been fitted properly so I had to tentatively separate and glue again



While waiting I constructed the bomb and it's trailer...





So it is now on my shelf waiting for me to complete the landing gear...



Which will be in my next update.

[patrickroos]

Wow, thats good progress!
Nice work

[Pedronski]

Here we are again for the latest in my Lancaster build...

I've completed the undercarriage and the props and fixed them in place.


Undercarriage and Props Added


Almost there...

I've got to mask the clear parts and prime and paint next (gulp) this is quite a daunting prospect but one I'm looking forward to.

Only a small update this time.

Until next time, thanks.

[T3hGuppy]

Looking good dude.

[Rob]

Great progress, looking good. Nice photos too.

[Filmman586]

sweet!

[Pedronski]

Here is the next update.

Here I've begun the masking. I've been putting this of for a while, so long I ended buying an Eduard Mask and some Maskol. Here's the results.







It was tricky but I reckon it was a lot easier than trying to cut out the masking tape myself.

I then went on to prime the plane, it's been drying for a week now and today I painted the bottom of the plane (and the sides an some of the top) black. I've used Vallejo grey primer and their Model Air Black.





I gave up trying to mask the 'metal' parts of the landing gear and just sprayed it all black. I'll repaint them later (I hope).

More to follow...

[eoinfinnegan]

Looks good, but I cant believe you spreyed over Stephan Gerrard good luck with the rest of the build

[Pedronski]

Looks like I'm not going to finish this one in time...