Build Of The Year Entry - 1/32 HKM Lancaster

[snapdragon]

I'm starting this thread now as there will be a lot going in to this once Eduard gets their act in gear!

I have a basic overall plan for this in place and there will be refinements as once the kit arrives I can add to my vision of the finished article and make additions and changes as needed.


The first things I have are replacement gun barrels from Master in Poland



I also picked up the cockpit set from airscale at Telford

https://airscale.co.uk/store.php#!/1-32-Scale-Avro-Lancaster-B-Mk-1/p/121136238/category=16104112

This set seems to be a half way set between Eduard and the kit IP as you have etched sets to which you put on decals. I will photo the set but it does have a half finished rushed feel to it. It will be interesting to see what Eduard does.


in my plan I will use masks for insignia and squadron codes

https://shop.maketar.com/?product=132-raf-roundels-fin-flashes-type-b
https://shop.maketar.com/?product=132-raf-roundels-fin-flashes-type-c-c1
https://shop.maketar.com/?product=132-raf-24-inch-letters-numbers

On Checking I see that some are not correct in size, so I have emailed Maketar to see if the correct stuff is possible


I'll see what can be done for aircraft S/N and stencilling will be decals.

These will be a nice addition to the engines especially with the text in red as on the real ones.




Colours

Vallejo and Xtreme Metals using original chipset colours. Lancasters had a colour called "Night Black" on the under surface which had a slight blue cast to it as well as being a non-reflective matt. I will do tests with AK's Japanese cowling blue-black and Vallejo NATO black - both primer and actual colour to see which is closer.

Insignia colours will be from Vallejo range using paints that have a 1-2% shade variance which is not noticeable to us.... only computers!


This should be a good build!



James

[steve131]

I like the Rolls Royce names do they come in 24 scale also , how long do you think this beast will take to complete

[Morris]

Go SD go! This one will be epic!

[chill]

I like the Rolls Royce names do they come in 24 scale also , how long do you think this beast will take to complete

he has a year

[snapdragon]

Sorry, Steve. Only 1/32. You could contact icon air and ask if they can do 1/24.

I'm on the hunt for seat belts and have contacted HGW to see what they can do.

The Lancaster should be in the post this week!

[snapdragon]

Maketar has responded to my email and they will be doing a Lancaster masking set and should be available in a couple of weeks.

Nothing from Eduard yet (probably March etc) and I am still hunting for Lancaster seatbelt info!

[Morris]

James - went to the Dambusters movie but it's hard to tell what type of seat belts they are (?) - (sorry to poke a pic in ur thread...)

[snapdragon]

That's fine, Morris anybody is welcome to chip in with references.

The pilots seat has the standard RAF seat belts and I believe the rest of the seats have lap belts. I will have to buy quite a few HGW spitfire sets!

[Mark]

Seatbelts from HGW incoming

https://aeroscale.kitmaker.net/modules. ... &sid=31042

[snapdragon]

OOOH! Nice!

Thanks for the heads up, Mark


The kit is currently somewhere between here and China. I do have a tracking number but Royal Mail/Parcelforce are very lax about putting them in their system because they can take their time over delivery. It has been a week so it should be due!


I am going to have to pull a rabbit out of the hat to compete with Morris' entry so a trip to the air gunners memorial museum at the Yorkshire Air museum where they have Lancaster Turrets on display and I can have a look at the wiring and hydraulic systems of the turrets will be a good thing to try and add.

[snapdragon]

As I write this. the Lancaster is in UK Customs awaiting them to get their fingers out!

However, I have had information about detail sets.

Master models' Browning set is already with me as is the control panel from Airscale.

Top Notch have a camouflage mask for the Lancaster for £20, but it is vinyl and I am not keen on that as it has issues with temperature and doesn't have a long shelf life and suffers shrinkage. also it is not as flexible as the Kabuki paper and so there is difficulty in getting the things correctly into panel lines so that paint doesn't bleed!

Maketar have masks for roundels available in Kabuki paper. I also think I can get custom masks for squadron and aircraft serial no from them


Eduard have Avro Lancaster B Mk.I cockpit, Avro Lancaster B Mk.I seatbelts STEEL canopy masks. which is a good start.

I will get the HGW seatbelts. I think they are going to be better.

Things are starting to come through from the AM guys now! I do need to go through all the Lancaster maintenance stuff I have for wiring, hydraulics etc.



Getting excited now!

[Morris]

Getting excited now!

We too! We too!!!

[snapdragon]

not excited, but miffed and wanting to get this beast into my hands!

It has been in customs now 2 days "awaiting clearance"! Makes you want to

It looks like I will be having to pay customs fees on this for some reason. It should have gone through without stopping, but I will know what happened when I finally get to see the customs labels!

2 days at the hub in Birmingham. It makes you wonder just what they are doing there!!

[snapdragon]

I have been tracking the package and indeed, customs charges has been raised. I have no idea how much they want at this moment in time until the official notification arrives.

This is driving me nuts!

[snapdragon]

Been on to parcel force this morning.

Charges of some £25.03 have been raised but NOT CONFIRMED!.

This is descending into farce!

Maybe once they have removed digits etc and got their act going then I have stumped up and received it I can complain about just how long this took and get a refund etc!

[steve131]

Hope this Dick Turpin episode doesn't take the shine off what should be a stunning model Snaps

[snapdragon]

It just stinks of ineptitude and jobsworth idiocy.

Once I get the kit in my hands I shall go to town and maybe get my MP involved!

[chill]

Could have been worse ,

[snapdragon]

FINALLY!


This beast will be in my hands tomorrow morning! They have revised the charges and it is.... the same at £25.03. Payment is done and I look forwards to a large box tomorrow morning!


All I need now is for Eduard and the rest to get themselves in gear!



I am very

[Morris]

I will be filing your build log for my effort one day - all I can say is woo hoo too!!!