Lancfan's Revell Lancaster B.1 (special) *** DNF ***

[Martin R]

David,

Lovely work there, but I'm impressed that you've completely separated the wings Could you have just run the razor saw through the bottom half and the LE and TE of the top bit and then shim out the cut in the underside, thus bending the wing up, to get the right dihedral? I did something similar in reverse on the Matchbox Beau.

regards,

Martin

[lancfan]

I don't want to risk losing the aerofoil on a wing that size Martin, by separating the two I can protect the wing section.

David.

[AceSeafire]

This is fantastic. Can't wait to see this one finished

[ShaunW]

This is really good stuff David and I like your approach to correcting that wing dihedral - I would have probably left well alone! As an aside I've also been watching Endeavour - excellent series.

[lancfan]

Back again after finishing my first Mustang Anniversary GB build, time to set the wings up to the correct dihedral. A checking block has been made up to check the angle of the wing tips as I sand them to the new angle (L/H of the picture below) this plugs into the jig as a dummy centre section when checking the wing tips, note also the cut down wing rib glued into the end of the wing tip to hold the wing section true.


To hold the centre section in position whilst the glue dries I have made a clamping block which can be seen in the picture below.


Finally the first wing being held in position in the jig whilst the glue dries, and this is where it stays until the glue is fully cured when the exercise can be repeated for the other wing.


David.

[ShaunW]

This is really good to follow David. However, looking at your pics makes me wish, yet again, that I hadn't let my lego go, it would have been enjoying a new lease of life!

[lancfan]

Lego is very useful stuff Shaun, try the local charity shops they may get some in from time to time.
The port wing has been removed from the jig which has been swapped over to fit the starboard unit which is now in the jig and has been left to dry.


David.

[lancfan]

The wings have both now been altered and placed with the other finished parts in a worktray ready for assembly, the Lego has been dismantled ready for its next task. The engines will be the next parts to receive attention after which the airframe can then be assembled.


David.

[lancfan]

Whilst waiting for the glue and filler to dry on the radiators for the next picture I assembled the Airfix Tallboy bomb, the warhead has been painted in acrylic paint and sprinkled with bicarbonate of soda to give that part of the bomb a cast appearance.


This shot shows the four main stages in converting the radiators on the Revell lancaster using scrap Airfix parts. From left to right - The basic parts - the Revell old radiator cut back and refaced with a cut back Airfix radiator - the gaps filled - and finally the filler rubbed down.




David.

[lancfan]

All four radiators are now corrected, the next job will be to scratch build the eight carburettor air intakes for the sides of the cowlings, the kit parts are less than half the size they should be and are also the wrong shape, another of the puzzling anomalies that mar this otherwise great kit.


David.

[ShaunW]

Yet more interesting work David (the wings have turned out very well BTW). Not being a Lancaster expert, I was wondering what is the problem with the Revell rads? too narrow?

[lancfan]

Yet more interesting work David (the wings have turned out very well BTW). Not being a Lancaster expert, I was wondering what is the problem with the Revell rads? too narrow?

They are far too big Shaun, somewhere online there is a picture of a white French Lancaster temporarily fitted with one such radiator housing (sbd outer) and three normal ones and that is the only illustration of that type of cowling I can find. It must have been a variant radiator/cowling but where it came from and how many aircraft had it I do not know but it has to Have been very rare. Regardless of that why Revell chose to copy such an odd feature instead of the normal type I do not know.

David.

[lancfan]

The cowlings are now finished and have been attached to the wings.


David.

[lancfan]

On the full size Lancaster the top of the cowling meets the wing leading edge with a radius, the kit wrongly portrays this as a sharp change of angle so this has been corrected using thick acrylic paint to soften the seam.
The next stage will be to assemble the airframe ready for primer.


David.

[lancfan]

The airframe is now in one piece and the next step is to prime the whole thing ready for paint.



David.