Simon

Is that a camera fairing under the rear fusleage in the first photo? Simon

Yes, a fair point. I mentoned in the W.i.P. that I wasn't sure it would be allowed - I'd guess they'd usually use a smaller diesel roller, like these. Looks like theirs was u/s that day, so they borrowed someone else's... Cheers Simon

Thanks for all the kind words everyone. I think that's me and Airfix Lancasters done for the time being. It's a good kit, but some of the detail is a little disappointing - IM(v)HO. I already have my next two or three (or four, and possibly five) builds lined up, so back to the workbench for me - I'm thinking 1/72 Airfix Blenheim IV... Cheers Simon

All done now, and posted in the R.F.I. section: Cheers Simon

Hello everyone Just finished off my latest build, Airfix's 1/72 Lancaster III, so here are some photos. Firstly, a little background, as posted in the Work in Progress forum: EE136 WS-R 'Spirit of Russia' of 9 Squadron, one of the 'Ton Up' Lancs. On the night of September 5th 1943, it was on an Op to Mannheim, its 22nd mission. It encountered an enemy night fighter near the target, and the combat report reads as follows: 5/6 September 1943, Mannheim. 23.32, 20,000 ft. Lancaster ‘R’ Captain P/O/McCubbin E/A sighted by R.G. (Sgt. Elliott) following Lancaster. Pilot informed and Lancaster commenced to corkscrew. E/A closed on Lancaster from port quarter and R.G. opened up with a long burst at a range of 400 yards. E/A continued on a course to attack and broke away to port quarter after firing a long burst. M.U. (Sgt. Houbert) fired a few round only before being hit and took no further part in the combat. More attacks ensued making five in all, firing long bursts in each attack and the Lancaster’s R.G. also firing long bursts. During the final attack the E/A burst into flames as shots from the rear turret hit him. He dived beneath the starboard wing, obviously on fire. This was confirmed by the flight engineer and bomb aimer. This E/A is claimed as destroyed. No searchlights or flares were seen to be connected with this attack. The Lancaster suffered considerable damage, with bullet holes being too numerous to count. M.U. Gunner – 20 rounds Rear Gunner – 3,000 rounds The rear gunner was F/Sgt. James Lindsay Elliott, of Amble, Northumberland, who was awarded the D.F.M., his award being gazetted on May 19th 1944. As I mentioned in the W.i.P. thread, this is my second Airfix Lanc., and as with the first, it proved a bit of a struggle at times, but as I've already been through this before, I knew what to expect. Anyway, on to the photos... First up, some overall views. The base is my own, made with Illustrator and Photoshop, printed on an A3 inkjet and spraymounted onto a sheet of 5mm foam board. I got the shape, design and dimensions from the surviving remains of the dispersal pens at R.A.F. Bardney on Google Earth. And some close-ups. First off, here's an Erk updating the mission log for EE136, closely watched by his Chiefy: Some interested parties looking on: The car is the Ace British 8HP Tourer Staff Car, and the figures are a mix of Milicast Pioneer Troops, Bachmann Factory Workers, Gunthwaite and CMK Warsaw Pact Mechanics. Meanwhile, on the other side, the dispersal pen is about to have some holes filled in: The bomb flat truck is the venerable Airfix Austin K6 with scratch-built flatbed and Wee Friends wheels, and the road roller is the equally venerable Hales Aveling and Porter kit, with some added detail using scrap watch parts from Ebay. The red cement mixer is scratch-built from a 1/48 U.S. 500lb bomb, plus Evergreen i-strut and plastic card. Wheels for this are pram wheels from Langley Models, and N scale cart wheels from P&D Marsh on Ebay. So, another one for the display case, and I pondering what to embark upon next... Cheers Simon

So, just about finished, and ready to go to the 'Ready For Inspection' forum. Just this to add to the diorama: I'd wondered about adding another item for the dispersal repair crew, and I've come across several mentions of road rollers being used on airfields - usually they're mentioned when something crashes into one. They were usually war department diesel powered ones, but I thought I'd try something a little different (and didn't want to scratch-build one, TBH!). This is the vintage Hales 1/72 Aveling and Porter steam road roller, which has been pressed into use by the Pioneer crew: I've added quite a bit of detailing, and given it a 'worn' look. The various cogs and gears are old watch parts, and the coal is granulated sugar - it's not 100% accurate in detail, but looks better than the basic kit. I'm not sure it would be allowed so near a Lancaster in real life, but needs must, and it does add something a little different... So, all done and dusted, and I'll post some more pictures of the finished item in R.F.I. forum soon. Cheers Simon

So, continuing with the catch-up of the build... I'd decided at the beginning of the build to add some figures doing various jobs to the diorama. Here, an Erk is updating the mission tally for 'Spirit of Russia,' overseen by his Chief: The Erk is from the CMK F72041 R.A.F. Mechanics and Pilot set, and Chiefy is the Bachmann figure I mentioned earlier. They have some interested onlookers - firstly these two: The figure in dungarees is the Czech Air Force CMK figure, and the bloke on the left is from Milicast's Pioneer Troops set, both with new heads from Dan Taylor Modelworks: http://www.milicast.com/shop/product.php?productid=2657&cat=153&page=5 Also checking out the Erk's work are a couple of Officers and another Erk: These are all from Gunthwaite Miniatures. The Officers' red car is an Austin 8 from Ace. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Lancaster, the concrete dispersal pen seems to be in need of some repair: These two chaps, also from the Milicast set, are getting stuff ready for hole-filling: They're unloading stuff from an Airfix Austin K8, converted to a bomb flat, with replacement wheels from Wee Friends: The concrete mixer to prepare the filler was scratch-built, with the drum coming from a 1/48 U.S. 500lb bomb, chassis and frame from Evergreen I-beam and plastic card, and the wheels from a set of 4mm pram wheels from Langley Models and N scale wagon wheels from P&D Marsh on Ebay.: So, getting there, but one more item to add, of which more soon... Simon

Thanks Mike - and yes, I did pick up a copy of this a while ago. It's a very informative book. Simon

They are indeed much, much better. I've used them on an Italeri Stirling and a couple of Lancasters, and they're just perfect. Simon

Blimey, it's more than 2 months since my last update . Apologies, but I have been getting on with it, just haven't got round to posting the photos. So, first up, as I mentioned in my previous post, I'd been hunting round for some alternatives for R.A.F. ground crew figures. Here is a set of railway figures from Bachmann: They're not 100% perfect, and are painted oddly in glossy enamel which I couldn't remove, but after a repaint and a replacement head from Dan Taylor Models: This chap is from the CMK Czech Air Force set, again with a new head from Dan Taylor Models: I've also done a few odds and ends for the diorama: And finally for today, the turrets were all completed and installed, so the Lancaster is all done. Gun barrels are from Quickboost: The next update will be about the various bits and bobs for the base and diorama, so more soon... Cheers Simon

Henry In case you hadn't seen it, there's a photo of KH114 with nose art and the name 'Donald's Digit' when it was with 159 Sqn here: http://www.rquirk.com/159photos/150photos1.htm Simon

Hello R.A.A.F. Wellington serials are listed here: http://www.adf-serials.com.au/wellington.htm I think some of your serials may be incorrect? NG490 is a Lancaster serial - could be NC490? WB855 is a Shackleton serial. Maybe NB853...? BTW, there's a photo of NB981 here: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1262250 Regards Simon

Thanks for posting that - they look the dog's whatsits. Some R.A.F. ones in 1/48 and 1/72 would be handy... Simon

Mike Are these any help? http://www.warbirdphotographs.com/LCBW4/FW190-A4-48less2.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-515-0026-20A%2C_Focke-Wulf_Fw_190_A-5%2C_Wartung.jpg and these photos of a Bf-109: http://axis-and-allies-paintworks.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?132.540 Simon

Like this one on Ebay? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1959-airfix-1-72-junkers-ju-87b-stuka-vintage-bagged-kit-unopened-type-1-header/152873156497?hash=item2397f33f91 or like this, which I think has the same text on the back: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-1960s-airfix-bagged-stuka-476070142 Simon