Dambuster 'T Tommy' Airfix 1/72

[CedB]

My next build has been waiting in my stash for me to hone my skills and I hope I'm now able to do it justice:

Paul A H did a kit review in April 2013 which has some nice sprue shots and detail so I won’t repeat it here. MetroRacing also did a WiP thread which I shall be reviewing, frequently.

As you may know, Airfix reserved 'The' Dambuster, G George, for the starter kit so I was initially a little disappointed when I looked at the schemes. Then I was lucky enough to attend a talk in April by George 'Johnny' Johnson, the last living British Dambuster. I posted about the talk here, but suffice it to say I'm now more than happy to build Johnny's aircraft, 'T Tommy'.

The Dambuster's website tells me:

The American Joe McCarthy who should have been the first aircraft away had a last minute problem when he discovered a coolant leak in the starboard (right) outer engine of AJ-Q "Queenie" during the warm up. There was no way "Queenie" would be able to fly, but luckily one spare aircraft had been flown in that afternoon and bombed up in anticipation of a problem somewhere. McCarthy and his crew switched to the spare AJ-T "Tommy" which had not been fitted with the spotlights or VHF radio because there had been no time. McCarthy reasoned that he did not need the spotlights because his target, the Sorpe, did not require the height precision that the other gravity dams did.

I've bought some bits to help and, hopefully, improve the build:

Even though I build wheels up and put my finished models on the ceiling, I enjoy doing the internals and this is my first time using Eduard zoom. We'll see how I get on. Canopy masks are a must for this one IMHO as there's lots of clear plastic. I also bought the QuickBoost gun kit but I've not decided whether to use it yet - the Airfix parts are quite detailed as shown in this comparison:

It makes me shudder looking at the Airfix sprue mounting and I've not cut resin before so the likelihood is I'll break something and end up using a mix of both.

The one thing I really can't bear to do is leave out the crew, or at least Johnny in his 'office'. The kit only comes with the pilot and that means finding figures for the other crew members. Beard (Simon) is kindly exchanging some spare Airfix crew which should arrive in the post soon. Despite a lot of time (and I mean a lot of time) searching the 'net I've been unable to find anything easy to find / use so I've also ordered the Airfix A01747 RAF Personnel set. The only pictures I could find of this are here. I'm hoping I can perform some plastic surgery (see what I did there?). We will have to see how I get on (gulp). One bonus is that, as the Dambuster missions were (very) low level, I don't think I need to worry about oxygen masks. I'll find some more reference shots (hopefully) for the crew clothing like this one:

Well I've seen the film, read (Johnny's) book, heard the story, so time to build the model. Hold on to your hats boys!

[Beard]

A crew is on it's way to as I type. I'll be following your work, if only to see them gainfully employed.

If you're looking for other personel, have a look for the Revell's RAF set. There's a review of them at the same site... here's a link: http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=1710

Edited to insert link and correct my dreadful spelling.

Edited June 29, 2015 by Beard

[GREG DESTEC]

Hi Ced. This looks like another epic build. Good luck. I have the Revell RAF set in 1/72 and have found them to be very nicely detailed. The old Airfix RAF set is ok but has loads of flash!

[CedB]

Hi Simon, thanks and welcome! The Revell RAF kit looked like a good choice and I spent ages trying to hunt one down, to no avail - all the stockists say 'Withdrawn' or just out of stock. Then I saw Stew's post saying that they don't really fit anyway so I'm sort of pleased I couldn't find one - they're not cheap! Then I just saw Greg's post (Hi Greg!) and now I'm in two minds - believe me, I need two as I think I might be losing one of them

I did think about trying some resin moulding by chopping bits of other figures but sanity resumed - way above my modelling pay grade!

I will try to adapt some figures though. If I can put a flying jacket on Gromit I'm sure I can at leat try these (whoops, madness returns!)

[GREG DESTEC]

Hi Ced the figures are a bit big, especially in 1/72 fighters. In a larger aircraft such as the Lanc they may fit better. The set includes ground crew and some standing aircrew as well a a dog! I have the Luftwaffe set as well and their seated pilots are too small!! Go figure....! I recon with a bit of sanding etc they should fit your Lanc. Some come with oxygen masks for your in flight options.

[Beard]

The Airfix personel set has a couple of pilots but I'm not sure they'll be suitable for your purposes. I also read Stew's post saying the Revell ones are too big (the PSR review says that as well). Hopefully (Royal Mail permitting), you might find that an entire crew drops through your letterbox in the next couple of days.

[rob85]

Ced I have no pilots just a 1/48 one... don't know how.

Very happy you have started this! Really will be a cracking build, I have done one so know you can do it justice.

Rob

[Spookytooth]

I think I might just follow this one, if I may Ced.

Got this one in the stash but not the goodies though.

Simon.

[philtn]

Hey, I will follow too....

tbh the quickboost MGs really don't look that fancy. they are abit smaller and thus probably correct in scale, but drilled out

airfix ones might also look pretty good

Anyway, good luck with your build and have fun.

[Nigel Heath]

I think your skills are pretty well honed now and look forward to seeing this one come together.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Cookenbacher]

Ced, you don't waste one second between builds! Looking forward to this one.

[philp]

Ced,

If you need more than what Beard sent you let me know. Pretty sure I have a couple plane loads of lads who would love a transfer from this side of the pond so they could have at it.

Including the 2 from my Defiant kit I just picked up and there is the Dornier crew (who, if you hide them in a turret might be not be too treasonous).

Edited June 30, 2015 by philp

[Stew Dapple]

Hi Ced, room for one more on top?*

I agree with Gregor's point that the Revell RAF boys ruggerbugger physiques would probably be less of an issue in a Lanc but if you can't find a set in any case then I suppose their size becomes a moot point... however if you can source a set it is worth the investment as you can use the heads to add a bit of variety to standard Airfix aircrew in a sort of grisly styrene head-swap orgy. The various heads in the set are well moulded and don't look out of scale transplanted onto the Airfix Jeffs.

The Quickboost guns look quite nice but so do the Airfix ones, I've got the Lanc BII in the stash (an offer I couldn't refuse from Airfix as it included the Bomber Support set for £25 the lot) so will be keen to see how you get on with the BI. I do feel that with some of the resin aftermarket stuff you can buy it doesn't always add a lot to the parts it is supposed to replace though.

Anyhow, please proceed at your leisure Ced...

Cheers,

Stew

* Help yourself!

[GREG DESTEC]

Just checked my Revell aircrew sets, and realised that theres no dog in the 1/72 RAF set. The 1/48 ICM figures has a dog and a WAAF. I'm getting my scales and kits mixed up. I should probably stick to one or the other!! Ced if you're struggling to get what you need i'm sure i could spare a few of mine. Looking forward to your progress on this one.

[CedB]

Morning all, and another bright sunny one here!

Hi Ced the figures are a bit big, especially in 1/72 fighters. In a larger aircraft such as the Lanc they may fit better. The set includes ground crew and some standing aircrew as well a a dog! I have the Luftwaffe set as well and their seated pilots are too small!! Go figure....! I recon with a bit of sanding etc they should fit your Lanc. Some come with oxygen masks for your in flight options.

Just checked my Revell aircrew sets, and realised that theres no dog in the 1/72 RAF set. The 1/48 ICM figures has a dog and a WAAF. I'm getting my scales and kits mixed up. I should probably stick to one or the other!! Ced if you're struggling to get what you need i'm sure i could spare a few of mine. Looking forward to your progress on this one.

Thanks Greg - Looks like there's going to be no easy solution to this...

You're very kind to offer some spares - thank you! We can have a joint ponder later and see what's practical

No dog? Probably the PC brigade lobbying the manufacturer to avoid the 'N' word!!?? Johnny had some strong words about guy's dog being renamed 'Digger' for the new film, especially as it meant re-writing history when the breach was reported - 'that word' was also the breach report.

The Airfix personel set has a couple of pilots but I'm not sure they'll be suitable for your purposes. I also read Stew's post saying the Revell ones are too big (the PSR review says that as well). Hopefully (Royal Mail permitting), you might find that an entire crew drops through your letterbox in the next couple of days.

Thanks Simon - I shall pounce on the postman later and we can have a joint ponder... your kindness will, hopefully, be rewarded!

Ced I have no pilots just a 1/48 one... don't know how.

Very happy you have started this! Really will be a cracking build, I have done one so know you can do it justice.

Rob

Welcome Rob - fingers crossed!

I think I might just follow this one, if I may Ced.

Got this one in the stash but not the goodies though.

Simon.

Hi Simon and welcome! Good to see you

Hey, I will follow too....

tbh the quickboost MGs really don't look that fancy. they are abit smaller and thus probably correct in scale, but drilled out

airfix ones might also look pretty good

Anyway, good luck with your build and have fun.

Thanks Phil - drilling out the guns sounds, gulp, interesting. I may have a try although I've not done this before, although I have the tools!

I think your skills are pretty well honed now and look forward to seeing this one come together.

Cheers,

Nigel

Thanks Nigel, that means a lot to me! I hope I can do her, and your confidence in me, justice

Ced, you don't waste one second between builds! Looking forward to this one.

Thanks Cookie! I'm on it!

Ced,

If you need more than what Beard sent you let me know. Pretty sure I have a couple plane loads of lads who would love a transfer from this side of the pond so they could have at it.

Including the 2 from my Defiant kit I just picked up and there is the Dornier crew (who, if you hide them in a turret might be not be too treasonous).

Thanks Phil, very kind and, considering three of the crew were from your side of the pond, very appropriate too! I'm wavering at the moment (see below)

Hi Ced, room for one more on top?*

I agree with Gregor's point that the Revell RAF boys ruggerbugger physiques would probably be less of an issue in a Lanc but if you can't find a set in any case then I suppose their size becomes a moot point... however if you can source a set it is worth the investment as you can use the heads to add a bit of variety to standard Airfix aircrew in a sort of grisly styrene head-swap orgy. The various heads in the set are well moulded and don't look out of scale transplanted onto the Airfix Jeffs.

The Quickboost guns look quite nice but so do the Airfix ones, I've got the Lanc BII in the stash (an offer I couldn't refuse from Airfix as it included the Bomber Support set for £25 the lot) so will be keen to see how you get on with the BI. I do feel that with some of the resin aftermarket stuff you can buy it doesn't always add a lot to the parts it is supposed to replace though.

Anyhow, please proceed at your leisure Ced...

Cheers,

Stew

* Help yourself!

Hi Stew! Plenty of room for another (and you score 1, fnaar fnaar!). Interesting to hear you've been having a head-swap orgy - kinky! I may need your help later on the plastic surgery techniques!

I'm beginning to think I may be taking on too much attempting to include a full crew. According to the Dambusters website there were seven:

• Pilot - Flt. Lt. Joseph Charles McCarthy RCAF
• Nav - FO Donald Arthur MacLean RCAF
• Bomb Aimer - Sgt. George Leonard Johnston
• Flight Engineer - Sgt. William Radcliffe
• Wireless Op - Flt. Sgt. Leonard Eaton
• Front Gunner - Sgt. Ronald Batson and
• Rear Gunner - FO David Rodger RCAF

If I get really sloppy then I guess the Nav, F/E and W/Op wouldn't be visible... but it was hard for me to type that, let alone implement it.

Time to stop pondering or I'll get analysis paralysis again. Let's wait until Beard's kindly donated figures and the Airfix ones arrive and we can have a joint think!

[Biggles87]

I'll be watching also Ced, I've got an Airfix Lancaster somewhere. I would suggest one of your RB saws for detaching the resin bits, just don't inhale!

Good Luck

John

PS finished before B of B GB?

[Josip]

.303 Brownings were rifle calibre weapons and as such had quite thin barrels. I'vse seen one up close to.50 American Browning heavy machine gun and the difference was quite noticeable. I own this Airfix kit and machine guns are among the worst parts in this kit.

So my advice is to use resin replacements. And don't cut the, Saw them off.

Josip

[Winenut]

I'm in.

Too scared to build something this big myself but I'll check the stash for the lads to put backsides on seats and if I have them and you want them you've got them.

Might have to do a bit of surgery to get them in the right positions but if you know what Airfix did to the poor souls in their BV141... I think we'll be safe

Chocks away on a cracking project

[CedB]

Welcome all!

I'll be watching also Ced, I've got an Airfix Lancaster somewhere. I would suggest one of your RB saws for detaching the resin bits, just don't inhale!
Good Luck
John

PS finished before B of B GB?

Hi John - using the saws is a good idea, thanks; I've read the thread warning about resin so I'll be wearing my mask, underwater!

Finished before the BoB GB? Well, maybe, but it's HOT here (for us hot blooded English blokes) - over 80^o today (that's nearly 30 in new money), and that... slowwwssss... meeee.... down

.303 Brownings were rifle calibre weapons and as such had quite thin barrels. I'vse seen one up close to.50 American Browning heavy machine gun and the difference was quite noticeable. I own this Airfix kit and machine guns are among the worst parts in this kit.

So my advice is to use resin replacements. And don't cut the, Saw them off.

Josip

Thanks Josip - tips received and understood!

I'm in.

Too scared to build something this big myself but I'll check the stash for the lads to put backsides on seats and if I have them and you want them you've got them.

Might have to do a bit of surgery to get them in the right positions but if you know what Airfix did to the poor souls in their BV141... I think we'll be safe

Chocks away on a cracking project

Hi Bruce - well, that got me searching! I built the BV141, I think it was after your WiP, but I'd forgotten about the crew... I loved the post "Q: What's got three heads and two feet? A: The Airfix BV141 crew". Of course I'd forgotten

I spent some time today watching 'how to stretch sprue' videos on YouTube in preparation for some crew surgery. YouTube's great isn't it (sarcastically) - it lets any idiot post a 15 minute video starting with loud, sorry that should be LOUD music and random pictures, spend 5 minutes telling you about their life and then completely fail to do what they set out to demonstrate. Oh good grief. Why do they post their failures - 15 minutes of 'fame'?

The Airfix boys have arrived:

I don't want to get closer than that at the moment - like a pig farmer (or any meat grower really) I don't want you getting attached to any of them before they go under the knife / over the candle. That said you can probably see that they're not styrene so my research has probably been wasted. They're the sort of plastic that, er, toy soldiers are made of: surprise! And Greg's right, there's loads of flash, some of it in tender places, but nothing a sharp scalpel won't sort out!

I've also done some modelling but nothing worth a picture - just sorting out parts for IG and black spraying and drilling some holes, hopefully in the right places.

[Gremlin56]

Nice choice of next project Ced, I'm in

[CedB]

Hi Julian and welcome

An interim post as this damned heat is getting to me and I may be resting tonight. OK, I know, but it's hot for England - the Health people are issuing warnings and everything, so there...

I've decided I need to take the sprues out of the box and put them somewhere safe as there's lots of fine detail and I don't want to break anything:

What a lot of bits. I've used Jaime's tip for preparing smaller parts for spraying and marked some with a pencil showing their number - can't remember where on BM I saw that tip and I can't find it in a search now; sorry and thanks to whoever gave me the idea:

BTW that white plastic packing is great for this job. It's sort of bubble stuff (technical term) so it's very easy to push a cocktail stick into. I've started collecting it. I should probably stop now... but can you ever have enough and you never know when it might 'come in'

[CedB]

OK it's cooled off so I've sprayed the IG:

I think I'll hand paint the black when I've had a chance to check the PE positions.

[CedB]

Couldn't resist cementing the spars to give them time to dry overnight:

As with all the Airfix new tools I'm making sure there's ​absolutely no paint or flash on the joins. I also remembered someone posting that it's possible to assemble the spars the wrong way round - they don't interchange but you need to make sure the wheel bay detail is on the inside on both. Also checked, as per the instructions, that they're at 90^o, although this isn't helped by the steps on either side - Mk I eyeball required with the T-square.

Just checked MetroRacing's thread again and I must remember to fill the ejection marks and 'this side' of the drilled holes for the bomb motor. Should have done that before painting, rats. I feel some weathering coming on.

[MikeW]

What's this then - a new build somehow starting and me missing the Grand Opening moment. I blame the heat too - Hot as blazers here ( always picture some sort of fiery, striped jacket with that remark ) and I have taken the next five days off - a sort of Canada day, 4th of July fest if you will. Will need a bunch of cool ones to deal with the temperature - Beer, it's not just for breakfast anymore! - and I'm looking forward to seeing all sorts of pretty amazing, and utterly stunning interior detail in this one. No pressure mind.

[rob85]

That's the spirit Ced! Crack on a killer heat (probably the headline today on the sun, ha they have never been is Sicily when it's on fire and over 40 degrees) be dammed!

Good idea not to paint the whole spare, the fit is tight and I bent one a bit due to paint when I did mine! My next one should be in the post now along with its escort spitfire xix and mk iia!

Cheers

Rob