WV908

At a guess, yes. European, FE, York and the tropical carburettor type. The York type is a bit wider than the FE radiator but just as deep. In general though, ignore PA474 for Lanc references as she was such a late airframe and has been modded so much post war that a good chunk of the fittings are Lincoln* and York (spar caps are even re-machined Shackleton stock). Ignore R5868 as she’s a Trigger’s broom, equally ignore NX611 as the VII is vastly different in fittings (plus she should also have a Martin 250CE) and ignore KB889 as she’s a MK.X, unless of course you want a representative X as she’s spot on. For a ‘proper’ Lancaster you have to make the trip to Australia for W4783. As such, this airframe is the only survivor that can accurately be built OOB with no mods at all from ANY of the Lanc kits currently in production, plus the HKM Lanc of course. I’m not sure about the WNW kit yet *technically Lanc parts, but are accepted on the whole as changes primarily for Lincoln production Cheers, WV908

HKM Lanc has the cabin cooling intake and I would expect the WNW Lanc to have it too. According to the Spec, the WNW Lanc has more variable options, but both only have the regular (non FE) intakes and radiators. Interestingly, the WNW Lanc has parts to build both RR Merlins and Packard ones! The WNW Lanc has the early tailwheel which I need for PA474, meaning I just need to hope out for aftermarket treaded mainwheels and will probably have to do the rudder mod myself. As a note, don’t use PA474’s radiators as gospel for an FE Lanc - her’s are the York type. You want to be looking at the NX series Mk.VII survivors for that Cheers, WV908

*follows link* *sees sprue shots* *puts on backorder at hannants* *passes out*

Hmm, I think the funds set aside for the HK Lanc are going to be put into a bigger pool for this. The detail in the stressed / quilted skinning alone.... wow. Cheers, WV908

So the chances are then that this has been in development longer than the HKM Lanc. It’ll be an interesting comparison when both are out, but i’m still going for the HKM one and hoping out for aftermarket treaded mainwheels. Cheers, WV908

It’s been mentioned on Facebook that the third announcement is a Manchester. Not sure how much travel that rumour has, but there you go. I can’t be the only person that thinks this Lanc is absolutely pointless? The HKM Lanc is literally in production now / will be within the next few weeks and there is already a dambusters conversion for it. People may push the detail aspect, but I can seriously see this thing being North of £500, if not £600. Surely WNW would have been better off doing a Halifax, Stirling or Wellington or sticking closer to home with an 0400 or a Vimy? No? Cheers, WV908

Hi all, as the title states - does anyone know of surviving documention in the form of plans and drawings that cover the changes to the Brabazon design from the Mk.1 to the Mk.2? Specifically with regards to the undercarriage, engine and wing changes. I gather that the inboard leading edges of the wings would have changed substantially including a rather large root extension. Also is there any evidence of a jet powered development of the Brabazon? I imagine a swept wing version would have been quite a game changer if it fell at the right time. Cheers, WV908

Both for 1/72 and 1/48. In other scales there is pretty much nothing Cheers, WV908

Where did they do their market research? Yemen? Cheers, WV908

Equally that’s what also makes it so easy to do. Split the three special tails across two sheets with plenty of ‘regular’ serials chucked in and I reckon they would have a good place in the market, no? Cheers, WV908

Evening all. Just as the topic title states, there are practically no decals available for current Tornado GR.4 schemes and this quite frankly is puzzling given the Tornado’s current popularity and rapidly approaching out of service date. Yes, there are xtradecal sets with numerous special tails from 2006-2015.... but; of all the aircraft depicted in those schemes only two are actually still about and neither are in service. This leaves the only option for a current, in service Tornado GR.4 down to one sheet and one aircraft - ZA601. Even so, that’s with 617sqn markings to boot and just happens to have the tail code numbers. The tail numbers are the main issue here and although you can buy sheets with numbers, there is absolutely nothing on the market to portray the three current special tails or indeed anything that is even remotely useful without buying multiple different decal sets to mix and match numbers and finding you run out of ‘O’ ‘Z’ ‘G’ and ‘A’ decals all too quick. Honestly it would not be difficult for one the major decal manufactures to do a sheet which is literally Tornado serials + tail codes and at least the very simple tail art and 41sqn markings for ZA607. So why has no-one done it? It’s very frustrating for modelling RAF Tornados unless you want to do a GR.1 from 1980-something or a Gulf war crate... Cheers, WV908

Hi Plastic Hacker, Thanks for the links. I can’t help but think the female spartan looks like Olive of Popeye fame, no? Cheers, WV908

Was any more ever found of this? I’d be interested in seeing the photos from Barbados and Jamaica as I couldn’t find anything unfortunately Cheers, WV908

Sorry everyone, early morning brain haha, just ignore me. Very nice cad shots, it’s looking a treat 🎩

Daft question. Not being overly clued up on the S.5 variants, and having only seen the crate stuffed in the dark in London, what are the main differences between the S.5 and the S.5B? Also, will we be able to build either from the same boxing? Cheers, WV908

Technically this is good news - it means the market is still open for Airfix or Revell to do one in 1/72 which will actually be 90%+ right rather than the ‘ooh we found one bad drawing, let’s mess this up’ company. Cheers, WV908

Hi Troy, thanks for the link, I did not know that! The bomb bay floor situation is quite bad but I intend to build it with the doors shut so would just have to modify the cockpit. The issue with the canopy is that everything forward of the escape hatch is wrong - the curves are all too generous, the angle of the windscreen is too shallow, the reverse curve of the actual front canopy frame is horribly underrepresented and i’m pretty sure the front two windscreen panels are the wrong size and shape. Cheers, WV908

Hi gingerbob, as sure as I am that there are plenty around i’m not after a tamiya canopy as I hate the shape of it - i’m after a correct aftermarket alternative before I look to buying the kit. Saying that, if / when I do get one i’ll send you a spare Cheers, WV908

Hi all, does anyone know of any aftermarket / replacement canopies for a Lancaster in 1/48 scale, and if so where to find one? Cheers, WV908

Hi John, That’s exactly what I was after as although it’s not 1994, it is the same coat of paint. Cheers, WV908

Thanks for the replies chaps, no serials it is then. Incidentally; because I have the RN boxing, I am in need of a belly tank - but I don’t think the 1/72 one is accurate enough for me to make a 3D printed copy of it. Does anyone make one? Cheers, WV908

Hi all, a quick question. When RAF Buccaneer S.2B XX894 (now taxxiable at Brunty) was repainted into a Royal Navy 809 NAS scheme in 1994, did she have underwing serials applied? Evidently she does not presently have them, but I can find no photos from the mid 90’s to prove wether she had them or not when she wore this ‘retro’ scheme in service. Cheers, WV908

Ah ok, I might ask if it has the bulged doors then. Expect to see a sales post pop up from me in a few days - it’s so I can afford it 😢 Cheers, WV908

The premise of the wire frame version of the cad surely is to get the basic dimensions right, no? The main body and wings look fine - the intakes look to sit a bit high, the airbrakes are too thin / not bulbous enough and the nose is miles off. Hopefully these are all things they will sort. Cheers, WV908

I’m currently trying to decide from the cad which bit is the worst.... I think the airbrakes are winning at present with the nose not far behind. Please get it right...... Cheers, WV908 Edit: typo