andy s

Thanks for all the kind comments guys, this model was built for an eighty five year old ex RAF Tempest mechanic, I just hope he likes it. Cheers Drew

This is my first post in ages due to work and other distractions so here is my latest, the big Tiffy by Airfix. The kit is not the easiest to put together but looks absolutely stunning once built, my crappy photos really do not do it justice. Aftermarket goodies include eduard guns, wheels and photo etch, Masters brilliant rockets and Airdoc instruments, I also added quite a few scratchbuilt details including a new ignition harness with spark plugs, flap details and U/C uplocks which are missing on the kit.

I received this kit in the post this morning, a wedding anniversary present from my lovely wife, and had a quick look through the sprus. I bought the Royal class version of the kit knowing all about the issues not long after it was released and am quite willing to correct what I can. The one thing on the older kit that has not been mentioned much is the shape of the oil cooler panel directly behind the spinner, it is awful and ruins the nose profile. Thankfully this has been corrected on the new kit and overall Eduard has done a great job after being absolutely crucified after the last release, so respect to them for doing what a lot of manufacturers wouldn't.

I agree mr Shackleton himself really doesn't like Revell, I have an idea why, but he seems to forget one thing, the MR2 which Airfix used their box of tricks on is in fact a cut and shut AEW 2 is it not. Also the interrior which Airfix copied is an AEW2 interrior is it not, if we are going to keep on about accuracy maybe the Airfix effort isn,t as accurate as certain people like to make out. At the end of the day it is up to the modeller and for me the Revell Shack just looks better, kit sales will determine which kit people like best as most of us are not part of presavation groups.

Just to point out guys the Revell man did say that the sprues and presumably the built up model were from test shots and improvements have been made to the masters so accurassy issues may have already been addressed by Revell. Secondly I was disappointed at the Airfix staff's reticence to talk about a release date for their AEW version. Please don't get me wrong I am a massive Airfix fan I even joined their club on their stand yesterday. Ian

I will now post on my own behalf and having seen both in the flesh even with minor alleged inaccurices the Revell kit looks more impressive in every way.The Airfix effort just looks clunky and heavy handed in comparrison and I,as in most modellers would go for the Revell kit because it just looks better in every way, all you had to do is look around at the piles of discounted Airfix Shacks on sale at Telford and I think you have your awnser.

I am posting here on my brother's login sat in the hotel in Telford. Well I've spent a lot of time today examining both the Airfix and Revell Shack kits and to be honest Revell have played a blinder! Their AEW Mk.2 is OUTSTANDING, admittedly the sprues on show are the test shots and the Revell Bossman on the stand (purple jumper) ststed the following: A _ The reason for lack of gen and low profile on their Shack is that they have been heavily committed with the Star Wars kits and their Shacks molds are on the way to the manufacturer the kits should be back in Europe and ready to go on sale Jan/Feb 2016 and maybe a bit cheaper than the catalogue price. B. The fuselage has been done with the seperate nose so they can do other versions possibly a Mk1 and T Mk.4 or even a Mk.3! Clever. C. There is not a lot of rear compartment detal, just ribs by the rear door,the Airfix consoles are wasted anyway as yo cannot see them. D. The aircraft they measured up was the St. Mawgan gate guard. E. There is a gap on the transparencies sprue for nose glasing and turret glazing. F. The surface detail on the Revell kit has to be seen to be believed it is beautiful,well done Revell. G.The only snag I saw on the built model was that it was not shiny enough as they were high gloss in service but that is a matter of preference. H. The Airfix stall guys were very reticent about a release date for their AEW version saying quote "if ever", i wonder if he had seen the Revell offering. All this said well done to both firms for both doing a Shack, and thank you. Cheers Ian Shaw [email protected]

Sorry I did mean the 1/48 kit, looks like quickboost missed a trick as I wouldn,t buy a replacement cowl just to save a few minutes of assembly. I wonder why Eduard havn,t made a correct resin replacement?

Hi don't know if this has been asked before but does anyone know if the quickboost resin cowl corrects the nose shape of the Eduard kits? Cheers Drew

Looks like they have done the same as their older 1/48 mk1 Spit and moulded one inside the other, you can just see the bottom of the inner piece at the bottom of the pilots sliding canopy.

Hi Ian, nice start on the Shack I must admit I didn't,t know the Newark Shack had vipers in the outer nacelles, looks like a typical Raf after thought as it's very rough! Had a thought just now if you get one of the new tool Shacks and I get the other we could do a joint build like we did with the Skyraiders to make things interesting, let me know your thoughts. A question for Rich-w82, do you actually build any models as I haven't seen any of your work on any of the modellers forums? All the best Drew

Wow this has got quite heated over an aircraft that is not mainstream, in my original post I asked why have Airfix gone for the MR2 version, unless like their Valiant they are going to do an update set with the parts and decals to build an AEW2. Why they don't just do one boxing with both versions as an option and add a few quid onto the price I don't know, I can't see them selling thousands of these things. I think us modellers as a whole have been spoiled of late and even if the Revell people were rude to the preservation group, which there is no excuse for, I will still buy Revell kits as among there error infested offerings they have produced some gems (Tornado for one) and if either manufacturer does a kit I would like to build I will buy it. My point is if any kit manufacturer does a kit of something that has only been available as a vac form (for example the AIMs Hastings in my case, 6 months of sanding,filling and fettling to get a reasonable result) good luck to them, but please listen to the people who are going to buy these kits and do the version that they want. Cheers Drew

I can,t understand why Airfix would bring out the MR2 version before the AEW2 unless they have collaborated with Revell otherwise it just doesn't make sense!

Beautiful model mate and a great finish, I've got the two seater on the stocks at the minute but can't seem to get on with it due to the boring camo scheme of this aircraft, maybe after seeing how good yours turned out it might get finished! Cheers Drew

Hi Andy the outer engine does not follow the angle of the wing as the dihedral is more on this section of the wing, this results in the outer exhaust being lower so does not stain the wing upper surface, if you look at photos taken from above(I used Lancaster at war Vol I and II) it confirms this trait. Hope this helps to explain it. Cheers Drew

This is the new tool version and was a joy to build hope you like it. Hope you like it Cheers Drew

Thanks Ian, yes Sunday sounds good, as for Spikes comment everyone is entitled to an opinion if you post on a forum like this you are open to other peoples views, so long as it's not malicious I don,t see any harm in it .Anyway she is now finished so here are a few stage pics that I took. After the decals had dried a Flory models dark wash was applied and removed when dry. The next thing was to apply the exhaust stains, Next the undercarriage were completed, these are a bit fiddly but look good once installed. The doors on and the bomb cradle and bomb fitted Finally to complete the underside the flaps are glued into position. The model was now set on it's wheels to check alignment . Props and vertical stabilizers on And after a final cote of matt varnish the canopy and turrets were fitted to complete the build. More pics are in ready for inspection so thanks for looking. cheers Drew

Thanks for the nice comments guys, Spike I was going to put the gun in but after researching the raid it is highly unlikely they carried it on the operation as it was next to useless and they wouldn't have had a spare crewman to man it as only six were in each Lanc. The weight was also a consideration so I went with the deletion,I may be wrong but that is why it isn't fitted. Cheers Drew

After a few days I masked the top surfaces with Tamiya tape ready for the Alclad gloss black undersides. Once the black had dried the top was sprayed with Alclad gloss(white spirit based)ready for the decals.These went on with no problems at all and settled well into the panel lines with micro set and sol. After a week for everything to settle the model has been given a Flory wash as a first stage in weathering. Cheers for looking Drew

Finally got round to doing an update after my holiday and the folks staying over. I have got a lot further than I thought since my last post so this is where I,m at I masked the small windows with aluminium foil discs made with a punch and die, The main legs need masking as they are fitted before painting begins The lower bomb aimers window doesn't fit very well so it was sanded and polished first colour is Gunze dark earth, When dried this was masked using paper masks and rolls of Tamiya tape After 2 hours this is the result The result when Gunze dark green is sprayed on, a nice tight feathered edge. Next up the black lower surfaces. Cheers Drew

Not posted for a while but I have made some progress, One of the faults of the kit,the elevators have not got the cut out for the rudders,easily fix with reference to some plans and a sanding stick. The nacelles go together well and look really good,the only thing missing are the carburettor mesh guards(one for Eduard maybe) but they do have radiator detail on both front and back with separate flaps. The converted bomb bay has the motor for the bomb spinning mechanism and lots of raised detail with comes to life with dry brushing. I have got a lot further but haven,t had time to photograph the progress but hopefully will do an update later. Cheers Drew

Hi Jonny,I am not really an expert on the Lanc and this is a from the box build as the person it's for just wants a Dambuster Lancaster,but I have had a look in my only book on it and a cutaway says it's a ARI 533 whatever that is!As regards the fuel tanks I will leave that for when I build the BII for myself,even though I doubt they will be seen.On the whole I think this will become one of Airfix's classics and I am really enjoying the build. All the best Drew

When I first saw this kit on Hyperscale I thought that's one I would love to build but would wait for the more interesting MK II as I had built the older Airfix Dambuster Lancaster in 1993.A phone call last week from my brother gave me the opportunity to build this version for a friend of his,how could I turn it down! So how does this new kit compare with the old,well it is a lot more detailed with a nice interrior,superb wheel wells and very good engine nacelles.The interior was built and painted in a couple of hours so I don't have any pics of that as I was so engrossed with getting the fuselarge together but from then on the build has been photographed. This is the fuselarge,it needs a bit of fettling to get it together and there are a few gaps but nothing too serious. Next up the wheel wells are built up onto the spars,this is one of the quirks with recent Airfix offerings as the wings are built around these spars ie the Typhoon but it is a simple fix to get round this. Just cut them off and glue them in the wings,this also makes painting them a lot easier. Sand the remaining spars with a slight chamfer and the wings will slide into place. so far I really like the kit and it just makes you want to build it while humming the Dambusters theme tune, all in all a real gem. More soon cheers Drew

I have just started building this kit and think it is very good,the surface detail will look fine under a coat of primer.The plastic is nice and soft which makes it easy to sand and the detail is excellent with far and away the best wheel wells of any Lancaster kit and even perforations on the gun barrels! At £24.99 I think it is very good value but the main plus for me is the accuracy of the general aircraft shapes especially the nacelles,well done to Airfix and roll on the BII and bomb loading set

Finished this Spit yesterday after a year and started before the Eduard MKIX was announced.This is the Revell boxing of the Hasegawa kit with the occidental fuselarge with the nose,wings,tailplanes and rudder of the former kit.Finished with gunze and Tamiya paints and details including true detail wheels and seat,master gun barrels,eduard etched set and eagle cals decals.The whole cost about £70.00 so the Eduard kit is a bargain at £30.00 without the pain of kit bashing to get a reasonable result Hope you like it. Cheers Drew