matthies

During the winter of 2022 a donor fuselage from Lancaster KB976 was fitted and the rear fuselage of NX611 fitted to a jig to be restored. KB976 has a standard turret with 4x.303 Brownings, NX611's original turret has 2x.5" Brownings. Hope this helps...

Thank you folks for the prompt answers, I was aware of the mid-upper being removed to accommodate the Wellington overload tanks and also the front turret removal on the 'Grand Slam' Lancs' ...but I'm intrigued by the research that led to a model and a print of EE146 with no front turret, because I can't find anything.

Hi... I have a query regarding WCdr Tait's Lancaster, EE146, KC-D from the Tirpitz raids in 1944. Did the aircraft have it's front turret intact for these raids? I'm confused because there's a pewter model I've seen online with the turret removed and the space blanked over, which would make sense as a weight-saving measure, also a print of the aircraft in the same configuration from another company.. However, I note that Mark Postlethwaite has depicted the same Lanc on the final raid, Operation Catechism, with the turret intact. I know he researches his subjects thoroughly, so which is correct - turret or no turret?

617 used Tallboys in December 1944 against the Urft dam and 9 squadron used them - unsuccessfully - against the Sorpe dam.

Hi Tony, Yellow outlines were added to Lancaster codes letters within 5 Group in the autumn of 1944. Individual code letters were also added to the outside of the tailplanes at the same time. Hope this helps.

Hi Stevej60, I believe the wheel wells were standard black colour; the aircraft were all delivered new to the squadron direct from Avro. Hope this helps.

F/Lt Larry Curtis flew in the crew of Nick Knilans on the first Tirpitz raid in LK492, KC-W. Both 9 & 617 carried code letters on the tailplanes on the Tirpitz raids too.

DV385 'Thumper' flew on the second and third Tirpitz attacks, piloted by P/O Castagnola and coded KC-V as per the 617 ORB. There is photographic proof that on the first raid in September 1944 the Lancasters had the red codes with yellow outlines which were introduced across 5 Group in the autumn of that year, so they must have had them on the latter two raids as well.

Just noticed this build, what fantastic attention to detail.)One thing though, your pilot is going to need very long arms to reach the control yoke..

Yorki, the dambusting Lancasters all had the side windows unpainted.

Lovely model........except the guns on the rear turret are upside down...should have the outer guns set higher then the inner guns.

I think most Lancs had the starboard blister, but those aircraft with H2S had the port blister deleted because the H2S equipment on the navigators desk prevented access to the blister for the aircrew. Dave.

S/Ldr Maltby did indeed have an extra crew member that night: F/Eng Sgt W Hatton; Nav F/Sgt Nicholson; W/Op F/Sgt Stone; B/Aimer P/O Fort; Gunners Sgt Hill, W/O Welch & Sgt Simmonds. Incidentally the 12000lb blockbuster was three 4000lb units bolted together - it wasn't three 4000lb cookies bolted together. Matthies.

Hi Johnny, I think you must be referring to the picture of PB995 carrying a Grand Slam whilst on trials at Boscombe Down. These trials resulted in a recommendation that the front turret be removed and faired over to save weight. It is unclear whether this was done wholly at Avro or on the squadron. Only 32 Lancasters were converted to B1(Special) configuration. Codes of some on 617 were as follows (YZ the squadron code on these 'craft):PB996-C;PB997-E;PB998-D; PD112-S;PD113-T;PD114-B;PD115-K;PD116-A;PD117-L;PD118-M;PD119-J;PD121-S;PD127-F;PD128-R;PD129-O;PD130-D/W/U;PD131-V;PD133-P;PD134-Y;PD135-W; PD136-N;PD139-W/L; Hope that helps Dave

Graeme, If you're modelling ED763, as per the Hasegawa kit decals, you won't need paddle blade props, as that particular Lanc had needle point props. Dave.