theplasticsurgeon Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Starting with an M&S issue Revell Lancaster, that cost me £7.50 and a Paragon conversion set that I bought from Mike McEvoy for £10.00. Intention is to build L7300 - 'cos I've got grey side codes EM*F. Here's a photo of her from http://www.sonsofdamien.co.uk/Man-Lanc serials.htm#L7276 Her history is listed as: L7300 - Delivered to 207Sq (EM-F) in January 1941, it was one of the six Manchesters that carried out the first operation by this aircraft type, on the 24th February 1941. The target was Brest. The aircraft was delivered with no mid upper turret and such was not considered operational subsequently whilst other aircraft were packed off to OTU's this aircraft remained on squadron strength. On a local flight from Bottesford to Waddington shortly after take-off, with a loud rumble and clatter the port engine failed. The prop was feathered, but the mechanism failed, leaving the prop windmilling. The throttle was advanced on the other engine, which brought about severe vibration of the engine and airframe, and this engine also packed up, on the afternoon of 23rd November 1941 it crashed whilst turning on finals at 1530. A forced landing was inevitable, executed on a flat piece of ground bordering a small tree-lined lake. The Manchester ploughed on, straight into the lake known as Fiskerton Lake, some 8 miles east of Lincoln. The aircraft had carried out 17 operations. Crew: P/O A W Hills, P/O F Roper (RCAF), P/O S E Patterson. I read on http://www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk/manchesters/207manchesters_serial.htm that all crew were safe after this incident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 I've been struggling with this conversion for ages (with the Airfix Lanc as the donor kit). Absolutely nothing wrong with the conversion set; it's quite nice, it's just that when I was nearly done with the s***ing thing it had an accident, and I've been trying to fix it since. Good luck with yours - I shall be following with interest! Regards, Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smuts Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 This will be good, welcome to the GB Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deacon Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 I'm interested to see how much difference it makes using a Revell kit instead of an Airfix one for this conversion set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 I was wondering the same thing myself. With the Airfix kit, the replacement tailplanes just fit into the Airfix slots, and the replacement outer wings fit very nicely onto the Airfix inner wing section, if you do your surgery correctly (which I did, of course!). Regards, Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radleigh Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Nice entry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arniec Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 That is a nice entry. I will be watching this one. Cheers, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted January 27, 2013 Author Share Posted January 27, 2013 (edited) I've been studying the kit and conversion - so here are my thoughts.I've criticised this kit previously for insufficient dihedral outer wings.Not an issue here as I intend to amputate the outer wings.My subject has no uppper turret - this kit supplies a plug.The Mk 1 Manchester tailplanes (triple tail job - and my subject) plug into the Airfix fuselage.I'll have to trim them slightly - as Revell tailplanes fit flush to the fuselage.For Mk1a Manchester this issue would be avoided - as that Mk uses Lancaster tails.Revell kit has the short bomb aimers dome - as used on Manchesters.Revell kit has score lines inside the inner engine nacelles - I'm hoping these match the Vulture engines.This Revell kit can donate H2S radar scanner and bulge, and hopefully paddle props to my No Enemy Aircraft build.Also the cockpit decals - they're for 4 engines!I'm confident that this will work and eager to get started. Edited February 2, 2013 by theplasticsurgeon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deacon Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 Well you've done your homework (a lot better than I would have). Looking forward to the next update. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Jephcott Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 I'm looking forward to seeing this develop. An excellent choice of type and conversion too... Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted January 27, 2013 Author Share Posted January 27, 2013 Some interior decorating of the cockpit and turrets of both projects this afternoon. The moulding detail is wayyy better than Airfix - such a shame Revell got the wing shape wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted February 1, 2013 Author Share Posted February 1, 2013 View of the interior. As H2S wasn't available for the Manchester - I've used most of the parts in my Lanc.Also the instument panels are painted rather that decal, 'cos this plane has 2 fewer engines than dials Planning to hide the back part behind a blackout curtain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radleigh Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 Does anyone know if the Manchester was recovered? I assume it was and then later scrapped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share Posted February 3, 2013 THis is dry fitted for the time being, bombbay cemented to one fuselage side only.But I really wanted to see how the fuselage plug for the upper turret fitted - perfectly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Interesting build TPS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share Posted February 3, 2013 Wings partially assembled and dry-fitted to fuselage. Only the inner area is cemented, and I've been VERY careful to align the panel joints in that area. That's where I'm going to do the amputation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arniec Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Nice one TPS. I will follow this one on how the cutting will go. Cheers, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usetherudders Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Very nice, never understood why someone like Airfix has brought one out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 Very nice, never understood why someone like Airfix has brought one out. Or the Lincoln. Perhaps they'll follow up the new Lancasters they're bringing out this year with its dad and son, the Manchester and the Lincoln. And its grandson, the Shackleton. We can only hope. And send them e-mails asking for same. Regards, Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted February 5, 2013 Author Share Posted February 5, 2013 Here's something I've not revealed previously - contents of the Paragon Conversion. Spent a LOT of time tonight measuring all the interfaces. Wing chord were I amputate - Match. Engine fairing 5mm back from front of undercarriage doors - acceptable. Wheels on Manchester are a bit smaller - so I'm going with the resin. Tailplanes won't fit as I used that tongue part -so I'm going to trim the kit parts. Now I'm off to alter a kit's life forever. First amputation is always the most difficult - there's no going back now Second amputation put me in mind of a Sea Lancaster aboard that GIGANTIC ice aircraft-carrier idea . Wing stubs are fixed now, so she's licking her wounds whilst the cement dries. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 Brave work! Now it's off to Manchesterland and no looking back. Regarding the island-sized aircraft carrier made out of ice - that was one of the PM's most, shall we say, interesting projects. Regards, Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Just noticed this, looking forwards to it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 Well without a camera (batteries nick by my son ) for the time being. Here's an uptodate progress report. I've started cutting out the wings - this is not going quickly. The kit has alternate rear fuselages, ahead the rear turret - the more flared one look most appropriate to Manchester, so they're fitted. I've assembled rear turret apart from glazing - this is different and vacformed for the Manchester, so I've cut that out. I've just put the escape hatches into the upper fuselage. Oh and I've treated seams with Tippex. Paddle props from this kit are being grafted onto my Airfix Lancaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted February 17, 2013 Author Share Posted February 17, 2013 Here's the tail are showing that flaired rear fueslage and the vacformed turret. Guns are drying in the kit turret glazing.And what the fuselage currently looks like. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deacon Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 This is looking great mate, you're doing really well with this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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