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1/72 - Avro Lancaster BI(F.E.)/BIII by Airfix - released - reissue in 2018 + Freightdog Models ASR.III conv. set


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It would have been more interesting if they included the proposed 'saddleback" long range fuel cell for this one. And Lincoln type rudders maybe??

By the way, love the artwork on the box!!!

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Excuse my ignorance, but might this have the later type rear turret and/or flash thing (sorry!) al-la Maritime Reconnaisance aircraft?

Leigh Light? No, the FE Lancaster was intended to bomb Japan.

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It wont have the camera shroud, but it has the twin .50 rear turret as some of the parts are in the BII and Dambuster kits already.

The Dambuster kit has all the parts needed to build a standard B.I/III or the B.I(FE) in the upcoming release. The Dambuster kit, in the standard and gift set release, has the standard bomb bay doors and all the bomb bay fittings (but as with the B.II, no ordnance), it has the FN 82 turret with the twin .50 cals, the H2S dome is there, so is the mid-upper turret fairing and the turret itself. It does not have Lincoln vertical tails nor the deeper chin radiators that were apparently used on the FE versions, but then it is not clear that this new release will have those either. It also has shrouded and un-shrouded exhausts and paddle-bladed and needle-bladed props. Squadron Mail Order just had a great special on the gift set version of the Dambuster: US$20 and change. I picked up several knowing that you have all the parts needed to build the standard bomber variant and aftermarket decals are readily available.

Edited by VMA131Marine
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I'd love to convert this to a Mk.VII with the Martin turret. As far as I'm concerned, the more Lancasters the merrier. I don't have a new-mould Airfix Lanc yet, but I'm hoping the Lincoln tails I have would work with it. Okay, now I've confused myself (not too hard to do, really) - I know the Mk.VII had the FN-82 turret with the twin .50's, but I can't recall if it had the Lincoln-type tails. Time to check my references! If the kit doesn't have the deeper tropical-type radiators, I suspect someone like Freightdog will come out with them.

Regards,

Jason

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It would have been more interesting if they included the proposed 'saddleback" long range fuel cell for this one. And Lincoln type rudders maybe??

By the way, love the artwork on the box!!!

The saddleback Lancaster, talk about a weird and wonderful(?) variant of the Lancaster. I agree about the artwork - beautiful!

Regards,

Jason

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Did the Mk.VII have the FN82 in the tail too? I don't know, but I don't recall it being mentioned in olde (ok, prehistoric) conversion articles.

The boxart doesn't show Lincoln tails, which may not have been on all a/c in the FE colour scheme. Details such as tropical radiators and the big fins may not have got onto all aircraft because of the lack of incentive at the end of the war. Something for the Lancaster specialists, please?

I do like that white colour scheme, but it would look better on Halifaxes...

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Graham, the photographs I've seen of the Mk.VII seem to show the FN-82 turret, which would make sense as this variant was a late-war Lancaster, when there was a move to having the more heavily-armed turret. It does appear that the Lincoln-type tail was a postwar adaptation. Indeed there's a good photograph in the SAM Modellers Datafile of the Lancaster of some Mk.VII's in postwar service that show the Far East camouflage combined with the FN-82 turret and the Lincoln tail. I'd like to see a new-mould Halifax also, and Stirling.

Regards,

Jason

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  • 3 weeks later...

Here is NX611 on her return to the UK. It has standard Lanc tailplanes.

http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc-pic-nx611-4.jpg

Can't see any clear pictures of the mid upper. I believe it has the 'normal' type but can't say if it was in the standard position or forward as per the Canadian X

Trevor

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Here is NX611 on her return to the UK. It has standard Lanc tailplanes.

http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc-pic-nx611-4.jpg

Can't see any clear pictures of the mid upper. I believe it has the 'normal' type but can't say if it was in the standard position or forward as per the Canadian X

Trevor

I believe this was a maritime aircraft, with the turret removed and nothing but a plate filling the resultant hole, as per the Dambusters and the Grand Slam Lancasters. I doubt that the Airfix kit has the Martin turret, as every photograph I've seen of a B.I(FE) has the normal turret. The B.VII's also had the white and black camouflage, and did have the Martin turret.

Regards,

Jason

Edited by Learstang
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NX611's mid-upper is in the later, forward position for fitment of the Martin turret. She is currently fitted with a perspex shell. This will be replaced with their recently acquired Martin turret

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