1/72 Blackbird Lincoln Conversion - Masks off!

[woody37]

I picked this up at Telford with the view of adding something of a rarity to the bomber Command Sig display. At £47 it certainly aint cheap, but I'm more than pleased with what you get in the box. It's designed to use the Airfix B.II kit as a donor and having a review kit spare, this is what will be used.

I've taken some pictures below of what's in the box. Quality of the moulding is superb and from speaking to Glenn at Blackbird who is planning to follow up with a Manchester conversion and possibly more from the Bomber Command armoury, the future is looking quite promising where some of the gaps that the absence of Paragon designs has created.

The only issues I have observed is that you only appear to get the earlier H2S radome which is the same as found on the Lanc and already available in the B.II kit. Many Lincolns were later equipped with a Mk.IV H2S set which was noticeable because of the dome being much larger so it would of been good to get this part included to provide all options. If you want to do an aircraft with the 20mm cannon turret, you will have to scratch build the two cannon as they aren't included either although the clear part is. As I've not yet decided on the aircraft I'm not sure if the lack of Mk.IV H2S will be an issue.

So, some pictures of the resin:

This part is for the Australian Mk.31 with the longer, uglier nose!

Resin clear pieces - much better than vac form parts once dipped in Kleer

As usual, I'll be learning about the Lincoln along the way, so looking for guidance and inspiration from the experts out there! I read the Warpaint booklet recently to get more familiar before I start. I quite fancy doing RF476 which fortunately uses the earlier H2S as it had an interesting combat record as demonstrated from its bomb tally on the nose, but I haven't seen any decals for it. If anyone knows of any, please let me know.

Thanks

[PlaStix]

Now this looks interesting!! I've got some popcorn ready so please carry on!

[Val]

Can not wait for this :)

[dergrunepunkt]

Wow!, that's nice, looking forward to see more!, I started to modify a Rebel Lanc Mk.III to but I did not made any progress, I'm in a very lazy moment and scratchbuilding it's tedious some time.

Looking at that resing makes me think... I was thinking on doing an Argie Lincoln, more precisely this one that's "preserved" not far from home:

[RMCS]

Lookingforard to seeing this one...

[brianthemodeller]

Ok, I'm in too...

[modelglue]

Nice conversion kit, but the price scares me away. What colours will you be finishing with? Forgive me if that is a daft question, I am not familiar with the type. After googling avro lincoln I see there exist a bomber command scheme, which is what I would choose given the option.

[woody37]

There are several schemes. Some early ones were war time BC colours, but later ones were grey over black which is probably the route I'll take.

Cheers

[hacker]

Will it work with the Merlin engined kits?

[Procopius]

Will it work with the Merlin engined kits?

I believe it's designed to work with the Mark II Lancaster, something about the engine spaces on the wings being wider.

[woody37]

As the complete outer engines are provided, you could perhaps use some miliput on the inboard engines to make the difference up in width to save getting a Mk.II. Other than that, the two kits are the same

[woody37]

Made a start this afternoon by fitting the rear fuselage extensions. The Airfix fuselage is warped on this kit which didn't help aligning everything up, but quite happy with how the first cuts have gone....especially when doing straight cuts isn't one of my strong points!

[Col.]

[woody37]

Got the inserts tidied up earlier. The fiddly part was trying to preserve / level off the strengthening plate that runs along the bomb bay. Next job is to fill the windows

[Procopius]

Oho! This might well sell another conversion set or two for Blackbird.

[maudesman]

I aquired the the Telford show special from Blackbird Models, the conversion kit and the Airfix Lanc kit bundle.... So will be watching this too... But my skills are not up to par yet.... So will be kept for a rainy day in the future......

Edited December 31, 2014 by maudesman

[Learstang]

Glad to see a Lincoln will be getting the "woody37" treatment, Neil. I have the Flightpath conversion set, which was designed for the 1980 Airfix kit. The resin looks excellent on this, but with the bob they charge, you'd think they would have provided the cannons and especially the bigger radome. But soft, let us see what Dame Fortune has in store for us with this build!

Regards,

Jason

P.S. I can't believe you're not going to do that beautiful RAAF MR.31 version with the mile-long nose.

Edited December 31, 2014 by Learstang

[Graeme H]

P.S. I can't believe you're not going to do that beautiful RAAF MR.31 version with the mile-long nose.

I can't believe it either, and I once flew in one

Looking forward to this

[woody37]

It must be the most ugly Avro ever built that bloody Ausie bird!!! Not that I would of turned down the opportunity to fly in one of course Graeme!!

TBH, I think the Lincoln lost its looks compared to the Manchester and Lanc but it's still got it's character, especially seeing one close up when visiting Cosford. So far I'm impressed with the bits that have gone together. The centre seams will need some TLC when it's put together, but that was expected considering the wopping great plug put in. Once the windows are filled, I'll be turning to the wings and engines. Care will be needed on alignment of engine parts, but fit of one of the outers looks good so far. The general plan is to do all the engineering work up front so that towards the end it become a straight forwards Lanc build.

Cheers

[The wooksta V2.0]

Don't forget to cut the wing spars at some strategic point to avoid that vile build sequence Airfix devised. I've a B.II I'm test fitting now and the spars will get a chunk taken out so I can build the wings separately and bring together later.

[woody37]

That's what I'm planning, but also need to fabricate some spar extensions to support the resin outer wings. It's all gonna get a bit busy in there!

[Col.]

Seamless work on the fuselage plug Neil. Top quality

[Martian]

This looks like a "Do not miss" thread!

Martin

[woody37]

Thanks guys, very impressed with the quality of the resin so far.

Got a bit more done this morning. Got the windows filled and progressed with work on the wings. So far so good.

The engines are just dry fitted in place at the moment. I'll joi the outer wing section before fitting them.

[Learstang]

All right, Neil, how did you make the windows disappear? I've a Lancaster GR.3 in an advanced state of build (they never progress beyond that, as you know), and the main thing holding me back, other than my terminal case of bone-idleness, are the windows, which I know I haven't made disappear. You are the one true master modeller of the Lancaster family - please reveal your secrets unto your unworthy acolyte, me.

Worshipfully yours,

Jason

Edited January 1, 2015 by Learstang