Best 1/72 Lancaster?

[Graham T]

Don't usually do 1/72 but want a Lanc (& a Shakleton!) but which kit is best - Airfix, Revell or Hasegawa?

Edited December 26, 2015 by Graham T

[Mancunian airman]

Personal choice which depends on the level of accuracy you desire.

There are numerous faults with most of the kits available but I do think for the best overall impression, shape of a Lancaster then I would go for the Airfix every time.

[Smiffy]

Yeah, I would agree. The new Airfix one is a fantastic kit.

[Gwart]

The Hasegawa one can be picked up for a reasonable price,it's my (current) preferred one due to the quality of the plastic.Strong with no warping and very fine surface detail,it can be a little brittle and makes removing some of the smaller pieces a bit more labour intensive but it is a very nice kit and goes together very well.

Revell is the best value for money but the wing anhedral needs some fettling.

I've not built an Airfix one but it will be my choice when i get around to Doing a Tiger Force one.

Edited December 26, 2015 by Gwart

[72modeler]

You might try this article on the strengths/weaknesses of the new-tool Airfix, Hasegawa, and Revell Lancs; then, you pays your money and you takes your choice!

Mike

http://www.google.com/url?url=http://forum.aviaskins.com/attachment.php%3Fattachmentid%3D3520%26d%3D1231698722&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwjP4cGukvrJAhUQ2WMKHdepCsEQFggtMAc&usg=AFQjCNFY8QPFRmZ3G20Qeoy4RPVBVcMcXg

[woody37]

My personal opinion is Hasegawa, Gwart sums it up well. There's a few issues with this kit though, tail wheel is more like 1/48 and the escape hatch in the canopy is in the wrong location, though easily sorted.

The new Airfix kit is good, though the canopy isn't as crisp and I've had two now with badly warped fuselages. Revell goes together well, but dihedral is a little flat on the wing and the radiator intakes aren't shaped very well.

72modeller, I couldn't get that link to work.

Cheers

[hacker]

Pecking order in 1/72 scale l would go with the new tool Airfix Lancaster followed by the new tool Revell and the Hasegawa ones last. The Hasegawa one is accurate but lacks detail while the first two are more detailed

[modelldoc]

The old Airfix Lancaster was good, the new ist (for me) the best kit.

With a Mk II the only player on the field and the Dambuster has also two options.

Here is my Mk II

https://www.flickr.com/photos/21603181@N08/16603003083/in/photolist-r5SAzH-qJT3EW-qsoPAj-qso5c3-qJXkqp-gDBxAi-scEYwU-98cKjF-ri9JnR

modelldoc

Edited December 26, 2015 by modelldoc

[MarkoZG]

You might try this article on the strengths/weaknesses of the new-tool Airfix, Hasegawa, and Revell Lancs; then, you pays your money and you takes your choice!

Mike

http://www.google.com/url?url=http://forum.aviaskins.com/attachment.php%3Fattachmentid%3D3520%26d%3D1231698722&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwjP4cGukvrJAhUQ2WMKHdepCsEQFggtMAc&usg=AFQjCNFY8QPFRmZ3G20Qeoy4RPVBVcMcXg

AFAICS this article deals with previous mold of Airfix' Lancaster, not the latest one.

[72modeler]

Whoops!

Forgot that the article I referred to used the old revised Airfix Lanc in the comparison. I am sorry! I found this one, which is primarily a review of the new-tool Airfix kit in the Dambuster boxing, but in the main the description applies to the other releases as well. It also discusses the other two competitors; I hope you will find it useful. I myself lean towards the new Airfix kit, but I also have the other two. When I get around to doing a Lanc, I will probably sort through all three to get the best parts needed to do a Lancaster model justice. There are a ton of reviews of all three kits out there in cyberspace, if you want to read them and then draw your own conclusions I have listed a link to the article.

Mike

http://www.hyperscale.com/2013/reviews/kits/airfixa09007reviewmd_1.htm

[JWM]

My choice now would be Airfix - if you look at the model done OOB the Airfix looks the best (even the previous kit). Revell has far too big wheels and flat wing (easy to correct, by the way), Hasegawa has at least some problem with canopy and turrets.

The article reccomended above by Mike is the best adviser.

Regards

J-W

[hacker]

. Revell has far too big wheels and flat wing (easy to correct, by the way)

Regards

J-W

Hence why it's a good candidate for hacking !

[The wooksta V2.0]

The Hasegawa kit does have a few more options in the box, certainly from the "standard" B.I/III boxing, as there are tropical filters on the sprues, plus the "Village Inn" AGL and the postwar GR/MR tail camera fairing. The clear sprue also has the rear fuselage windows for that variant.

The Hasegawa kit builds well, but the outer engines don't seem to hang right, having a distinct toe inboard to the fuselage away from the vertical.

The only real problem with the Airfix kit - the new tool - is that the plastic used is too soft, hence flash and having to trim every bleeding part to get it to fit properly or warpage. I'd also add the clearly stupid build order. I also don't like the bomb doors being separate as I like my models all closed up, but it does come with the FN82 tail turret as standard.

[Don McIntyre]

While not really in the running as a "best" kit, there is the old Matchbox kit. (Runs back to the shadows)

[brewerjerry]

While not really in the running as a "best" kit, there is the old Matchbox kit. (Runs back to the shadows)

Hi

I like the matchbox one

and the old frog one,

enjoyable builds, not done one for a long time

cheers

jerry

[Work In Progress]

The Frog is the only one I don't have. The old Airfix* is still my favourite if bought from early production runs and refreshed with Falcon / Squadron canopies. The new Airfix is my favourite of the currently available production runs.

We had a discussion about the Matchbox Lanc here a few years ago. It is typical Matchbox: likeable, if a bit simplistic and with some heavy surface detailing. Fun to build straight out of the box (though do insert some kind of spar to prevent wing droop).

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234934497-matchbox-lancaster-172/

*N.B. the 1980 one, not the old, old Airfix Lancaster which is from 1958

Edited December 29, 2015 by Work In Progress

[modelldoc]

The old FROG has one plus - the Tallboy.

Here is my once from lightyears before:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/21603181@N08/16051243890/in/photolist-ri9JnR-scEYwU-r5SAzH-qJT3EW-qJXkqp-qso5c3-gDBxAi-98cKjF-qsoPAj/

modelldoc

[Graham Boak]

Despite the tropical filters, I don't think that the Hasegawa - or any other - kit has the deeper intakes of the tropicalised Lancasters.

[elger]

The only reason I would personally have to not go for the new Airfix kit is the rather heavy panel lines. The surface detail of the Revell and Hasegawa Lancasters is much finer. To me the other issues mentioned earlier weigh heavier - the Revell's radiators are wrong, the turret fairing is off, the undercarriage lacks detail. The Hasegawa kit's detail is extremely sparse, and has the issue with the canopy which is a mistake in a rather promiment and arguably difficult position to fix. New Airfix Lancaster all the way!

[JOCKNEY]

I have one of the old Airfix ones, black plastic in a "red stripe" box, not built it but it looks pretty good, plus a few of the 80's / 90's vintage, which looks a different type of plastic, not as rigid or as well formed.

I built both the matchbox and Airfix one years ago, I seem to remember the matchbox one being easier to build as a nipper, ie the bit where you try and join the fuselage halves together without all the turrets, crew etc falling out !

Cheers Pat

[Work In Progress]

I have one of the old Airfix ones, black plastic in a "red stripe" box, not built it but it looks pretty good, plus a few of the 80's / 90's vintage, which looks a different type of plastic, not as rigid or as well formed.

I built both the matchbox and Airfix one years ago, I seem to remember the matchbox one being easier to build as a nipper, ie the bit where you try and join the fuselage halves together without all the turrets, crew etc falling out !

Cheers Pat

If your Lancaster is in a genuine red stripe Type 3 box like this, with the actual Roy Cross illustration, then it's the 1958 tooling and it has quite a lot of problems.

However, if the box art iimage is the 2010 re-imagining by (I think) Adam Tooby of the classic Cross picture, then it's the accurate 1980 plastic.