1/32 - Avro Lancaster B.Mk.I/III by Border Model (ex-Wingnut Wings) - released

[avro683]

19 minutes ago, Simon Cornes said:

Just checked. The original Border details on their site show the guns with oval jackets. The Profimodeller ones are also oval. They also do a set of .50 cals for the Martin mid upper turret - not to be confused!! So the search for ‘late’ 303 jackets continues! This is where you need an Ali McLean! 

Excellent, thank you. I’m planning on modelling W4118 which, I believe (and hope) was fitted with early, oval, holed jackets.

[IT_Man]

17 hours ago, Simon Cornes said:

I've emailed Hannants with photos so, all being well, a replacement canopy - or even whole sprue - might turn up soon. 

 

Will be interested to see what happens with that. Can't imagine them being too keen on writing off £100s of pounds of kits to nick the canopy for spares, especially if you're not the only one.

 

Hopefully Albion will be already on it given they were pre-warned, so suspect they'd provide them to you eventually?

[avro683]

On 7/2/2022 at 9:24 AM, Simon Cornes said:

The huge parcel has arrived!! 
 

I selected DPD in favour of Parcelforce as both were free. I didn’t bother with requesting a Saturday delivery as that costs £10 odd and Monday is fine. I had an email from DPD saying it would be delivered some time after 11am on Monday so that was fine.

 

I was just about to have breakfast and was reading my emails and one was from DPD - the parcel was delivered. What kind of rubbish was that - it’s not due today? But I clicked on the link and there was a photo of a large box and my front door. So I galloped down the hall and it was true!! What can you say - superb service by DPD and excellent communication. Would Parcelforce have done the same? Maybe.

 

So I’ve had a look and it is fine. I can see a very fine ‘cold front’ across one of the roof canopy panels but to be honest it could be a mark ‘in service’ of the airframe and it’s not worth making a fuss over. You can see where the mould has not had a final polish in the area of the forward ‘quarter lights’ but again, I wonder how optically clear they are on a real Lanc. Overall I’m very impressed- and relieved! When I have time I want to dig the instructions out - to photocopy so that I can put them back into the box and then read at my leasure!! What a day!!

The instructions are available for download from Scalemates, Simon.

[Simon Cornes]

2 hours ago, avro683 said:

The instructions are available for download from Scalemates, Simon.

Ah, thank you. But 30 minutes of photocopying and I have 2 sets plus originals so I can scribble to my hearts content! 

[Simon Cornes]

4 hours ago, IT_Man said:

 

Will be interested to see what happens with that. Can't imagine them being too keen on writing off £100s of pounds of kits to nick the canopy for spares, especially if you're not the only one.

 

Hopefully Albion will be already on it given they were pre-warned, so suspect they'd provide them to you eventually?

True but equally when you sell someone a £600 plus kit you do not mess about with sorting out replacements. ‘Eventually’ is not good enough and this is not a Series 1 Airfix kit! But we will see.
I contacted Hannants 5 or 6 weeks ago to make them aware that there were potential problems with the clear sprues and they did not know at that point. They subsequently made arrangements with Albion to have all the clear sprues checked before despatch to them but obviously someone at Albion had seen too many clear sprues to be able to see the wood for the trees. I am hopeful that I will have a replacement before the end of next week - you have to be optimistic!!

[Mottlemaster]

Mine has just arrived . I just cant get the last 1000lb bomb back in the box

 

 

Cheers Alistair

[keithjs]

Mine arrived today and I can confirm everything was in perfect order especially the clear parts which appeared to have been re wrapped in bubble wrap. The surface detail has got to be seen to be believed!

One thing that did me wry smile was the fact the outer cardboard box says Lancaster B.Mk.II....., I looked everywhere for a set of radial engines...  

[Simon Cornes]

33 minutes ago, keithjs said:

Mine arrived today and I can confirm everything was in perfect order especially the clear parts which appeared to have been re wrapped in bubble wrap. The surface detail has got to be seen to be believed!

One thing that did me wry smile was the fact the outer cardboard box says Lancaster B.Mk.II....., I looked everywhere for a set of radial engines...  

Keith, I hope that you are right about the transparencies. The extra bubble wrap is care of Albion. But please hold the clear sprues up to a very good light source and have a dark background because I thought I was okay!  Hopefully you really are!!

[avro683]

21 hours ago, Simon Cornes said:

Ah, thank you. But 30 minutes of photocopying and I have 2 sets plus originals so I can scribble to my hearts content! 

Fair enough, to be honest I hadn’t thought of that!

[keithjs]

56 minutes ago, Simon Cornes said:

Keith, I hope that you are right about the transparencies. The extra bubble wrap is care of Albion. But please hold the clear sprues up to a very good light source and have a dark background because I thought I was okay!  Hopefully you really are!!

Hi Simon. I've looked again using your system and the only thing I can see (on the main canopy on one of the rear panels) is what I can only describe as a hairline scratch (even if that). As its never going to subjected to such scrutiny I'm quite happy to leave it alone.

Personally I'm more concerned about damaging the parts themselves cutting them from the sprue because they're so thin.  

[Alan P]

Received my one today! First thing I did was check the transparencies. No cracks at all, but the moulding is pretty poor, especially compared to HKM which produce some of the best clear parts in the hobby. Generally looks a bit uneven and not exactly crystal clear. Hopefully some vac or resin replacements will be available when it comes to build time.

 

On the other hand, the presentation of the kit is first class. Beautiful detailing, and so much plastic! The bomb bay, cockpit and engine details are superb, some of the best IM mouldings I've seen. Instructions are clear and easy to follow. I'd intended to build this in flight, but the details are just too good to hide. 

 

Won't be starting any time soon, but I'll resist any aftermarket temptations if possible (except canopy/turret parts replacement!), it's just too good not to build OOB.

 

Great to actually have it in my hands at last...eye-wateringly expensive but probably just about worth it compared to the 1/32 HKM and Hobby Boss WW2 bombers. Considering last winter we were talking about it never being released, this is a terrific purchase, despite being the last model I'll be buying this year!*

 

Alan

 

*ahem, except the 1/24 Spitfire IX!

[Simon Cornes]

47 minutes ago, keithjs said:

Hi Simon. I've looked again using your system and the only thing I can see (on the main canopy on one of the rear panels) is what I can only describe as a hairline scratch (even if that). As its never going to subjected to such scrutiny I'm quite happy to leave it alone.

Personally I'm more concerned about damaging the parts themselves cutting them from the sprue because they're so thin.  

I think that’s what you’d call a ‘cold front’ and I have seen a few of those. There’s nothing you can do about them and frankly they’re so hard to see it’s not a problem- you’re clear!!

[Simon Cornes]

10 minutes ago, Alan P said:

Received my one today! First thing I did was check the transparencies. No cracks at all, but the moulding is pretty poor, especially compared to HKM which produce some of the best clear parts in the hobby. Generally looks a bit uneven and not exactly crystal clear. Hopefully some vac or resin replacements will be available when it comes to build time.

 

On the other hand, the presentation of the kit is first class. Beautiful detailing, and so much plastic! The bomb bay, cockpit and engine details are superb, some of the best IM mouldings I've seen. Instructions are clear and easy to follow. I'd intended to build this in flight, but the details are just too good to hide. 

 

Won't be starting any time soon, but I'll resist any aftermarket temptations if possible (except canopy/turret parts replacement!), it's just too good not to build OOB.

 

Great to actually have it in my hands at last...eye-wateringly expensive but probably just about worth it compared to the 1/32 HKM and Hobby Boss WW2 bombers. Considering last winter we were talking about it never being released, this is a terrific purchase, despite being the last model I'll be buying this year!*

 

Alan

 

*ahem, except the 1/24 Spitfire IX!

I agree with you Alan about the canopy moulding. I reckon that’s down to a lack of a thorough polish. Wingnut wouldn’t have accepted it like that I’m sure but I can live with it - or maybe someone will do a resin version? Re the instructions, I’d have preferred some of the illustrations to be a bit larger. But definitely buildable!!

[Tbolt]

45 minutes ago, Simon Cornes said:

I think that’s what you’d call a ‘cold front’ and I have seen a few of those. There’s nothing you can do about them and frankly they’re so hard to see it’s not a problem- you’re clear!!

 

Maybe that's what it's known as by some people but the common term is a cold shut and its surprising how common it is. A good few years back when I had a canopy with a bad cold shut from Airfix I started looking through my stash closely and I could find at least one cold shut in quite a larger percentage of my kits. Hasegawa, Eduard, Tamiya, Arma Hobby all commonly have them, it's just something you have to live with unless you are going to replace your canopies with vac/resin. Of course if they are bad I get them replaced, but I've only had to do that with a few Airfix kits and I've got vacs for my Hasgawa 1/48th Hurricanes which commonly has  a shut through the windscreen.

[keithjs]

What causes it?

[avro683]

21 minutes ago, keithjs said:

What causes it?

Too early release of the moulding process and insufficiently polished tools.

[Simon Cornes]

50 minutes ago, keithjs said:

What causes it?

Liquid plastic entering the mould from different points and some cooling before the rest reaches it so that it does not flow together properly so you get a line where the two plastics touch.

[keithjs]

8 hours ago, Simon Cornes said:

Liquid plastic entering the mould from different points and some cooling before the rest reaches it so that it does not flow together properly so you get a line where the two plastics touch.

 

9 hours ago, avro683 said:

Too early release of the moulding process and insufficiently polished tools.

 

Thanks, thats interesting to know.

[avro683]

11 hours ago, Alan P said:

Received my one today! First thing I did was check the transparencies. No cracks at all, but the moulding is pretty poor, especially compared to HKM which produce some of the best clear parts in the hobby. Generally looks a bit uneven and not exactly crystal clear. Hopefully some vac or resin replacements will be available when it comes to build time.

 

On the other hand, the presentation of the kit is first class. Beautiful detailing, and so much plastic! The bomb bay, cockpit and engine details are superb, some of the best IM mouldings I've seen. Instructions are clear and easy to follow. I'd intended to build this in flight, but the details are just too good to hide. 

 

Won't be starting any time soon, but I'll resist any aftermarket temptations if possible (except canopy/turret parts replacement!), it's just too good not to build OOB.

 

Great to actually have it in my hands at last...eye-wateringly expensive but probably just about worth it compared to the 1/32 HKM and Hobby Boss WW2 bombers. Considering last winter we were talking about it never being released, this is a terrific purchase, despite being the last model I'll be buying this year!*

 

Alan

 

*ahem, except the 1/24 Spitfire IX!

Similar for me!

[Tony C]

I've checked my clear parts and no cracks but I would say that around 1/3rd have very fine hairlines within the plastic itself!

 

They're are certainly not scratches and agree that they are caused by the moulding process, while many of the curved parts (canopies, turrets, etc), also have an orange peel effect finish to them!

 

I haven't yet contacted Hannants about the issue but will be doing so but, does anyone know if Border Models have done anything to corrected these issues?

[Simon Cornes]

6 minutes ago, Tony C said:

I've checked my clear parts and no cracks but I would say that around 1/3rd have very fine hairlines within the plastic itself!

 

They're are certainly not scratches and agree that they are caused by the moulding process, while many of the curved parts (canopies, turrets, etc), also have an orange peel effect finish to them!

 

I haven't yet contacted Hannants about the issue but will be doing so but, does anyone know if Border Models have done anything to corrected these issues?

I contacted Hannants on Saturday and had a reply from Albion today. They are talking to Border and will get back with an update as soon as possible. Border have known about this problem - cracking - for at least a month so I would expect them to be churning out replacement clear sprues by the hundred and that they will supply all of their agents with adequate supplies. 

 

As for the actual quality of the moulding, I'm afraid that's probably the best you will get. It's as a result of the moulds not being given the final polish by the mould makers. Your only chance is if Border pay the mould manufacturers to do a better finishing job and then send out enough replacement sprues for the entire production run. Not sure if that is likely? 

[sinnerboy]

20 hours ago, Simon Cornes said:

Liquid plastic entering the mould from different points and some cooling before the rest reaches it so that it does not flow together properly so you get a line where the two plastics touch.

Smon is correct.Also known as a 'weld line'

Way to overcome is to heat the mould to a sufficiently high temperature so that the plastic is more fluid when each injected direction meet at the point of weld.

However heating the mould also brings its own difficulties.

[Tony C]

20 minutes ago, Simon Cornes said:

I contacted Hannants on Saturday and had a reply from Albion today. They are talking to Border and will get back with an update as soon as possible. Border have known about this problem - cracking - for at least a month so I would expect them to be churning out replacement clear sprues by the hundred and that they will supply all of their agents with adequate supplies. 

 

As for the actual quality of the moulding, I'm afraid that's probably the best you will get. It's as a result of the moulds not being given the final polish by the mould makers. Your only chance is if Border pay the mould manufacturers to do a better finishing job and then send out enough replacement sprues for the entire production run. Not sure if that is likely? 

 

Hi Simon,

With regard to the quality of the mouldings, that's also my feeling but it would be nice if Border followed Eduard's lead, when they got the Bf 109G moulding wrong and retooled!

 

With any luck, maybe someone will issue vac-form or resin replacements (Aerocraft Models?)

Edited July 5, 2022 by Tony C

[Simon Cornes]

25 minutes ago, Tony C said:

 

Hi Simon,

With regard to the quality of the mouldings, that's also my feeling but it would be nice if Border followed Eduard's lead, when they got the Bf 109G moulding wrong and retooled!

 

With any luck, maybe someone will issue vac-form or resin replacements (Aerocraft Models?)

Well if anyone can, Ali can!! 
The impression I get is that Border shelled out a lot of dosh and they’re keen to get their investment back. If you consider the brass guns without jackets, the instructions that show 3 sets of markings but only 2 are provided, the inadequate box size and the unfinished clear part moulds then that to me smacks of drawing a line and going with what they’ve got without spending any more money. I hope they do get the clear sprue moulds properly finished and I’m sure I’ll have plenty of time to receive a set before I start work on mine but I’d settle for a canopy without cracks to start with!!

[Learstang]

I've recently been in touch with Mr. Aerocraft (the last couple of days in fact), and it sounds like he's not interested in doing any AM for the Border Models Lanc right now. Of course, if he were overwhelmed with requests from people who have actually purchased this beast, who knows. By the by, he is on this site as 'Ali62'. I contacted him originally to pester him about doing a proper canopy for the HB A-26 (yes, I know, why bother with all its other inaccuracies).

 

Regards,

 

Jason