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Westland Lysander Mk.III (SD) (72023) - 1:72 Dora Wings


Julien

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Westland Lysander Mk.III (SD) (72023)

1:72 Dora Wings

 

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The Lysander was developed by Westlands in response to an Air Ministry requirement form and Army Co-operation aircraft in the 1930s.  After interviewing pilots it was decided that field of view, low speed handling and a Short Take Off/landing aircraft would be needed. To accomplish this the Lysander would feature a high mounted wing with a large glazed cabin. The wing would feature fully automatic slots and slotted flaps. These would be complemented with a variable incidence tailplane. These would bring the stalling speed of the aircraft down to 65mph. 

 

The Lysander would enter service in 1938. However it was found that even when escorted by fighters the slow aircraft was an easy target for enemy fighters. Of the 175 aircraft deployed to France 118 were lost. After the fall of France other uses were sought for the aircraft though Coastal Patrol and further Army Co-operation were ruled out.  due to the lack of aircraft in general Lysanders would fly patrols in case of invasion and would be equipped with light bombs if an invasion ever came.  However this was not to be the end for this aircraft. In 1941 the RAF formed No. 138 (Special Duties) Squadron with the aim of delivering SOE Agents and supplies into occupied Europe,  The Lysanders remarkable low landing speed and ability to land on unprepared surfaces made it an ideal aircraft for this role.  Lysanders used in this role would feature no armament, a long range fuel tank, and a fixed entry ladder. A few aircraft were also used as Target Tugs.  Overall 1786 aircraft were built including 225 manufactured in Canada.  

 

The Kit

A new tool Lysander in 1.72 has been sadly lacking and thankfully Dora Wings have now resolved this. This is a new tool kit on five sprues of grey plastic, a clear spure, with resin and PE parts supplied. A good touch is the inclusion of masks for all that glazing! The kit is of the Mk III Special Duties aircraft. 

 

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To start off with the sub assemblies for the belly fuel tank, internal fuel tank, and tailplanes are made up and put to one side. Construction then concentrates on the engine. This is quite detailed for the scale with many parts making up the finished engine. The internal frame structure for the main fuselage is then built up.  This can then be installed in the main fuselage and it can be closed up. The glazing and rear part of the fuselage are then added to the main fuselage, the fixed boarding ladder is added, then the engine and propeller are added to the front.

 

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The main wings are then built up with the flaps being added. The main landing gear is then built up. There are 4 part main wheels with covers to each side of the wheel spats. A solid tail wheel is provided with its yoke. The wings, tailplanes, and rudder are then added to the main fuselage. The wheels spats and with braces are added along with the external tank to finish things off.

 

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Markings

The decals are from Decograf and look good with no registration issues, there are three decal options provided;

 

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  • V9287 No.161 (SD) Sqn RAF Tempsford 1942
  • VS367 No.161 (SD) Sqn RAF Tempsford 1944
  • V9289 No. 357 Sqn, Burma 1945

 

 

 

Conclusion

This is certainly a kit modellers of British WWII aircraft in 1/72 have been waiting for. Very highly recommended.

 

Review sample courtesy of

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23 hours ago, wombat said:

Just a pity they didn’t do full slats and flaps but I imagine that would add significantly to the complexity and therefore the price. I wonder if the aftermarket will step up?

There are full flaps, but no slats  I suppose the flaps are more visible? will have to wait and see if we get any aftermarket? 

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22 hours ago, Julien said:

There are full flaps, but no slats  I suppose the flaps are more visible? will have to wait and see if we get any aftermarket? 

Flaps on a Lysander MUST be retracted unless the inner sections of the slats are deployed. They are interconnected.

 

The slats are not easy to make in 1/72: I have a stuck Matchbox project to prove it. Any aftermarket solution would need to replace the main sections of wing too, as removal of the retracted slats from their flush position is also pretty difficult.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Dora has wings molded it in two pieces making opening them easier than in single part wings of Matchbox (and IIRC Pavla too) kit.

 

I'm just waiting for the standard recce version with the bomb wings of this otherwise excellent looking Dora kit.

 

Cheers,

 

AaCee

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I'm not impressed with the way DORA has moulded the engine cowling. I think the front exhaust collector ring should have been as a separate part. Also, the exhaust pipe has been split down the middle. Another mark against DORA, in my book. 

 

 

 

Chris

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As @Work In Progressnoted, flaps and inner slats are linked. Slats and flaps would deploy automatically when speed was reduced. The rear cockpit is also different in the SD compared to armed versions. An auxiliary oil tank was also fitted atop the internal fuel tank.

 

@Julien is absolutely correct though, nice to see a new tool Lysander. 1/48 would be Very Nice(TM). Just sayin...

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  • 8 months later...

There is one exception to the flap/slat scenario. The flaps are hydraulically actuated and linked to the slats mechanically. Therefore once engine power was off the flaps would droop just a bit but not enough to deploy the slats. So. You can get away with showing the flaps very rightly dropped only.

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