David Womby 1,814 Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 I first built this kit in 1969 and then retrieved it from my parents' attic in this state back in 2014. Here she is rebuilt. Using decals courtesy of a fellow modeler, I was able to finish her in the same markings as the first time I built her. She's finished as AR-G W4783 and served on 90 operations with a Royal Australian Air Force squadron in WW2 before being retired and sent to Australia. She's preserved in the National War Museum in Canberra. Far from perfect but the nostalgia factor outweighs all her faults for me. David 47 2 Link to post Share on other sites
CT Modeller 4,108 Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Really nice nostalgic post. I remember saving up my pocket money to get 7/6 to buy the Airfix Lancaster, then building it with my Dad's help. Lovely memories 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Bangor Lad 985 Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Great piece of salvage and restoration!! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Rabbit Leader 13,171 Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 So glad you got those decals David. That really looks great and rebuilding this in such a way is a fitting tribute to your youth and greatly acquired modelling skills in that time span. Cheers and very well modelled.. Dave 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites
JohnT 3,809 Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Oh that takes me way back. I had one built for me by my uncle. It must have been 1962-63 ish as I was still at primary school and about ten years old. It seemed huge and very complicated and it was not so much played with but looked at a little in awe. Great rebuild of a truly great kit of an even greater subject 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites
dogsbody 9,479 Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 I also built this kit in about 1968, I believe. It was also built wheels-up and mounted on the stand. Later on, I added an H2S blister, using some clear half-egg shape for some other non-aircraft kit. Definitely not accurate, but hey, it looked good to me. Chris 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites
cngaero 1,647 Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 That's a fine save David. This graceful old lady deserved a bit of TLC. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Wulfman 1,489 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 I remember racing down to Woolworths to get this, great job on the old girl ! Wulfman 1 Link to post Share on other sites
kapam 1,773 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 What a beauty! I had one of these hanging from my bedroom ceiling throughout my childhood years. It got a decade's worth of dust gathered on top of it and moths ate most of the decals - but I sure loved that model. Your build really does it justice (far better than mine did). 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Vinnie 2,217 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Well restored, David. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
IanC 3,557 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 That's a superb Lancaster, irrespective of vintage. I especially like the second photo. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Viking 6,697 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Lovely restoration that brings back many memories, Cheers John 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Work In Progress 3,644 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Oh, well done. That was my first Lancaster too, in about 1971 or so 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Ruskin Air Services 940 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 I remember building that kit in the mid seventies, then re enacting the dambusters by attacking a dam built out of Lego! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
F-32 4,876 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Great save 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Romeo Alpha Yankee 8,063 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Nicely done David 'George' will soon be dismantled and moved back to the storage annex. The AWM is getting a $500M expansion over the next 5 years so some of the newer inventory can be displayed. The current aircraft hall will be demolished to make way for a larger 2 floor hall. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites
FatFlyHalf 553 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Gosh. Do I remember saving up my 7/6d for one of these (or it may have been a Halifax) in my long lost youth. That seemed like a small fortune. Now we shell out £30+ for a similar model. The costs have climbed considerably. And the plastic has improved exponentially too. But the excitement? It is still there on opening the box and peering at the contents, for me at least. Nice to see some well thought through re-cycling of plastic. Bravo. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Spitfire31 2,483 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Remarkable piece of restoration. And those 'turning' props are among the best I've seen. Congrats on a superb resurrection! Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to post Share on other sites
JasonC 1,072 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Great Lanc David. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
David Womby 1,814 Posted March 19, 2020 Author Share Posted March 19, 2020 Thanks for the kind words, everyone. It seems a lot of us have a nostalgic feeling for this old mould. Ray, I assume G for George will be returned to display after the museum refurbishing? David Link to post Share on other sites
keith in the uk 577 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Lovely job David , no doubt you have brought back many memories for modellers of a certain age , myself included. For me it was the box art of the Lanc coming into land with the port engine on fire that made me want this kit all those years ago. Well done on a fine restoration , you have done the old girl proud . 1 Link to post Share on other sites
ivan-o 1,295 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Very nice rescue job 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Steve27752 510 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 A well done restoration, I still have two of those unmade in there boxes in the loft. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
RMCS 6,079 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Fantastic 1 Link to post Share on other sites
David Womby 1,814 Posted March 19, 2020 Author Share Posted March 19, 2020 5 minutes ago, Steve27752 said: A well done restoration, I still have two of those unmade in there boxes in the loft. So do I! David 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now