Bristol Hercules Exhaust Collector Support Question

[Dave Lennox]

I recently purchased the Airfix Lancaster B.II. and, while it's a very nice kit in my opinion, I noticed that there were four support struts on the engine exhaust collectors. I pulled out the Airfix Beaufighter X to check the Hercules exhaust collector supports in that kit which had only three supports. Can anyone tell me if there was a mod that would have been incorporated at some point in time that changed from three to four supports or was it a case of a sub-variant of the Hercules exhaust collector installation? I ask because I came across a photo of a Beaufighter with four support struts (based on the angle between the two visible struts).

[Dave Lennox]

4 Struts:

http://404squadron.com/images/gallery/PL42932.jpg

 

3 Struts:

http://404squadron.com/images/gallery/PL41008.jpg

[dogsbody]

I have only ever seen 3 supports. I do not have any clear photos of those supports on a Lancaster B.II. As there were only 301 built, there aren't a lot of pictures of them.

I do have photos of other aircraft, mostly Beaufighters, that show only 3 supports. All other Bristol engines with collector rings have just 3 supports struts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Airfix really blew it on that bit of detail.

 

 

 

Chris