1:72 Avro Manchester Mk.I/Mk.Ia *not quite FINISHED*

[Dunny]

Hi All,

 

Now, what is it I enjoy doing again? Oh yes, modelling WWII aircraft! For the last 5 months I've been on a bit of a treadmill with a commission maritime project. With the future of the rest of the project a little uncertain, I've decided to take a bit of a break from it and revert to that which gives me joy. I have been following along with @Heather Kay's wonderful Manchester build, and it inspired me to have a go at a 3D printed conversion kit for the Airfix Lancaster (A08013A for those of you wondering) to see how well I can integrate with the original kit parts, rather than cutting and shutting as is the norm with conversion kits (although Heather has made a great silk purse from what appears to be a bit of a sow's ear). To that end, I've got one of these winging its way from t'internet:

 

 

My plan is to design and 3D print as follows:

 

- Complete new wings & flap assemblies at the 90' wingspan

- Vulture engines, integrating the kit undercarriage into the nacelles

- New tail assembly (not sure yet whether to model the vertical stabiliser with the smaller vertical rudders, or use the kit parts for a later model)

- Remodel the interior, including provision for the second pilot position

- Vacuum form new dorsal turret and nose blister using 3D printed bucks

- Maybe model the ventral turret, depending on the aircraft I choose

- Lots of other things which I have yet to get my head around 

 

I suspect that some aftermarket parts may also find their way into this build - a mask set at the bare minimum! This is a bit of a placeholder as I have no doubt it will be a long-term endeavour. I may also kick off a couple of mojo-restoring builds too, but it's good to be back in the kingdom of wingy things!

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Roger

[Dunny]

Hi All,

 

Following a bit of desktop research I have settled on this scheme:

 

 

L7427 was part of 83 Sqn, based at RAF Scampton in April 1942. The aircraft was lost on its 15th mission to attack the Blohm und Voss shipyards in Hamburg on 8th April - all crew perished.

 

This therefore means that I shall be modelling the central tailfin along with a 28ft span horizontal stabiliser. As you can see the aircraft carries the high wavy camouflage demarcation, along with 10 mission tally markings on the nose. 83 Sqn were the first to use the 4000lb 'Cookie' bomb, so I may have to raid the 'Bomber Resupply Set' for suitable ordnance!

 

This I believe is an accurate representation of the scheme (taken from the Warpaint Series 103 by Tony Butler - image for discussion only and will be removed on request):

 

 

I'm looking forward to this one...

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Roger

 

 

[Heather Kay]

*rubs hands*

 

This looks like a great project! Following.

 

You may not need to vacform the nose blister. My MkII kit has both the earlier and later blisters in the box. 
 

As I’m building a really early example, the conversion kit parts for the dorsal turret are spare. They’re yours if you’d like them.

[Dave Slowbuild]

Like Heather, I’m rubbing my hands together in eager anticipation….  I think this is going to be the business!  
Best wishes 

Dave

[Chuck1945]

Damn, this is getting tempting. I built a Manchester 30+ years ago using the original Airfix Lancaster fuselage and wings from a vac kit. Following @Heather Kay’s project has tempted me to revisit and now this too…

[Mancunian airman]

I 'cut n shut' an Airfix kit some time back and scratch built the Vultures  

 

 

I look forward to seeing the 3D printed products . . . 

Best of luck with the project 

Ian 

[AdrianMF]

Lots of Manchesters crawling out of the woodwork! Looking forward to the 3D version too. 
 

Funnily enough, I have the 1980 Airfix Lancaster lined up for a bit of plastic surgery if the Bomber Command GB gets through for 2025. As if I didn't have enough projects on the go...

 

Regards,

Adrian

[Heather Kay]

37 minutes ago, AdrianMF said:

As if I didn't have enough projects on the go...

There can never be enough projects. 

[dogsbody]

Dunny, your Lancaster kit comes with both nose blisters. Part H18 is the shallow one.

 

 

Chris

[Thom216]

HAH! When the screen loaded, I saw just the top of the Airfix box and my mind spazzed thinking Airfix had come out with a full kit!😅

 

Looks like it's going to be a cool build, esp with 3D printed parts. I will be pulling up a 🪑!

[TheyJammedKenny!]

2 hours ago, AdrianMF said:

if the Bomber Command GB gets through

The bomber always gets through.

[Dunny]

14 hours ago, Heather Kay said:

*rubs hands*

 

This looks like a great project! Following.

 

You may not need to vacform the nose blister. My MkII kit has both the earlier and later blisters in the box. 
 

As I’m building a really early example, the conversion kit parts for the dorsal turret are spare. They’re yours if you’d like them.

Heather,

 

Now you mention it I do recall both nose blisters from when I built the Mk.II. A very kind offer with the turret - thank you. I am using this as an opportunity to develop vac forming as part of my skillet, but may take you up on it if all heads south,

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[bigbadbadge]

Crikey, he's back, I was about to fo a welfare check and send out a search party Roger.  Hope you're well  and suitably fired up for this one.  Good luck with yhe 3D stuff too.

 

Chris

[Dunny]

21 minutes ago, bigbadbadge said:

Crikey, he's back, I was about to fo a welfare check and send out a search party Roger.  Hope you're well  and suitably fired up for this one.  Good luck with yhe 3D stuff too.

 

Chris

Chris,

 

It's good to be back! I had my turn in the barrel over in Maritime, and I'm staying here from now on! The 3D stuff should be good fun,

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[Dunny]

9 hours ago, Mancunian airman said:

I 'cut n shut' an Airfix kit some time back and scratch built the Vultures  

 

 

I look forward to seeing the 3D printed products . . . 

Best of luck with the project 

Ian 

Ian,

 

Now that is a lovely piece of work - I shall be very happy if mine turns out half as well. It's even the same scheme!

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[Dunny]

Hi All,

 

Without the kit it's a little difficult to get into any substantive work on this, but I thought I'd start the process of laying out the design work. I found some schematics online which look pretty representative of a Mk.Ia, and have laid out the plan view in Fusion 360 as a basis for the wing design:

 

 

The two yellow planes represent the wingspan of 90' 1" (taken from Chaz Bowyer's 'Avro Manchester' profile), which scales down to 381.3mm. I shall also load in the front and side views to aid with dihedral and other detail.  I might start modelling the dorsal FN.7 turret as a distraction until the kit arrives, when I shall be able to re-familiarise myself with Auntie's engineering of the wing before I commit to the design work. Best get myself a new battery for these too:

 

 

I think I also need to invest in a contour gauge - if I can take photos of the profiles at key wing locations I can then use them as templates for creating the wing profiles in Fusion,

 

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Roger

[Dunny]

Hi All,

 

I decided to hang fire on the turret until I have the kit to measure dimensions. I did however load and scale the side and front views from the schematic:

 

 

That should provide a good basis for starting the modelling process,

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Roger

[silverfox63]

Hi Roger. This looks like a very interesting project, think I'll follow along.

Cheers,

Chris.

[Dunny]

15 hours ago, Dave Slowbuild said:

Like Heather, I’m rubbing my hands together in eager anticipation….  I think this is going to be the business!  
Best wishes 

Dave

 

12 hours ago, Chuck1945 said:

Damn, this is getting tempting. I built a Manchester 30+ years ago using the original Airfix Lancaster fuselage and wings from a vac kit. Following @Heather Kay’s project has tempted me to revisit and now this too…

 

10 hours ago, AdrianMF said:

Lots of Manchesters crawling out of the woodwork! Looking forward to the 3D version too. 
 

Funnily enough, I have the 1980 Airfix Lancaster lined up for a bit of plastic surgery if the Bomber Command GB gets through for 2025. As if I didn't have enough projects on the go...

 

Regards,

Adrian

 

9 hours ago, Thom216 said:

HAH! When the screen loaded, I saw just the top of the Airfix box and my mind spazzed thinking Airfix had come out with a full kit!😅

 

Looks like it's going to be a cool build, esp with 3D printed parts. I will be pulling up a 🪑!

 

9 minutes ago, silverfox63 said:

Hi Roger. This looks like a very interesting project, think I'll follow along.

Cheers,

Chris.

Welcome aboard one and all! I look forward to a journey of discovery on this most maligned of aircraft. It's worth remembering that over 200 were in service at a critical time of the early bombing campaign...

[AdrianMF]

10 hours ago, Dunny said:

invest in a contour gauge

Great for woodworking, elaborate mouldings, complex shapes and larger cross sections.

 

FWIW for modelling purposes, where I'm interested in simple convex shapes like aerofoils and fuselage cross sections, I use soft soldering wire pressed into or over the relevant section.

 

(edit) like I did here.

Regards,

Adrian

 

[Dunny]

11 minutes ago, AdrianMF said:

Great for woodworking, elaborate mouldings, complex shapes and larger cross sections.

 

FWIW for modelling purposes, where I'm interested in simple convex shapes like aerofoils and fuselage cross sections, I use soft soldering wire pressed into or over the relevant section.

Regards,

Adrian

 

A top tip - thank you!

[Dave Slowbuild]

Pleased to see your build will have the central tail fin.  It gives it that Fireball XL-5 look which is a Manchester to me!

[Brandy]

Now this could be interesting!

Peanuts and beer ordered!

 

Ian

[Jeff G]

Well well well, don't mind if I do! Excited to see how this one literally takes shape. As was mentioned before, happy to see the central tail fin!

[AliGauld]

Ooh, A Dunny Manchester with added 3d Sorcery.

Excited.

 

 

Cheers,

Alistair