Avro Lancaster

[avro683]

Evenin' all.

Does anyone know if there is a definitive date when the RAF's Lancs converted from smooth tyres to treaded. I've looked at several books and websites but no help seems to be available.

Thanks in advance

Tony

Edited November 22, 2008 by avro683

[AnonymousA667]

Seems to be a post war thing Tony. I seem to remember picking up somewhere that treaded tyres came in with the Lincoln coming off the production line.

peebeep

[avro683]

Thanks, Paul. My reason for asking is I bought the xtradecal "Post War Lancasters" sheet last week and I've got three more Revell Lancs coming. The wheels IMHO are one of the few things to really let an otherwise superb kit down and need replacing so I thought I would do my utmost to get it right.

Tony

[AnonymousA667]

Sounds like you've been shopping at M & S! There are different resin wheels to choose from, treaded variety included.

peebeep

[avro683]

How'd you guess?!! 7 quid a kit is great but consider that paint, glue and a brush is included for each kit and you're talking a serious bargain! Besides, I got enough markings for a dozen Lancs at SMW last week so I thought I had better get some plastic to put them on.

Tony

[Honeybee]

Hi

I'm sure Hurrinut told me last week he'd spoken to a guy who told him 617Sqdn Lancs had treaded tyres before the war ended. Something to do with extra grip on the take off run,

Regards

Paul

[Danny]

I was under the impression they were introduced with the aircraft converted to carry Tallboy and Grandslam bombs to provide extra grip on take off and at the same time the tail wheel was replaced with a 'normal' wheel instead of the anti-shimmy type (the type that's included with the airfix kit and is oversized I think in the Hasewaga kit) but I'm afraid I can't remember where I read that.

The centre hub's began to change (to the style fitted to the BBMF's cab I believe) when the Lincoln was being tested (as the Lancaster IV)

Not 100% confident of my facts though

Danny

Edited December 16, 2022 by Danny

[avro683]

I was under the impression they were introduced with the cabs converted to carry Tallboy and Grandslam bombs to provide extra grip on take off and at the same time the tail wheel was replaced with a 'normal' wheel instead of the anti-shimmy type (the type that's included with the airfix kit and is oversized I think in the Hasewaga kit) but I'm afraid I can't remember where I read that

The centre hub's began to change (to the style fitted to the BBMF's cab I believe) when the Lincoln was being tested (as the Lancaster IV)

Not 100% confident of my facts though

Danny

Would it be fair to say then that the tail wheel included in te Revell kit is ok for a post war machine?

Tony

[kitnut617]

Hi

I'm sure Hurrinut told me last week he'd spoken to a guy who told him 617Sqdn Lancs had treaded tyres before the war ended. Something to do with extra grip on the take off run,

Regards

Paul

My Dad served in 617 Sqn. from 1944-46, he told me that he never ever saw treaded tyres on any of the Lancs he worked on. In my Crowood book Shackleton, it says that the treaded tyres were developed for this aircraft and as the RAF had a large supply of these made and in stock and were the same size as what Lanc/Lincolns used, these were put on various post war Lancs/Lincolns as tyres were needed replacing.

Robert