Avro Lancaster 102" Dambuster

A bit more done on the Lanc. Designed some air inlets and printed them. These are for the oil cooler on top of each nacelle. They are also on the engine cowling. So glued them on. To secure the battery cover I used the air inlet as a handle to slide the locking pin to secure the battery cover in place. Works well. No springs as im relying on the prop wash to keep it back in place.



Little bit of filling to do before paint but looks ok.



Slide the air inlet forwards and Lock open



slide the air inlet back and lock closed

Spent the last 4 weeks getting the paint on. Had a reaction to some filler i used so had the dig that out, refill, sand and prime. Painted it last weekend and left it until today to harden off. Not too bad. A few marks to touch up. So put the vinyl decals on that I cut using my Silhouette Cameo cutter. First time I've tried this. Had a bit of fun adding some weathering with the airbrush. Just got to put a coat of clear satin varnish over the whole thing then I can start fitting it out.

That is pretty spectacular. Superb job.

Oh my that looks nice !

She looks great Ralph, a lovely job Sir

superb work Ralph!! the maiden can't be to far off now?

Not far away Paul. Probably another 3 or 4 weekends to finish things off. I hope the thing flies after all this work!

Did a bit of detailing as I was in the mood for it.

Fitted out the front turret, the guns do go up and down. Got to fit a small 5g servo below them to get them to go up and down. Probably link the servo to the elevator channel. Turret wont rotate though. :dry: Fitting the servo is a job for the future.

Guns down


Guns up



Finish painted the canopy, 4 evenings of masking up and 30 seconds of spray painting! Just got the tidy it up and its ready to fit. Couldn't resist placing it in position.



Just got to paint the pilot. Research on the correct colours is next then match up the correct model acrylics

Ralph, how did you make all the "glass work" canopy ect ?

Hi Crash,

I cheated!! Its a vacuum form. Fortunately the correct size was available for this plan, Sarik I believe. However, Vortex vacforms ( www.vortex-vacforms.co.uk ) make a lot of various canopies etc and show the sizes which helps.

I am building my own vacuum former but that's about item 8 on my list of things to do.

Finish painted 'Guy' and glued him into his seat. Applied the satin varnish coat all over the fuselage and wings. Just let that dry and I can start fitting it out.

Is that Guy, or Doug Bader?

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Well someone had to say it ! :lol:

Question for you clever people out there. I have two left and two right hand rotating props to reduce engine torque. But which way should they rotate? Engines rotating towards the fuselage or away from the fuselage? :S My Mosquito the props rotates towards the fuselage but I don't know why.

Does it matter?:S :S

The full size has them all rotating anti clockwise (looking at the props from the front of the aircraft looking back).

I can't see it making any difference.