Avro Lancaster 102" Dambuster

So it would be reasonable to assume that Hawker Fury pilots wore Sidcot suits. Ralph, I followed your link but can't find the pilot you show. It could be because of my location, I seem to get different results for my searches here.

Hi Klippy.

Just go to CGTrader.com and search for Spitfire pilot. It is a single page and details the designer and has pictures of the model. The designer has other pilot figures that he sells the deign of.

Thanks, I'll do that when I get some bandwidth.

Did a bit more on the Lanc today. Set up the wing incidences, fibre glassed the internal wooden structure on each nacelle to give it strength. Decided to do a bit of the detail work so fitted the cockpit floor and trimmed the formers and longerons to make it look reasonable. also designed and printed the DF loop that goes on the deck behind the pilot above the radio operator.

The black paint is a guide coat. The rear section of the cockpit was cockpit green according to the information I have. But its a contentious point as it changed from all green at sometime in 1943. As the Dambusters aircraft were early 1943 and refurbished for the raid it is possible they were one of the first to change to green and black. So I'm taking a gamble with this colour scheme.

DF loop straight off the printer with no trimming:-

Your attention to detail is amazing! I can't wait to see it finished.
Favourite line from the film;
Official, Ministry of Aircraft Production:
You say you need a Wellington Bomber for test drops. They're worth their weight in gold. Do you really think the authorities will lend you one? What possible argument could I put forward to get you a Wellington?

Barnes Wallace:
Well, if you told them I designed it, do you think that might help?

Do you know if he actually said that?

Then some of the original clips show a Mossie! [badass]

That's right Eric, they developed a smaller version alongside "upkeep" it was called "high ball" for use with mossies against shipping....

Got a bit bored in the evenings this week so designed and 3D printed parts of the interior of the rear gun turret. Not really to scale as I was working from photographs and took artist license just to make it look right. Some minor adjustments required particularly the gun muzzle where there is break out leaving a hole. Now to do the front turret.

Very impressive Ralph! can't wait to see her finished.

paul d wrote: Very impressive Ralph! can't wait to see her finished.

Impressed is an understatement to me, :woohoo: .... Ralph makes me want to learn how to do 3D printing, but I haven't got a clue where to start and I don't think I could spare the time to learn. I'm jealous.!!!!!

Pol.

I've had my printer for 18mths now Phil and I just can't get into it, the major problem is designing the parts in 3 dimensions, I can't get my head around the software!

Thanks for the positive comments guys, appreciate it.

I use Fusion 360, free license if you use it for hobby or education. It was quite clunky at first but once you learn about virtual planes and using them to sketch on it becomes a lot easier. Most times you don't need the virtual plane you can sketch straight on a parts face and pull, extrude or whatever it is you want to do. I still haven't worked out when you can and cannot do this.

I struggled at first and still struggle a bit but the more you use it the easier it becomes. The turret parts took a total of 8 hours of CAD time spread over 4 or 5 days. Once its designed you can scale to parts to suit any scale model.

I still can't get over the ability to design a part on a screen then have that design made in front of you and hold the actual finished part. Stay with it it is well worth it.

Done a bit more on the Lanc today. weather was bad so no distractions like flying, cutting the lawn or shopping. :woohoo:

I bought some step drills off Ebay and these arrived today. Very useful.


Printed some window frames for the bomb aimers section.This will make it easier to fit the clear acrylic rather than trying to fix it to the fuselage. Only single glazed not double glazed!! I am in two minds whether to do the windows in the fuselage the same way or just mask and paint them.



and fitted to the fuselage


Then set up the wing incidences and pinned them. Added the longitudinal structural strengthening beam that runs from near the nose the just behind the wing. Then fitted the bomb arm hinges.

Now the tricky bit, the gear door actuating arms. This needed a lot of thought and I've been putting it off for a few weeks. So bit the bullet today and made a few test pieces. Ended up using an old well tried method of two 90^o belcranks, old servo arms, on an axle. Simple, adjustable, light weight and works well. I used a 5mm carbon tube for the axle, and some light ply for the bearing blocks. Then pinned, literally, the belcranks to the carbon rods with pins then added some epoxy for good measure.





Its tight with all the oleos in place so the linkage will have a slight bend to clear.



Measured the weight of everything so far and its at 4.8kg. The only thing not included in this weight is the paint and final detailed parts. So I could get in built with an AUW of 5.5 - 5.7kg which is 1kg lighter than planned!! :woohoo:

Ralph I'm stunned, that is wonderful, after all your efforts you really need to do the windows properly rather than paint them.....truly outstanding mate.