Tamiya 1:48 Lancaster

[Ancientmariner]

Afternoon all,

Just started unboxing this project which is to be my second aircraft build.
Last was a 1:72 Jaguar, hoping the larger parts will make this easier for me.......
Anyway unboxing as as expected kit seems high quality. I am not adding an interior detailing kit as I think this is far beyond my current skill set.
Photos below show boxed kit as it arrives.

Has anyone built this before and from that did they do anything particularly different to the way the instructions suggest this should be built?

I am intending to build as a specific aircraft my great uncle was a tail gunner in so hoping to get a reasonable result.

James

[AlanG]

Will be watching this build with interest as i really would love to have a bigger Lanc on the shelf,but cannot afford the HKM/WNW kits.

The only real issue i know with these kits is the canopy being wrong. But you can easily fix that with an aftermarket bit.

[Ancientmariner]

So made a start this evening,

Thought I'd put the ends on the bomb bay and then under coat interior and also inside of the Bombay (inner body). Went with a basic white under coat and was then intending on cockpit green for the interior but Tamiya seen to suggest RAF grey? Though I may have misread instructions. Anyway what ever colour I am wondering how I'm going to pick out the instruments moulded on the inside of the fuselage? Any ideas? Also the framing and wiring? I am probably going to spray and then dry brush a lighter mixed base to pick out highlights.

James

[Ancientmariner]

Good afternoon fellow modellers! I trust everyone has enjoyed the reasonable weather today, I opted to avoid the sun and head for the shed.

I decided to start playing with ideas for masking the details on the inside of the fuselage for spraying as these are going to be sprayed black before highlighting and washing.
I personally hate masking and am not very good at it. A lot of this is because I am lazy at changing my scalpel blades mainly but I wanted an easier way. I watched a YouTube video of a chap who masks his cockpits without canopies using wet kitchen towel.

I started having a play with this idea and while at it thought about using dilute PVA and water instead of just water to give some more structure, almost like papier mache.
I have done one side with one layer of kitchen towel and one with two. Putting on in squares, painting solution on and badding the kitchen towel flat over structure with a brush and am now waiting for it to dry after which I shall cut out the required areas. This may well be a disaster and is only an experiment as I will spray green first on the inner fuselage but am going to do a grey coat over these details so I don't waste time later if it turns out it's a bad idea. Will update when done.

James

[Ancientmariner]

Will be watching this build with interest as i really would love to have a bigger Lanc on the shelf,but cannot afford the HKM/WNW kits.

The only real issue i know with these kits is the canopy being wrong. But you can easily fix that with an aftermarket bit.

You need a big shelf to fit the HKM Lanc' on Alan!

[AlanG]

Wish i could afford the HKM Lanc. But it looks like Wing Nut Wings (WNW) might be going under (if you read their Facebook comment) so the HKM will be the only game in town in the big scale. I can still dream of one day getting one.

[Ancientmariner]

So played about this afternoon and the paper towel masking has worked a treat. I found 1 layer of kitchen towel, wetted down and then with 50/50 PVA water mixed painted over the top has worked best and just pulls off as a sheet.
Sprayed two coats on as a test, Tamiya XF mixed 50/50 with Tamiya thinner. I will be using this technique again.

Also sprayed the inner floor second coat and trying to get some mottling effect as can be seen in pic.

[Ancientmariner]

Have gone for two tone interior, cockpit green with 4 undercoats working up from grey with framing picked out in black) and Matt black forward of cockpit.

Am not overly thrilled wit of the black section. Have dry brushed framing but think I am going to further detail it in a darker grey to define it more. I am also wondering how to go about washing it but I think I will start with brown and go from there to try and add more depth.

Found a book today that my great uncle wrote the prologue for (Last of the Lancasters) which I wasn't aware he had which I enjoyed reading. Helped with aircraft info anyway.

Hope all have had a good weekend modelling.

[Guest]

Coming along nicely James.

A 1/72 was big enough for me so this must be quite a size!

[scottie3158]

James,
Looks good so far.

[Ancientmariner]

Main body interior is pretty much done and have done flooring, attempting to put in dirty boot marks.

Also added 1 run of 0.16mm stainless wore, just to see how it looked along the Port side.
Waiting for detailing PE kit as interior seats and fittings are V V basic. Arriving Wednesday.

[scottie3158]

James,
All looking very good.

[Ancientmariner]

So a quick update.

Received the PE retailing kits today. Having never used one before this was an experience. Watched a bit of YouTube and cracked on starting with bomb bay which was ok but I found my tools to be lacking a lot as parts are so fine. Need better tweezers and also super glue with a much much finer applicator.

Have removed all bomb lugs on original cast, put in 6 side pieces, bottom plate and will do wiring tomorrow. Not amazing but I'm reasonably happy for a first attempt. Couldn't have done it with my modellers magnifying glasses!

Thanks for all your positive comments by the way, makes it feel worth while after the occasional disasters I have!

[scottie3158]

James,
Looking very nice and neat.

[colin m]

Interesting work James. Should be quite special with all the extras.