The Border Models 1/32 Lancaster BI/III

[Guest]

Border’s 1/35 scale kits are of no interest to me, I won’t touch them with a barge pole. I am only interested in 1/32 (and the odd 1/48). I am certainly not saying that their own kits are any good at all.

The Lanc is different as they did not commission/design it and only bought the moulds. With a kit this complex it presented unique challenges to them as they cannot read the minds of the Wingnut Wings team that designed it. Their style of instructions is crap anyway and if you look at WNW instructions you can see how different they are. So yes, I am willing to give them some slack on this.

As for the cost of kits. I am not personally price sensitive with, even excluding the Lanc, an average price of over £100 for the kits in my stash. All 1/32 scale aircraft. We all have a different perspective on value and I consider many kits as good value that others think are cheap, but then value is very different to price. I would prefer, any day, to build a Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire at over £130 than four or five Revell 1/32 Spitfires at £30. Indeed I have built three of the Tamiya’s and one of the Revell.

They didn’t commission it or design it - all they did was just go and buy the moulds.

If you buy a house then resell it you don’t blame the previous architect - it is your name that is on the contract.

Nothing against buying expensive kits - sometimes you get what you pay for - but £600? Apparently they sold so well they had to sell the cockpit. No wonder!

[BarryW]

They didn’t commission it or design it - all they did was just go and buy the moulds.

If you buy a house then resell it you don’t blame the previous architect - it is your name that is on the contract.

Nothing against buying expensive kits - sometimes you get what you pay for - but £600? Apparently they sold so well they had to sell the cockpit. No wonder!

That is a somewhat strange comment. Long before the kit was released and while WNW were still developing the kit WNW announced the Cockpit version and had a mock up on display at Telford. And, yes the Mk I/III did sell well enough for them to release the Dambusters version as well.

[BarryW]

I found that the top-rear insurt fits perfectly. Glued into place I then attached some aerial and a screen.



I have also been working on the internal canopy framing getting it ready for airbrushing.


There is just a little filler needed in three places where the fuselage joins will show. Behind the canopy and underneath. I used Mr Dissolved Putty as its perfect for this.



Finally the front turret is coming along. I am waiting for the Gator Grip I used to dry


The insert that will fit on the nose and fix the turret on place fits perfectly. This and the turret will be added in final fittings.

Thats now up to date.

[Jim R]

Coming on nicely Barry. The cockpit canopy frame looks very delicate.

[BarryW]

Coming on nicely Barry. The cockpit canopy frame looks very delicate.

It is very delicate and I am aware that in many kits it was broken and warped. Luckily in mine, along with the transparencies, it is in good condition.

[Guest]

That's looking really nice and coming on well. Good work!

[BarryW]

i have been working on various nose detail parts.


I have a bit more work on the above before I fit them.

I have also test fitted the rear fuselage.

I am pleased with the fit.

Below you can see some of the work behind the ‘pit.

Below you can see a bit of a gap between the front and rear fuselage halves. It’s not too bad and it will be sorted in due course. Others have pointed out that there should be a strengthening strip around the fuselage in this position for which WNW probably intended to provide an etch strip. I will see if I can reproduce such a strip using Mr Surfacer 500 which will also sort the gap.

[boatman]

COR Barry the lanc is lookin great an gonna be a biggee an it looks a strong build but how do you intend to glue the canopy framein to the glass wont it smudge on the glass ?
chrisb

[BarryW]

COR Barry the lanc is lookin great an gonna be a biggee an it looks a strong build but how do you intend to glue the canopy framein to the glass wont it smudge on the glass ?
chrisb

The frame will glue to location holes on the fuselage. The transparency will cover it and be cemented to the fuselage as well, so no smudging.

[boatman]

The frame will glue to location holes on the fuselage. The transparency will cover it and be cemented to the fuselage as well, so no smudging.

OH right oh Barry should look great keep it comin
chrisb

[BarryW]

I have been fitting the cockpit frame. This need a lot of patience as it needs to be done slowly. The windscreen is cemented firmly into position and I have started with the centre piece. The first step is to cement the piece sticking out of the front to the top centre of the windscreen. This is done and it needs to dry thoroughly before I attempt to cement the two ‘shoulders’ to the windscreen part. Then it’s the turn of the two ‘verticals’ each side, then the separate rear part.


Incidentally. I left off the ammo cases from under the front turret and slightly trimmed a couple of pieces at the front. None of this can be seen but it will enable me to fit the turret as a final fitting.

I have also been working on the inside of the rear fuselage. The rear door concerns me as I there is a risk that it might be pushed in should I pick it up with my finger on it. As a heavy model I won’t exactly be holding it with a light touch. So I used plastic sheet to reinforce it. None of this will be seen. I will paint it all soon.

[Steve-the-Duck]

One thing I really do like about this model is the 'crinkly' effect of the riveting

[BarryW]

One thing I really do like about this model is the 'crinkly' effect of the riveting

It’s what called ‘oil canning’. I believe the first kit to depict it was the 1/24 Airfix Typhoon. The new 1/32 A20 Havoc from HKM also has it. It really sets this kit apart from the HK 1/32 Lanc.

[BarryW]

I have just sprayed the interior. I am not going to spend too much time on this as a test fit shows nothing will be seen.

[Guest]

That's looking really nice indeed and that cockpit looks super cool, well done.