Joe's Airfix 1/72 Avro Lancaster

[flyjoe180]

Third attempt at putting this up, I keep losing everything and getting signed out. I'm going to break it down into a few parts as I can't bring myself to lose all this again.

My Airfix Vintage GB build is the Airfix 1/72 Avro Lancaster. This kit just creeps in to the Vintage Airfix GB year of 1981, being a 1979/80 release. It was a replacement mould for the ancient famous 'G-George'. It's supposed to be a nice build still, with subtle rivet detail and moulded in a black coloured plastic.

The box art. NEW! As in new in 1980.

[flyjoe180]

The plastic is still sealed in a bag, which I haven't yet opened. The clear parts look great, and there is little evidence of any flash. A benefit of grabbing a first edition kit, the moulds are still precise. Subtle rivet detail, moulded in black, this is supposed to still be a good build, so looking forward to it.

[flyjoe180]

The decals look usable, but are yellowed. I'll put them in a sealed clear plastic bag and expose them to the ozone layer hole. Should come out okay I think.


The instructions are a surprise, definitely an improvement over the old numbered steps. Printed on what I would describe as the sort of paper that comics were printed on at that time. A nice blue coloured ink too.

[HAWKERHUNTER]

A most excellent choice Joe and what an iconic aircraft. That black plastic could work in your favour. I built the Dambusters 1/72 Lanc some years ago and it came in an awful dark green colour. Only problem with the kit I had was you had to fit the 4 propellers and engines early in the build. You will have to handle it with kid gloves or abandon the instructions and just fit the props right at the end and not have them moving.
Chair pulled up mate.

[flyjoe180]

A most excellent choice Joe and what an iconic aircraft. That black plastic could work in your favour. I built the Dambusters 1/72 Lanc some years ago and it came in an awful dark green colour. Only problem with the kit I had was you had to fit the 4 propellers and engines early in the build. You will have to handle it with kid gloves or abandon the instructions and just fit the props right at the end and not have them moving.
Chair pulled up mate.

Hope the black plastic is okay Steve. I do know that some of these darker coloured moulds can be rather shiny which can make glueing difficult if one doesn't give the joins a gentle rough up. They can also be brittle. I'll find out on 1 April ???? Green sounds terrible. I rarely have my props movable anyway. I like the positionable control surfaces in this kit.

[colin m]

Talk about 'Go big'. What a great choice. This might have been one of my first builds when I returned to the hobby, just in a much newer box.
I've mentioned the signing out thing to the other Mod's, just in case there's a problem somewhere.

[flyjoe180]

Talk about 'Go big'. What a great choice. This might have been one of my first builds when I returned to the hobby, just in a much newer box.
I've mentioned the signing out thing to the other Mod's, just in case there's a problem somewhere.

I think I built the early 90's version of this kit Colin, it was probably the last one I did before my return to the hobby in 2012. I think it was this edition: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/airf...r-biii--650699

[Valeron]

Wow. Looks like a great build.

[flyjoe180]

Looking forward to it Mike, cheers

[Geoffers]

Great choice Joe, looking forward to watching you knock it into shape

Geoff.

[Airborne01]

Great choice seconded!
Steve

[flyjoe180]

Cheers Steve, glad you like my choice!

[Jim R]

What a great choice for the GB. An iconic aircraft and hopefully a great build.

[flyjoe180]

Thanks Jim, hopefully it will turn out well

[pjgtech]

Lovely choice that, good luck with it.
I built a Lanc when I was a kid, (badly) and have wanted to build another one now I'm back into the hobby. But currently I don't have one in the stash....so I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a good one to build at some point.
Will be good to watch yours progress, so I might pick up a few tips along the way....
8-)

[flyjoe180]

I've got the new-tool Dam Buster version as well, so this will make a good comparison when the time comes to build that one

[Nicko]

Following along Joe. Best of luck!

Nick

[flyjoe180]

Thanks Nick, hopefully not too much luck required. It's going to have some shortcomings being an older kit, but generally it looks like this will build up well

[flyjoe180]

Great choice Joe, looking forward to watching you knock it into shape

Geoff.

Hopefully not too much knocking Geoff

[colin m]

I think I built the early 90's version of this kit Colin, it was probably the last one I did before my return to the hobby in 2012. I think it was this edition: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/airf...r-biii--650699

Royal Air Force BBMF Collection, Airfix A50116 (2009) this was mine, but as you can see on Scalemates, it's the same old mold.