Big model, a 1/48 scale Tamiya
Lancaster. I got this in a big trade a couple years back with a member of the
Canadian model mafia. Only problem was the model itself was the tall boy big
bomb version. Not the standard bomber. Nice thing with the big bomb type is the
kit comes with some nice extras. Such as prepainted clear areas. Now, these were
of no use to me as I was not doing a wartime camouflaged model. But I'm keeping them for future considerations.
Another nice thing was the motorized
spinning props. I did not use them in this kit but again, I am keeping them for
a future project. The basic kit has been around for decades, but still is a very
nice model which fit together well.
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Some things I added. Eduard
colour photo etch. They look freakin' fantastic. But once the canopy is in
place you can not see anything regarding them. Save your money. A BIG add
on came from another ARCer from England. He sent me the Bombay from his
trashed Lancaster. Without this major part I would have had a tough time
figuring out how to do this model. Thank you again Sir.
The rest came from Canadian
companies. Belcher Bits sells very nice resin engines. The Tamiya
offerings are rather sparse in detail and really just do not look right.
The Belcher Bits replacements I feel are a requirement to make the
Lancaster look like a Lancaster.
The biggest need in this kit
was the decals. I contacted Leading Edge decals directly and was able to
get a WONDERFUL set of decals for a Canadian Search and Rescue Lancaster
from 103 rescue squadron in Torbey Newfoundland back in the late 1950's
into 1960 when the fleet was retired. The Leading Edge decals ALSO
come with the resin radar on the belly, various lumps and bumps and
the search windows required to do the model I wanted.
At first I was thinking I would
build airframe 213 as it now is flying at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
in wartime markings. But I did not have a 1950's style number 2 big enough
for under the wing. So I built the model as 104, which comes with the decal
sheet. 104 was retired to the Toronto water front for around 20 years where the
plane got seriously vandalized and began to rot. Fortunately its now being
rebuilt for display purposes at the museum at the former CFB Toronto.
Shawn
"Phantom" Weiler
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