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Lerxst
Andy Ball (Lerxst)
GB

The Courage of the Small Hours

Album image #1
A great book, human stories behind the two aircrews and the legacy they left our village in January 1945. 
 

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Kiwi Dunlop's crash 12th January 1945.
Poor weather, drizzle, low cloud base. Dunlop had 4 solo hours of night flying experience. On finals, his port outer airscrew hit the ground first on a sharp bank to port. The airframe skidded along the ground and sadly exploded in an inferno. Villagers raced to the crash scene, alas there were no survivors. 
 

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Canadian Rathbone's crash 28th January 1945.
At 0215h two eyewitnesses saw the aircraft diving at great speed and in flames, apparently with both port engines on fire. Cause of accident remains uncertain due to widespread dispersal of the wreckage. The nearby Land Army Girls' hostel had witnessed yet again another horrendous accident, according to one of their residents, within yards of Dunlop's crash site. The next nights of 29/30 January seven inches of snow fell, meaning pieces from the wreckage were not initially recoverable, and were still being found up to a year later by local farmers. 
 

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So: here we are.....in lane number 1...the Revell offering. Far cheaper to buy than Airfix, and it has all the bombs plus engines you can detail.  
 

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And in lane 2: the Airfix. So far their detail and quality is ahead of Revell’s, but it’s all relative: both kits are good in their 72nd guise. 
 

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Quicker to get to this point with Revell versus Airfix. Different build philosophies. 
 

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laying the fuselage interiors out shows little difference between them, both have suitable side wall detail: Airfix being the grey and Revell the beige. 
 

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ah, the Airfix curse...I saw this on my Do-17z...soft plastic makes for subtle warping...the two fuselage halves don't fall together at all...means they will be cemented bit by bit, or I complain to Airfix. 
 

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I'm sure with tape and swear words this can be remedied, plus the 2 internal wing spars will give some rigidity and alignment 
 

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now, Revell on the other hand.....its plastic being slightly harder, the 2 halves fall together well 
 

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right down the line.....good symmetry. 
 

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Revell’s interior the slightly more basic of the two. Plenty of scope to add detail if necessary. The cockpit and bomb bay mated with the port fuselage well. 
 

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Airfix’s interior that little bit more involved. Note the pilot seat position viz a viz Revell’s- also I don’t like decals but as I’m making this a quick-ish build largely OotB, I’ll use them. I preferred Revell’s instrument panel and a bit of paint to bring out the contours. I had to mate the interior piece by piece to the fuselage, due to the warping of the fuselage. I am hoping that this will pull into line and make the other side’s attachment easier.  
 

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Airfix’s starboard fuselage. 
 

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Revell’s starboard fuselage. 
 

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Spot the Airfix one!?....grrrrr..... 
 

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Looking more like the Avro plant at Broughton c.1943 
 

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The Airfix spars are a little splayed.....hoping that this won’t transfer to a dodgy wing attachment?..... 
 

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front of 'fix 
 

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new airbrush thinner?....no, NZ Rose...quite delicious 
 

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“LLO” (Lancaster-like object)…worked on Revell B.I which will be the subject of Rathbone’s machine that crashed a little after Dunlop’s (B.III). Vallejo paints. Preshaded and most lost under the continual coating and re-coating- the Revell kit the easier to get to here. Airfix will be done once I’m at decal stages with this (LM308) 
 

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Here’s the conundrum- I don’t know Rathbone’s squadron code and radio sign. It may have been RC@ or CE@ and the radio sign?..,,,,if anyone on here can help, I’d appreciate a signposting- otherwise I will go to the UK records office and lookup RAF Syerston’s records…. 
 

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I love these Master 0.303” Browning barrels- I’ve used them for both the kits. Airfix’s turrets are the better detailed and could use some finer work to make them ‘pop’ 
 

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Beginning to enjoy the Airfix kit better. These flaps have enjoyed some burnt umber oils and a little ghosted topping of interior green over the dry brushed aluminium.  
 

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Allowing the primer to cure - as Vallejo recommends 12 hours  
 

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Most of the kit's pieces now primed. We start the camouflaging tomorrow  
 

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top, camo'd 
 

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bottom camo'd- added some dark grey to the black to add some contrast....needs another ghost coat to blend 
 

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not sure about that dihedral....seems Stuka-like...heard that Airfix may have over-exaggerated this?, thoughts?.... 
 

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"Our Tragic Twins". I opted as an educated guess for the "CE" Squadron Code (thanks to those on here who believe this may be the case too). I will hold the radio letter code in abeyance until I get a definitive answer, or failing that- "D" Dunlop and "R" Rathbone?  
 

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So here's where we're at: Airfix has decals and some of the main gear plus turrets (as per instructions). Now needs pin-wash, smokes and dirt. Wings are fixed but stabilisers and rudders are left off to detail. This is Dunlop's B.III - note larger bomb aimer window and some differences in canopy bulges etc. 
 

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Revell: pretty much the same stage as Airfix. More to do on gear, their wings/stabilisers and rudders are all removable - which is a bonus at this detailing stage. This is Rathbone's B.I, as Revell (unlike Airfix) allows a B.I or B.III to be built.  
 

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Revell underside, will give some lighter grey-black and possible blue-black shading to add to the depth of the black. 
 

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Airfix has by far the better detail in wheel bays, and flap areas. I haven't left either bomb bays open as I wanted to depict them in training mode, (which I am sure they were) 
 

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Revell's B I is on short finals….The tricky undercarriage was not to my liking!, so reduced scores in that department. That said, it looks "stork-like" as all Lancasters had that ungainly long legged u/carriage.  
 

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Revell again: used Vallejo matt varnish. Will still correct the exhaust stains with some lighter grey. A bit of decal silvering will need to be remedied at last stage  
 

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Revell from starboard side. 
 

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I am concerned the aerials at the front are over-scaled? If I had the patience I'd replace the "TV masts" with small guitar strings (see my P-61 project- much more to scale) 
 

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Future used to improve the flaws in the transparencies, worked better. 
 

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THIS HAS GIVEN ME SO MUCH JOY!!! Finally, through relentless searching the International Bomber Command Centre (in Lincoln, UK) had a digital archive...and naturally confirmed the radio codes. I will need to assume the 5 LFS codes as "CE" (as "RC" were used earlier in 1944, I think).  
 

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Revell B.I 
 

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Airfix B.III 
 

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Airfix B.III 
 

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Rathbone RCAF
Think Revell’s turret looks odd 
 

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Dunlop: RNZAF
Airfix turret (and all of them) better in shape and details  
 

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Airfix  
 

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Revell- note they give you the glazed port holes on the upper fuselage- Airfix doesn’t  
 

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Revell’s aerials replaced by those redundant in Airfix kit. I assume these are part of a B.I’s navigation? 
 

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"In the funnel" - their last words to the tower. 
 

Commenti

81 5 September 2020, 14:34
Spanjaard
count me in 🙂
15 September 2020, 15:43
David Taylor
in as well
15 September 2020, 15:46
Andy Ball
Cheers @Spaanjaard and @David! Glad you've come along....
15 September 2020, 16:08
Micky
Watching with a lot of interest Andy. I will start this Lanc Revell Kit next week!!
15 September 2020, 16:38
Daniel Klink
Following!👍
15 September 2020, 18:20
Carlos Martin
I'm in!
15 September 2020, 18:51
Andy Ball
@Micky, Daniel and Carlos: graçias und danke!
16 September 2020, 14:33
Andy Ball
@Micky: my cousin married a farmer whose family bought the airfield back from the RAF after the war - the original WWII control tower has been restored and the hangers have been used for dry-storage. Only the runways are dug up, the layout is still plain to see. There's a book called "On the Wings of Freedom" which details RAF Bottesford: originally Manchesters flew until the Lancs arrived including briefly PO@S, then the USAAF...Somewhere I have a photo of the Tamiya model held by one of the Australians who flew from the airfield. My cousin had a WWII reunion in 1995 for those who could still make it (they were in their 70's and 80's), they had hundreds who came from all over the world!, and they still keep coming...often the children/grandchildren.
16 September 2020, 18:22
Micky
@Andy...cool...what a story! Such a place with that history...lots of emotions. Thanks for sharing!
16 September 2020, 23:10
Nathan Dempsey
Great subject Andy (& a dual build). I'm in.
17 September 2020, 00:31
Andy Ball
@Nathan, honoured to have you along....
17 September 2020, 10:10
Gary Kitchen
@Andy I'm in as usual. I have the Revell kit on its way for my war memorial collection so will be following closely for tips and inspiration. 👍
17 September 2020, 18:19
Andy Ball
@Gary: cheers fella!, I hope to provide them...
18 September 2020, 15:51
Guillaume Blanchet
Interseting subjet, will be watching.
19 September 2020, 11:06
David Januska
Very inspiring project, really educative. Watching.
19 September 2020, 16:33
Guy Rump
Definitely watching, I'll be building the older version of the Airfix model soon so I'll be interested to see the differences. 🙂
19 September 2020, 17:01
Munkyslut
I'm watching this one! Really interesting to see the differences in manufacturing quality from Andy's descriptions.
19 September 2020, 18:04
Andy Ball
@Guillaume, David, Guy, Monkyslut: many thanks for your comments and interest. @Guy, if you have Gen-2 Airfix Lancaster (not the burning engine landing box art, Gen-1), it is apparently good. Third generation, (this one), lifted the bar in details/engineering - not, apparently, dimensional accuracy. @Monkyslut: I'll do my humble bit for comparison - I think there has been a three-way comparison somewhere [Hyperscale?] including the Hasegawa mould, and theirs is an overpriced, less-accurate kit according to sources. I've bought both my kits...so I have no partisan interests in either.
21 September 2020, 09:55
Munkyslut
Thanks Andy, I'm just interested to see how the Airfix offering stands up to direct competition.
Plus as a bonus it double ticks my weakness for heavy bombers 😉
21 September 2020, 10:38
Andy Ball
@Monkyslut: I think Revell's edging it over 'fix currently - ironic: German company does RAF heavy bombers really well - Stirling/Halifax/Lancaster.....
22 September 2020, 22:25
David Taylor
be interesting to build the old Airfix stirling against the Italeri offering.Lots of US in 48 but no Brit bombers,shame.
22 September 2020, 22:47
Andy Ball
@David indeed, and shame!
24 September 2020, 11:29
Nathan Dempsey
I have to keep reminding myself this is 1/72. Looking awesome on both so far Andy.
27 September 2020, 15:15
Munkyslut
This is brilliant stuff! The details are fantastic, if I can achieve half of this I'll be satisfied😉
27 September 2020, 15:52
Micky
Good progress Andy, I am starting the Revell's Lanc so I will watch with interest. Thanks for sharing!
28 September 2020, 02:59
Guillaume Blanchet
Guillaume Blanchet
Nice to see the progression. Looks bigger tahn 1/72

I could spot the Airfix just by the decals. They are on the thick side. I remember having to use lots & lots of decal softener to have the rivets ans other molded details show trough the decals. Bur I really like the little map. My kind of details..
28 September 2020, 10:32
Dave Flitton
Hoping this goes smoothly.
28 September 2020, 11:39
Andy Ball
@Nathan: thanks for the comments....save to say, the Revell's proving the more 'fluent' of the two builds. @Monkyslut: what?, you?...you'll double it and more!.... @Micky: she's a good kit...in UK it's £10 (one-third) cheaper than Airfix, and not one third less in quality. I say, spend less on the plastic and transfer the savings to some after-market additions. @Guillaume: the map shows "target tonight.....Dresden" by the looks! @ Dave: smooth and some clear-air turbulence to report thus far!....
28 September 2020, 14:06
Guy Rump
The Revell one is looking good, the Airfix one, well I'm sure your perseverance will reward you with your usual high standard aircraft. 🙂
28 September 2020, 16:11
Cuajete
It seems that I wrong to buy the one from Airfix. Good progress, Andy 👍.
28 September 2020, 17:59
Micky
Thanks for the tip Andy!
28 September 2020, 18:01
David Taylor
If push comes to shove the Airfix one could metamorph into its predecessor.
28 September 2020, 18:09
Daniel Klink
Great stuff andy, and stunning detailwork here 👍
Just have to check the halves with my Lanc B.II by Airfix. That looks horrible pic 7,8
28 September 2020, 18:14
Daniel Klink
With my Lancaster fit is fine and no warping effect!
but why Airfix has tooled it with 11!!! ejector pins on each fuselage half?
28 September 2020, 20:12
Andy Ball
@Daniel: glad yours is cool, I think their plastic and no doubt the moulding process adds to the issues. The Do-17 has issues too- around the bomb bay and wing spar sections.
28 September 2020, 20:46
Andy Ball
@David: do you mean make it into a Manchester?....I'll keep preserving!
28 September 2020, 20:48
Andy Ball
**perservering**
29 September 2020, 09:41
David Taylor
BY all accounts with its X24 cylinder Vulture engines the Manchester was a mare,nobody like to fly in it .
29 September 2020, 18:59
Andy Ball
So, autumn's here....the outside workshop I work in is a bit cold and damp 🙁
The air compressor seems to be shooting through condensation into the paint, (grrrrr), and paid-work is eating into the evening's light.
But, I soldier on....., inspired by the BBMF Lancaster that made a pass over the village yesterday enroute I guess to RAF Coningsby/Scampton....4 Merlins playing their sweet symphony...... Inspiration and mojo re-awakened.....and a couple of photos added to show I'm not dead yet....
16 October 2020, 08:57
Munkyslut
Have you got a condensation trap on your compressor?
Worthwhile addition if ya painting in typical dank British autumn & winter 👍

Wish I'd seen the Lanc!......... my inspiration had to come from many beers 😉
16 October 2020, 09:32
Andy Ball
Indeed I do Munkyslut, I drain it, but there's still some condensation in it, are you able to give any advice?, I am in the process - when I can - of looking on YouT for airbrush troubleshooting, I'm deep-cleaning the H&S too.
16 October 2020, 09:48
Łukasz Gliński
Glad to see you're alive 👍 Damp is coming everywhere, not only in the UK😉
Looking forward to reading some comparison observations between Revell and Airfix.
16 October 2020, 10:32
Andy Ball
Haha Ł, very much so...no COVID here, yet. Feel I have a whole project to re-equip my studio with insulation and heat....and may change the compressor too. I guess you'll have more extreme weather where you are than us damp-Englanders!
16 October 2020, 10:52
Łukasz Gliński
Not so much actually, at least in my corner of the country😉
I guess the extreme damp counts as extreme weather, doesn't it?😉
16 October 2020, 11:00
Gary Kitchen
@Lukasz extreme damp feels like a particularly under-stated British bit of extreme weather. Not for us the hurricane, cyclones, Twisters, blizzards and monsoons that other parts of the world justifiably label as extreme 🙂
17 October 2020, 07:48
Gary Kitchen
Saying that I heard that rainfall to date in October ( the wettest on record) was enough to fill Loch Ness! Not sure if that has been scientifically verified though.
17 October 2020, 07:52
Łukasz Gliński
@Gary: has the estimation included the Nessie?😉 Sorry for OT, Mr.A😉
17 October 2020, 08:24
Guillaume Blanchet
My 2 cents on the water in the compressor issue. Mine dosent have a purge valve so I try to keep it in a dry place. Usually Inside the house close to a heating source. I also let it purge itself when strating it up fo9r a few minutes. But if there is too much humidity in the air the water will accumulate again in the compressor. At that point, I usually purge it again when necessary for 2 minute and always spray away from the model to check if there is water before directing the paint stream toward my model.

Good luck with your studio improvement.
17 October 2020, 12:08
Gary Kitchen
Andy good to see you're active again although focussing in on the big Spits it looks like. How fairs the Lanc?
23 April 2021, 15:55
Andy Ball
Hi Gary, yes the Lancs are on the workbench too, just a little to the right....they're being painted when I get to the Spit's Dk.Green/Earth - goal to finish all by summer!
23 April 2021, 20:27
Andy Ball
We have progress on Revell's offering- I will be held short by the decalling issues though. (Photo 22). The great thing about a Lancaster is you can build the sections independently- wings and tail planes…
2 July 2022, 22:15
Guy Rump
From what I've been able to look up, the Lancaster WOII Rathbone was flying LM308 which was part of 5LFS (Lancaster Finishing School) which had the Sqn code CE. Hope that helps.
3 July 2022, 07:57
Guy Rump
Hi Andy, I've noticed something else that might help. on one of the sites it mentions Lancaster I LM308. The Lanc that they were flying that morning was a Mk III so the call sign could? have been CE I (I'm confident that CE is correct). Hope that helps. 🙂
3 July 2022, 10:54
Micky
Good to see progress again Andy. Good luck with the radio sign!
3 July 2022, 13:15
Gary Kitchen
Keep on keeping on Andy 👍
3 July 2022, 15:58
Andy Ball
Thanks Guy, I noted the chronology of 5LFS crashes in our area. In the spring-summer of 1944 they were all RC@x. Then EE134 crashed at Syerston in November 1944 with code CE@O, which appears the time they changed the squadron code. My 2 Lancasters were Jan-45 as you know. I'm going to contact the records office in Kew and see if they can help. Thanks so much for the comments!
3 July 2022, 18:52
Andy Ball
Thanks Micky!, I love your build too- been having a peek to steal ideas!
3 July 2022, 18:53
Andy Ball
Thanks Gary, you're helping the mojo!!
3 July 2022, 18:53
David Taylor
Imperial war museum has a load of archived material as well Andy.
4 July 2022, 14:48
Andy Ball
@David: I've got a reference from Kew: AIR 29/614/4...they talk of 5LFS and hopefully may have the details of the unit's planes and sorties...., but I will ask IWM too, thanks.
4 July 2022, 17:42
Cuajete
Well done so far, Andy 👍
5 July 2022, 17:08
Andy Ball
Thanks Cuajete- trying to level both builds up...Revell's ahead by about a day/day and a half...
5 July 2022, 17:45
Andy Ball
Both kits are now nearly level at build stages - see photos.
It really is a case of "you pays your money, you takes your choice"....
Airfix is the better product (if the warping wasn't there I'd be even more impressed), but Revell is a sweet little build and 2/3rds the price of Airfix (when I purchased here in the U.K.).
Without sounding smug, I'm not really on a budget when it comes to model acquisitions and building, so I'd take the Airfix one just ahead of Revell's offering.
21 July 2022, 18:23
Cuajete
Nice, Andy... Both kits looks so good 👍
Thanks for show the differences.
21 July 2022, 18:28
Gary Kitchen
Well done Andy. These feel a like a long time coming! You must be really glad with the progress you've made now. Fab stuff
21 July 2022, 21:52
Micky
Huge project Andy and research as well. History is always present in your projects and is always a key part for us as modelers. Looking very good the 2 Lancs! Cheers
22 July 2022, 04:04
Andy Ball
@Gary: I'd be no use in the Ministry for Aircraft Production!! I think this will be finished soon- to be frank, I'm a bit fed up with trying to clear the workbench- but it is the cause of doing these that keeps you going! I really thought I'd have finished Revell today, another 3 hours and I'll declare 'landed'.
22 July 2022, 16:19
Andy Ball
@Micky: yep. Bit off more than I could chew, but this is important to those who met their violent end in pastures 400-600m from my house 🙁
22 July 2022, 16:20
David Taylor
What will you be using for aerial wire Andy.I still have some stretchy filament from Aeroclub,dreading running out.
22 July 2022, 18:27
Andy Ball
Hi David, great prompt!, I'd almost forgotten…
I'll use Ushi's "rig that thing', I think it's a nylon filament, strong , stretchy but a bugger to unravel!
22 July 2022, 19:55
David Taylor
Bugger causing you more work LOL.
22 July 2022, 19:57
Andy Ball
Yeh, thanks. Sort of…
22 July 2022, 19:57
Villiers de Vos
A very nice finish.
24 July 2022, 02:39
Andy Ball
@Villiers, many thanks, I've learned from Revell's and will apply a slightly different technique to Airfix.
24 July 2022, 13:45
Guy Rump
Great results. Food for thought for the Revell Lanc I have in my stash. 👍
31 July 2022, 13:23
Andy Ball
Yes Guy, I'd say Airfix wins it by a head and neck. The dihedral is more realistic, the upper mid turret looks better and what were Revell thinking of with their aerials? But Revell still is a great kit, good that you can leave the wings off to aid painting.
31 July 2022, 16:58
Cuajete
Fantastic job, grateful comparative and very nice tribute.
Congrats!
31 July 2022, 17:43
David Taylor
Nice job Andy.
31 July 2022, 17:45
Andy Ball
Thanks Cuajete- hope I've enlightened anyone to these excellent kits. Of course, it's only my opinion!
31 July 2022, 18:27
Andy Ball
Thanks for looking in at the end David. One day there may be a display stand to go with these.
31 July 2022, 18:28
Łukasz Gliński
Grand looking Lanc, A. Lovely subtle weathering 👍 It really makes me consider starting mine after the summer.
31 July 2022, 19:18
David Taylor
Once I figure out how to download pictures from my phone you can have a giggle at my offerings.
31 July 2022, 19:58
Finn
A gem!
31 July 2022, 20:08
Micky
Congratulations Andy! Following since inception. Very happy that you got the RC of the 5 finishing school. Excellent work and research. Very instructive. I am currently making an specific misión of an A4Q from Argentina and enjoyed a lot the research and modifications to the Argentinean versión that even Airfix missed. I I deeply understand the tribute that we try to give. Cheers my friend!
31 July 2022, 22:09
Andy Ball
Thanks Ł, I can't wait to see your start, plenty of Polish ones to model surely?- which make is it?
23 August 2022, 16:29
Andy Ball
Go on David, you want to!....
23 August 2022, 16:30
Andy Ball
Thanks Finn, BTW I do like your "Harvest"!
23 August 2022, 16:31
Simon Nagorsnik
Wow, fantastic result!
23 August 2022, 16:31
Andy Ball
Thanks Micky, loving the Argie Scooter you're doing. Likewise, you're paying your homage to those who had to do their duty irrespective of the outcome.
23 August 2022, 16:32
Rui S
Beautiful work indeed 👍
23 August 2022, 16:52
Andy Ball
thanks, again, Rui S - love your AFV work on there
23 August 2022, 16:55
Andy Ball
Thanks Simon for your spot.
23 August 2022, 16:55
Łukasz Gliński
Having Revell's in stash, hard to choose particular noseart
23 August 2022, 18:53
Andy Ball
Will it be a 300 Sqdn B.I or B.III?
23 August 2022, 19:28
Łukasz Gliński
Really hard to decide, that's why it's waiting for so long
23 August 2022, 20:14
Rui S
Well, I like your aircrafts work a lot 😉
24 August 2022, 03:47
Andy Ball
Ah, Rui S….obrigado
21 September 2022, 21:02
Andy Ball
Cheers Finn👍
22 September 2022, 10:45
Andy Ball
Thanks Gary!
22 September 2022, 14:40
Neuling
Impressive! And beautiful! 👍
22 September 2022, 16:43
Andy Ball
@Neuling- you are so, so kind. They meant a lot to me to get them right. I walk past the memorial to both crews just about every day.
22 September 2022, 18:16
Andy Ball
Thanks Sukhoi242, appreciate casting yours eyes over them.
23 September 2022, 10:53
Andy Ball
Thanks Rando Dude for your comments!
23 September 2022, 12:37
Andy Ball
Thanks squidward89! Hope you like them!
23 September 2022, 12:42
Andy Ball
Thanks Pietro!
20 January 2023, 07:23
Andy Ball
Thank-you Felix and others
17 September, 03:20
J35J
Great work with the duo build! Top result👍🏻
17 September, 19:31
Andy Ball
Cheers J35J, if you're ever tempted to build one…there are two great kits….
25 September, 20:37

Project info

51 immagini
1:72
Completato
1:72 Avro Lancaster B.III (Airfix A08013A)1:72 Avro Lancaster Mk.I/III (Revell 04300)1:72 Lancaster Mk.I/Mk.III (Eduard CX211)4+
Avro Lancaster
GB Royal Air Force (1918-now)
 

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