Geoff’s - Revell 1/72 Lancaster B.III “Dambusters” tribute build

[Tim Marlow]

I've often wondered why they used Upkeep against the Sorpe, and also why the Tallboy was never used against the Sorpe.
Pete

I think it was simply because they had them left over……
Interesting you’ve brought in tallboy though…….highball was designed to attack Tirpitz and yet that was eventually sunk by Tallboy…..so highball was never used.

[Geoffers]

Thanks for all the interest and encouragement guys, now time for me to get started with the build :smiling4:

First up as tradition dictates here’s what’s in the box.




Six sprues of quite hard black plastic.


One of clear plastic.

Unfortunately there are some quite nasty deep scratches on the rear parts of the cockpit canopy, hopefully it won’t be too bad after a polish.


Old school Revell instructions.


Transfers, they seem a bit flat, I’m going to have a practice with a few of the spares to see how they settle.

I’ve started the build now.

First up no surprise is the cockpit.

The various parts have been snipped off the sprues and cleaned up, there was a bit of flash here and there but nothing too bad.



There are two pilots seats, no indication which should be used.

The seat I chose had three holes in the back which I assumed would not be there on the real seat.



I cemented the seat onto some thin plasticard.

Which was then trimmed to shape


Still not entirely accurate but should look better from what little will be seen.

All the cockpit parts, the gun turrets and the inside of each fuselage halves have had a coat of white Stynlrez primer.


That’s all so far but hopefully I’ll be adding another update soon.

Thanks for looking :thumb2:

[adt70hk]

PRIMER!!! love it!

[Jim R]

Started :thumb2: Good call with the seat, much better. I've done a couple of kits which used black plastic and it was hard and brittle. I wonder if the "black" they put in makes the plastic like that.

[Guest]

I've done a couple of kits which used black plastic and it was hard and brittle. I wonder if the "black" they put in makes the plastic like that.

Not sure, but AFAIK, clear polystyrene is normally brittle (see almost any clear sprue in a kit) and the pigments mixed in to give it colour tend to make it less so. Maybe black pigments are not as good as that as, say, green, grey, red or whatever?

Also, is this the ancient Revell kit? No, wait, it seems to have been new in 2019 rather than the one I built ages ago that (Scalemates says) was new in 1963 I should have guessed from the amount of parts …

[Waspie]

Thanks Tim, that’s a very interesting video

I’ve seen a prototype upkeep mine at Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset.
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They carried out tests there using the lagoons behind Chesil beach.

Geoff.

I live not a million miles from there. The museum where a test bomb is on show is a short walk!!
The testing was not carried out in the 'Fleet' as you call the lagoon but in the Lyme bay itself. If you look at the videos and pictures of the Chesil testing you will see the Lancasters but no land visible. If the tests were in the fleet, land would be visible as it is a narrowing channel of water.
(When the airfield at Portland was operational. helicopters used to join the circuit at the entrance to the Fleet for runway 04!)

Edited to add, just found a picture of a Lanc in the Fleet!!. Always something to prove me wrong!!

[Waspie]

Oh seats! In my experience with real aircraft seats. They do have holes in the back for removing weight. Every little helps towards making more weight available for payload. (Ask any helicopter crew). Weight is crucial.

[Tim Marlow]

I live not a million miles from there. The museum where a test bomb is on show is a short walk!!
The testing was not carried out in the 'Fleet' as you call the lagoon but in the Lyme bay itself. If you look at the videos and pictures of the Chesil testing you will see the Lancasters but no land visible. If the tests were in the fleet, land would be visible as it is a narrowing channel of water.
(When the airfield at Portland was operational. helicopters used to join the circuit at the entrance to the Fleet for runway 04!)

Edited to add, just found a picture of a Lanc in the Fleet!!. Always something to prove me wrong!!
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Doug mate, I think that’s a Wellington……nice shot though.

[adt70hk]

Doug mate, I think that’s a Wellington……nice shot though.

Yep .... Definitely a Wellington.

[papa 695]

Nice start.

[Waspie]

Doug mate, I think that’s a Wellington……nice shot though.

Oh dear - another - I should wear my glasses day!! What's in a couple of engines!!!!!!
On the other hand - it means I haven't found a Lancaster in the Fleet!!! (Yet).

[Geoffers]

Cheers guys :thumb2:

The plastic is very much like old school stuff, I expect it must be due to the colouring as Revell plastic isn’t usually so tough.

Oddly enough I think the normal Lancaster comes in the usual grey plastic :thinking:

In regards to the seat, I think the real one has some frame work at the back but I expect this would be hidden by the armour plate.

Geoff

[Geoffers]

Hello Chaps,

Despite the lack of updates I have been busy beavering on with the build.
So here’s a quick update of progress so far.

The cockpit isn’t overly detailed and I decided to keep it simple due to wanting to finish the build by the time of the anniversary of the raid.

Following the priming it went together fairly easily.

The front section of the cockpit and gun turret interiors were given a coat of Vallejo Model Air 71.056 Panzer Dark Grey instead of the recommended black as it seems more in scale. The rear of the cockpit and interior was painted with Vallejo Model Air 71.305 interior grey/green

The various decals were then added while the pilots seat harness was picked out by brush.

Once these had settled the cockpit/interior was given a simple oil wash to tone it down a bit.





The wings have also been built up and the engine nacelles were added once the undercarriage bays were constructed.



Most of the ancillary parts have been put together including the Upkeep mine.


So a bit more construction to go but I think I’m on track to finish in time :smiling4:

Another update soon, thanks for looking :thumb2:

Geoff.

[The Smythe Meister]

Hello Chaps,

Despite the lack of updates I have been busy beavering on with the build.
So here’s a quick update of progress so far.

The cockpit isn’t overly detailed and I decided to keep it simple due to wanting to finish the build by the time of the anniversary of the raid.

Following the priming it went together fairly easily.

The front section of the cockpit and gun turret interiors were given a coat of Vallejo Model Air 71.056 Panzer Dark Grey instead of the recommended black as it seems more in scale. The rear of the cockpit and interior was painted with Vallejo Model Air 71.305 interior grey/green

The various decals were then added while the pilots seat harness was picked out by brush.

Once these had settled the cockpit/interior was given a simple oil wash to tone it down a bit.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1199139[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1199140[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1199141[/ATTACH]

The wings have also been built up and the engine nacelles were added once the undercarriage bays were constructed.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1199142[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1199143[/ATTACH]

Most of the ancillary parts have been put together including the Upkeep mine.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1199144[/ATTACH]

So a bit more construction to go but I think I’m on track to finish in time :smiling4:

Another update soon, thanks for looking :thumb2:

Geoff.

Looking most excellent Sir
I do love a Lancaster... but that scale is too tiny for me, enjoying watching your build.

[stillp]

Looks good Geoff. Tempting me to break out one of my Lancs - I think I have 3 in the stash, as well as a Shackleton. A bit big for my bench and spray booth though.
Pete