I really enjoyed building the Solar System, as well as reading the books. The Earth, Moon & Sun Orbiter is also rewarding to build.

However, a new project has just been released that I am really looking forward to. It will be complete in 52 weekly parts, however, it will not be built in 52 weeks, more like 78 weeks.

It is my favourite aircraft & even though all the parts will be received in 52 weeks, each months delivery will be built as & when I get the time & will also be built carefully & accurately. As each section is built, I will post a photo. I can't wait to see this built, painted & displayed, but at 1/32 scale, the display case is going to be awsome......

Lancaster Bomber



The main airframe is balsa wood, but the outer skin will be aluminium sheet, bombs, props, & wheels metal & rubber, cockpits & turrets preformed perspex.

Can't wait to see your pictures!

I'm going to try & get each section completed before the next delivery becomes due. At the moment, I'm not sure on how to paint it. Back in my younger days, I used to paint by hand, but with this model, feel that I should use an airbrush for better quality painting.

The balsa parts with issue 1 is the complete nose section & I may have it completed before the next issue is due, if so, i'll post a photo. But from what I've seen from the DVD, it looks to be a bit delicate in the early construction stages. We'll see. Haven't built a model like this since 1998. That one was The Bounty & took 32 months. Best thing was that a collector bought it from me for £800 & it only cost £390 inclusive (paint etc).

However, once built, this one will NOT be sold. It will be displayed prominently. Had 2 uncles serve on them during WWII, one was a pilot & the other was a tail gunner. Unfortunately, only 1 survived the war & immigrated to Australia & died from injuries received in a road accident in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1964.

That seems like a lot of work!!!

Could be. With The Bounty, I collected all the parts 1st, then started building it....it took me 17 months. Was working as a security guard at the time, so took some sections with me & built it between patrols. Not really a ship modeller but do love aircraft/spacecraft.

Built & painted superbly, a Saturn V rocket back in the '70's, but my little brother accidently wrecked it when the family moved home. When the Lanc is completed, going to make sure that it is well protected in a solid display case.

A TOP NOTCH MODEL. I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING THE BUILD. LOTS OF PHOTO DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS PROJECT PLEASE.
I'VE DONE A FEW BALSA AND TISSUE PLANES AND ONE WITH MYLAR. I'D LIKE TO TRY ONE IN ALUMINUM.
THE ONLY THING WAS THAT THEY WERE BUILT FOR RADIO CONTROL. I NEVER DID A LANCASTER OTHER THAN PLASTIC SMALL SCALE.
THIS PROJECT WILL GET WATCHED REAL CLOSE.

Surprised on how relatively easy it was to build the nose cose section (having the space & the right tools helped). Just got to finish adding several stringers, smooth down & paint, then post photo. Might have it done by this evening, if not some time tomorrow.

Total time spent on nose so far.......123 min.

Front view

Side View

Primed

Painted & drying at the moment. Will post photo when dry.

Painted...



ooops......made a mistake with this. got it mixed up with another collection...Battles of WWII, a series of 52 hardback books covering all the major battles of WWII. The lancaster will be complete in......... 125 issues.........OUCH! but i'm still going to continue with it.

IS THAT PLASTIC RIBS MIXED IN WITH THE BALSA?
ITS LOOKING REALLY GOOD. HOW BIG IS THE WING SPAN?
125 ISSUES, OUCH IS RIGHT. THAT GIVES YOU LOTS OF TIME TO GET IT ALL PERFECT IN EACH STAGE.
YOU ARE ALREADY AT THE PERFECTION LEVEL.
NICE JOB !
IT LOOKS VERY DETAILED.

Thanks Zappdog. Yes they are plastic ribs. The actual scale is 1/32 & as you can see from the photos below, it's going to be quite large when complete.

Complete airframe....



What it should look it when completed..........(hopefully )



TTSF: 187 min
TCSF: Glue £3.02, Cutting Mat £7.00 (supplied with craft knives) Paint £15.16, Issue 1 £0.50 Overall: £25.68

Estimated overall cost: £650.00

When it starts getting to the point where each stage needs several photos, will direct link them & only post the photo of the completed section.

Part 2........Left Wing Outer Section

Have only separated & dry fitted at the moment. Will leave the actual gluing & painting until we are in new home - Moving packed stuff on Friday & furniture & LAN on Saturday. Will be enjoying Sunday dinner in a more "classy" home





As I will not be showing any open sections when completed (asides from bomb bay doors & bomb racks, cockpit & turret areas), I'll only be priming the fuselage instead of painting.

Will be shutting down lan when all tasks have reported in. Not sure when it'll be back online. Engineer will be calling on the 15th to connect cable services. I am hoping that we will be settled in & everything unpacked by the time Andrea is on holiday from work (26th). Will be on issue 6 by then & will try to get issues 3 to 6 completed.

For the 1st time in my life, I am genuinely looking forward to appearing in court without feeling fearful. Hurry up 12:30 on the 15th

TTSF: 212 min
TCSF: £28.67

Last rig shutting down now, so see you all in a week or two..........

Started subscription from issue 3, but don't know when I will receive delivery (4 issues every 28 days). As we moved from a 3 bedroomed property to a 2, it's a bit cramped here at the moment, so any modelling will have to be left until packing undone & everything re-organised.

Thankfully Andrea is on holiday from 26th Sept, so should be able to do this fairly quickly.

Got half the lan up & running & workbench sorted. Have done 1st part of the outer left wing & also painted the 1st prop spinner. Have primed the 1st prop & will post photo when painted.

May have the 1st delivery by the weekend, but not sure how many issues it will have. Subscribers are normally a week ahead of the public distribution & as far as I can tell, it should be on issue 4 at the moment.

TTSF: 228 min

Sorry guys, what with the move & everything, bit behind with this. Just received another 2 issues, well late, due to an ongoing postal strike we're having.

2nd part of left outer wing & cockpit..



Those ribs looks like it's gonna take a bit of time...

TCSF: £38.65
TTSF: 291m

Got the main build of wing & cabin done...leaving the ribs till the weekend....

Wow it's getting pretty nice!

I wouldn't be able to do all of this myself, I don't get the patience!

Engine.....



Not going to touch this section until I receive the other 3. It's going to be a painstaking little job, so would prefer to do all 4 at the same time.

BTW, all the engines are metal.

2nd part of cabin section......



I think this is the finish of the cabin section. Will check after building & if so will post photo.

Left Wingtip.....



As soon as I've finished the outer wing section, will post photo. still have more ribs to attach before adding wingtip.

1st Fuel Tank....

Cockpit...

Cockpit Controls.....