Welcome back to another build diary, thank you for your patience as we move into the final stages of this build.
This is your final chance to be heard in your opinion of which aircraft we should decorate this model as. Last time we had a significant response extending our list from four potentials to nineteen. Next time we’ll present everyone with our shortlist and ask you all to choose between them. We would prefer if all of the suggestions had photographs of the aircraft, especially any nose art that we could use to guide us in our decorating. The full list of potential aircraft is below:
- An aircraft from 582 Squadron (Pathfinders) suggested by a member of Pathfinder Lodge 7255,
- L7537 of 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron letters KM-L which was shot down on a mission to Dusseldorf in August 1942,
- LL777 of 61 Squadron QR-S with its nose art of a hand holding a pair of playing cards,
- LM360 of 61 Squadron QR-O the aircraft which Bill Reid won his Victoria Cross,
- W4133 of 9 Squadron WS-Z “Zola” which we have good images for in the IBCC Digital Archive,
- ? 61 Squadron QR-X,
- JA914 57 Squadron DX-O lost over Berlin 3/4 September 1943,
- LM621 100 Squadron HW-C lost on ops to Veirzon Rail Yards 1 July 1943,
- ED497 ? Lost on Ops to Cologne,
- LL687 408 Squadron HW-C “Berlin Special” suggestion provided with photograph,
- 50 Squadron VN-B “Baker” flown in by Sir Michael Beetham and Reg Payne,
- W4157 ? WS-V “Barbara Mary” Lost 17/18 January 1943 provided with photograph,
- KB791 428 Squadron RCAF NA-A flown on by the proponent’s Grandfather,
- ? 649 Squadron OJ-A “Heavenly Hilda”
- ? 50 Squadron VN-N “Nan” an aircraft flown by James Flowers,
- ? 619 Squadron PB-X Shot down over Heilbron 4 December 1944,
- ME812 166 and 153 Squadrons AS-F/P4-F “Fair Fighter’s Revenge” flew 100+ operations including Ops Manna and Exodus,
- JB405 12 Squadron “Hellzapoppin” Flown in by D Hayhurst, for whom we have a collection in the IBCC Digital Archive
- “S-Sugar” the default which comes with the model.
Moving on to the build diary, last time we attached the wings, and covered much of the fuselage in skin.
This time we started with these parts.
Plus all of the pieces we cut a few weeks ago for the bomb-aimer’s position.
First, we assembled the smaller pieces together to create some of the bomb-aimer’s control panels, hinges for the rudders, and the bomb-sight.
These were then set aside to be primed and painted.
Next, we masked up the nose turret canopy for painting, this took a lot of masking tape, a sharp knife and quite a bit of patience. You can see it here next to some of the other components for the turret itself.
Having set aside those pieces for painting as well we moved on to marking up the pieces for rivet marking. Here you can see all of the pieces of skin to cover the bomb-aimer’s position (18 separate pieces!) with the nose section.
And here are all of the pieces prepared for rivet marking, including the three panels which are designed to be detachable.
These than all had rivet markings applied, these are the last sections which need treating in this manner.
We then attached the hinges to the rudders. You may notice that one of the hinges is missing. One of the “T” plates was missing when we opened the bag, the other half of the hinge was applied in the correct place on the main model.
Before we finally moved on to painting everything.
The nose turret and bomb-aimer’s blister went together pretty quickly after that, as did the installation of the newly finished control panels and the bomb-sight.
Here’s a slightly closer view of the nose turret fully completed.
The Bomb-sight and control panels, and the cupola.
And the bomb aimer’s bench.
Before we moved on to attaching all of the fuselage panels.
And here is a view back through the bomb-aimer’s position from where the cockpit will be.
Finally, the blister’s support ring was added along with the two “A-frames” which go inside the blister.
Next, the skin and rudders where attached to the vertical stabilisers. Then these parts were set aside to be painted with the rest of the aircraft.
Whilst all of this was going on I had passed the task of getting the engine, undercarriage bay and nacelle cowlings to actually fit together to a modeller with far more experience than I.
After a few attempts he determined that the sections of the under carriage cowlings that were meant to follow the engine bulkhead would never be able to maintain the proper shape, so he removed them and replaced them with a strip of scrap metal from the process of cutting fuselage panels.
Before using filler to close gaps around the edges.
He later removed much of the filler, but has not yet reached as far as the dorsal side of the model.
That brings us to the end of this build diary.
Next time we will be building the two bomb-bay doors (with their 72 skin panels), finishing the fuselage and building the other two turrets.
Lancaster L7537 Letters KM-L of 44 ( Rhodesia ) Sqdn. is my choice .
My uncle James Vincent Holland was a Radio Op/Air Gunner in 44 Sqdn., he died with the rest of the crew when he was shot down over Feluy in Belgium 24/25 August 1942.
As 44 (Rhodesia ) Sqdn. was , I believe , the first to be converted to Lancasters I think it would be fitting for this beautiful model to carry a 44 Sqdn, identity.
Peter, thank you for your suggestion, but I’m afraid that the final list of suggestions was closed more than a month ago, and the poll to pick from the short list has been and gone. Our most recent build diary: http://ibccdigitalarchivelancbd.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/2017/10/23/part-23-the-results-are-in/ relates the process of creating the decals to fit the decision reached by those who voted.
I nominate “Mother of Them All” – PM-M2 Lancaster B111- ED888 operational record holder. It began operations in April 1943 and was ‘awarded’ DFC-Bar. With 140 operations to its credit, it was the top Lancaster of WW2, 95 were to Germany, 15 to Berlin. The first 66 and last 9 with 103 Squadron and 65 with 576 Squadron in between.
I would also like to see the new model decorated as LL911 QR-X From 61 Squadron, my Dad was the rear tail gunner in at least 26 missions in this Lancaster between 18th April 1944 – 28th July.
If not this one, then use one that a living veteran has flown in, as John Roberts has suggested VN-N flown in by James Flowers.
Or, perhaps you could honour 2 Lancasters and have one on each side, like the BBMF PA-474
I would love to see LL911 QR-X as this was the Lancaster my dad flew many of his missions as a rear gunner in 61 squadron
My suggestion is PO-F (Old Fred) of No. 467 Squadron RAAF.
Rationale:
Would commemorate the Australian contribution to (and by implication that of other Commonwealth squadrons and individual aircrew) to Bomber Command.
The forward fuselage is currently on display at IWM London and is very accessible enabling nose art to be easily viewed and photographed etc, as would internal fittings.
Although it obviously conserved and it is in unrestored condition with contemporary equipment fitted.
It would enable visitors to the London museum not only to be aware of the IBCC site but also to gain a sense of the size and grandeur of the aircraft, something that I think is difficult for many visitors from just the nose and cockpit area that exists today.
FInally I have to declare an interest – I volunteer there!
A cheeky suggestion (because I volunteer there) is DV372, PO-F ‘Old Fred’ of No.467 Squadron RAAF on display at IWM London.
Rationale:
Salutes the Australian (and by implication RNZAF and RCAF) Squadrons in Bomber Command.
The forward fuselage is on display in London where it has been for many years.
It is unrestored and (because of how it is currently displayed) and the nose art and many of the internal fittings etc are readily accessible to view.
In addition it could be a useful link between the two museums, especially as for many people it is difficult to visualise the size and structure of the whole aircraft from just the fragment remaining.
In March 1943 Lancaster L 7580 EM – O from 207 Squadron, Waddington was assembled in Trafalgar Square
as part of Wings For Victory appeal to raise money for the war effort. Thousands of Londoners queued for hours to
take a look at the aircraft and dig deeper into their pockets. The is quite a lot of still and newsreel coverage to give
info. The Lanc, and I think a Stirling at St Paul’s raising huge amounts of money. I remember it so well as it was just a few weeks after my Dad had been KIA on a raid to Berlin. I don’t know if there was a heroic ending to the plane but it was certainly significant for Bomber Command.
Here is a suggestion for a Lancaster that did > 100 trips.
It saw the crew of F/O Vic Trimble through to the end of their tour.
I can supply pictures of the nose art if you send me an email address
Serial No.: ED611
Total Op’s: 115
Nick Name : Uncle Joe
Service History: 44 Sqn KM-J, 463 Sqn JO-T, BTU
Fate: Survived the war Scrapped 22 June 1947
The model Lancaster you’re building has to ED888.
The most famous Lancaster of all.
This Lancaster did more missions than any other
My suggestion would be to use…
50 Squadron VN-N “Nan” an aircraft flown by James Flowers,