Hi everyone,
I have decided I want to build a Lancaster after watching “Dambusters” for the first time yesterday. But i don’t know which kit to chose. I would like it to be in 1/72 scale, and it doesn’t have to be a dambuster. Any Suggestions? Also, how should I go about painting a Lancaster?
Hi. Great to see another East Anglian on the forum, and from my home city to boot.
I guess it largely depends on your experiance level. There are plenty to chose from in that scale, Airfix, Revell and hasegawa off the top of my head. Also depends on how much you are will to pay. If price is no limit and you are experianced, i would suggest Hasegawa. As for painting, an airbrush would be best, but a good finish can be had with a paint brush if you don’t have an airbrush yet.
Hi, the hasegawa is a bit out of my price range, so I’ll probably go for something like an airfix or revell kit. I do have an airbrush, but it is very basic and isn’t much better than a spray can to be honest!
I bought on of the Hase lancs a couple of months ago, so i know how pricey the can be. I don’t know how good the Revell kit is, but if it was me and it was a choice between Revell and Airfix, i would go with the Revell. British paint schemes are fairly simple compare to some other schemes, so with some decent masking you should be ok with what you have.
Thanks for your advice[H]
Oh yeah, and I am thinking of using Vallejo model air paints again as they gave me good results last time I used them. Which ones would I need to paint the dark green - dark brown scheme on a Lancaster?
Now that one i can’t help with as i have never used that brand. You might try asking in the painting forum.
Hi Alex,
If you do go with Revell, be aware that they have two Dambuster kits.
One is the ancient 1960’s kit (#04630) which is covered in a forest of rivets, has oddly shaped, oversized turrets and is very basic. (box top showing the aircraft flying right to left past a dam)
The other (#04295) is much newer, being a new-tool kit released about a year or so ago. (Box top is a 1/4 front view showing aircraft flying left to right) It’s a much nicer kit.
The Airfix kit is older and is based on a 1980’s tooling. I haven’t seen it but I believe it’s a reasonable kit.
I have the Revell Lancaster, and the Hasegawa air / sea rescue Lancaster. I haven’t built either one, but looking in the box the Revell appears to be as well detailed as the Hasegawa kit, but is less than 1/2 the price. Reading the early comments when these kits came out many said the Revell was actually more accurate (as I recall there was an issue with Hasegawa’s wings).
Revell has since added a dambusters version. As mentioned you do have to be careful with the Revell kit since there is a new kit tooled up 2 years ago, and a much older kit also made by Revell. The new Revell Lancaster is a great bargain, being about the same price as the Airfix and other Revell (Matchbox?) kits which are 30+ years old. The Airfix kit is supposed to be decent but it is usually the same price, and doesn’t have the same level of detail.
I’ve just found the re-tooled revell dambuster for only £13.99!