HK Models 1/32 AVRO Lancaster I/III Grandslam

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Ok… On to the next huge build.

This is the latest release from HK and is an updated Lancaster and is really a 2-in-1 build.

First of all you have a complete original Lancaster kit with bombs etc to make the standard I/III bomber along with decals and build manual. You also have decals, extra sprue and modified fuselage interior to be able to build the grand slam version. If you go with the Grand Slam then you will have lots of parts out of this box to add to your spares OR to make extra display stuff.

The decals in this box will be sent to be made into paint masks. I see no reason to be messing around with huge decals when painting is the best option IMHO.

So… What is in this HUGE box…

Clear Sprues are in a protective “box”.

They also have some protective plastic sticky stuff on to prevent scratches

Likewise, the one piece wings also has cardboard stapled around its more delicate areas.

The fuselage halves have been modified for the grand slam and is referenced in the grand slam build manual and you have to cut out a section of the bottom of the fuselage sides. No Measuring needed though because…

… It has been marked for you. If you choose to do the standard Lancaster then this is left alone and is covered up by interior bulkheads and flooring. That cutout mark will never be seen!

The second interior cutout is part of the floor. Once again the cutout mark does not affect the floor and is hidden from view if not used.

All that makes the standard Lancaster Bomber. To make it into the Grandslam version then you need to use this sprue…

Decals…

Insignia and Stencils.

Standard Lancaster

Grand Slam including Bomb markings, although the Green ring has been missed (paint it yourself) and I think that the “red” colour is wrong. It is not the same as the standard red used for squadron codes and aircraft reg. It is more of a brown. I think Cartograf messed up. I also thought that the squadron codes on the tailplane was yellow edged in red. I need to do some reading and checking. These will all be painted (as much as possible!)

Right… That is all that is in that box. I have some Eduard AM stuff and metal barrels etc, so…

Let’s make a Lancaster!

2

Holy Camoly!!! Look at all of those parts! This is going to be fun to watch.

3

Wow! That’s a monster! Pulling up a chair…

4

Ok Chaps,

Time to get your fingers working.

THe paint instructions give the upper surface as light green and light earth which is correct for 617 Lancaster aircraft with the YZ squadron code. Now the undersurface colour instruction is Ocean Grey. This was the upper surface for day aircraft.

Now in the video (link below) THis Lancaster has a lower surface which is lighter than Ocean Grey and looks like Medium Sea Grey. You can see that when it takes off it is YZ-V.

Anyone have any more info as to the discrepancy. It is just an error by HK?

Grand Slam - Ten-Ton Bomb - YouTube

5

WOW it’s going to be HUGE when finished [:)].

Looking forward to see more pics in progress…

6

I have been able to look more deeply into the subject and I have been able to sort things out.

Now, before I go into the exterior paint jobs and an explanation, The build starts here.

The first thing I needed to do was to alter the fuselage so that the replacement Grand Slam bay parts would fit. To do this you use the cut-out area that is moulded into the fuselage in this kit, you might find it also in future kit runs. Once the cut-out was… cut out then the fuselage and cockpit was taped together and a dry fit was done.

A little bit of filler will be needed as I was a bit harsh with the razor saw (might have to get a decent one). There is another cut out that needs to be done on an interior walkway. That is a little bit down the line.

Moving on.

I decided that the first thing I needed to do was to build and paint the Grand Slam. A nice easy introduction to the build.

The next job is painting it. This is quite easy but care needs to be taken. The virst thing that happened was that I used Vallejo UK Bronze Primer all over. This saves some time as it actually paints and primes the front the right colour.

Left overnight to cure properly the next thing was to mask the warhead off from the tail that was fixed on.

The tail section was painted using the paint reference in the build manual which is “Eau De Nil” or Duck Egg Green. This matches a “colourised” picture I have seen and also when changed to black and white, matches the bomb tail as photographed and filmed.

Removing the masking carefully reveals the Grand Slam 22,000lb bomb now ready for stencils to be added at a later date.

Bext up is the props. The Lancaster Special used for this bomb had uprated engines (Merlin 24) and had paddle blades added.

Ready for painting. NATO black will be used with yellow tips.

I forgot to photograph the tailplane sections being built. But once again, they are done and ready to paint.

Now back to the paint job.

These aircraft were particular to 617 Squadron and it it there that we start with looking at time frame and squadron code usage.

MZ (1939) (never used)

AJ (1943–1946)

KC (1943–1952) (used alongside AJ)

YZ (1945) (only used on aircraft used to carry ‘Grand Slam’ bombs)

From this and looking at the raids that 617 did and ordnance used then we can further get to the root of what we need to know by looking at paint orders (MAP) and photos of 617 squadron aircraft.

Code AJ. Particular to Operation Chastise, the Dams Raid. These were standard Night Operation painting of Dark Earth/Dark Green upper surface and Night Black lower surface with a high demarcation.

Code KC. Used on Lancasters for Tallboy and standard raids. These Lancasters were standard Lancasters that had changeable bomb bay doors for standard raids and special bulged doors to carry the Tallboy bomb. These had standard Night operations paint.

Code YZ. Used only for Grand Slam bomb raids. These aircraft had front and mid-upper turrets removed and covers made to replace the turrets. From photographs taken officially in May 1945 and also filmed it is clear that the Day Bomber paint orders were used and that was Dark Earth/Dark Green upper surface and Medium Sea Grey under surface with a low demarcation.

This can be seen below and is known to have been taken in May 1945.

There is an exception to this and it is “YZ-C”. This I believe was a Tallboy KC aircraft modified to carry a Grand Slam for the Arnsburg Raid and flown by Pilot Officer P. Martin. Both Tallboy and Grand Slam Lancasters used the same release gear for the bombs.

You can clearly see that the aircraft is painted in standard night operations paint.

Grand Slam aircraft codes were Red outlined in yellow on the fuselage and upper/lower tail surfaces. (YZ)

I also think that the KC Aircraft too had the same, but it is too hard to tell from either photo.

The most notable paint job that everyone talks about is YZ-Z noted by C Rupert Moore who visited 617 Squadron in June 1946 to see this aircraft and wrote that it was light earth/light green and Ocean Grey underside. This was over a year after offensive operations ceased and so going from photographic and film evidence this was probably a test phase for these aircraft.

James

7

Continuing on with the build. I am jumping about a bit and working on the wings. Now it is some time since I did the Dambuster lancaster But I seem to have come across a decrepancy between the instruction parts labelling and fit with the oil tank for the starboard/port inner engine and nacelle.

I am currently working on the starboard wing which the parts are on the E sprue, but the oil tank for inner engine/nacelle doesn’t fit but the one for the port side does.

Now I may have messed up and got things crossed over and mixed up and if anyone is going to build these Lancasters then I would suggest double checking everything on both wings to do with the nacelles/undercarriage regarding fit etc, swapping where need be. I think that there may be a slight cockup with the instructions. There is, of course that I may have mixed up things to a high degree.

Well… on we go.

More next time.

8

It’s good to see you posting. i thought you’d been sent to your room.

Bill

9

Hi Bill…

Have kept being dragged away from bench and only been able to work in fits and starts I was hoping to have both wings built and basic painting done well before now. I am hoping to be able to put in lots of hours this week and post another thrilling episode of “What the hell have I done wrong now!”

These HK builds will hopefully be displayed at SMW at Telford on HK’s display if they are able to attend this year in November. It all depends on quarrantine regulations in Hong Kong!

Hopefully I can catch up this week and maybe overtake. I want to try and have this done and dusted by the end of April

James