HK Models Lancaster Nose Kit Build

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

HK’s boss has given permission to post my build.

The trick will be not to get fingerprints on the clear stuff and I will also be using Glue & Glaze to put the clear bits together to avoid smears, fogging etc. A new bottle is on the way to me.

With these kits you have many decisions to make, most of is do I paint areas of the clear side or not. Well I am because I don’t want the extra work of adding lots of wiring. I have been told I can jazz it up to my hearts content so I am robbing some Eduard stuff from the MK I. This will also be replaced.

To start with I decided to build the stand to see what I have got to play with regarding perspecive etc.

It was a very easy build and went through the paint shop.

I need to know just what can and can’t be seen or what I need to hide. A dry fit is in order.

Ok. This is my very basic painting plan. THe bomb aimers area will be done on the fly!

How am I going to manage this… You will find out later in the build.

2

Looks like an interesting job, Snapdragon - are you going to present it like a museum display, or are you under instructions? I’d never have room for the full aeroplane, but could be tempted by something like this - very unusual.

Hutch.

3

Oh;

So this plane has a clear side in the cockpit area? Or is it a special model?

4

The kit has the two standard sides and a starboard clear side.

My orders from HK are build it, enjoy it, make it look good and do what you want to it!

I will try and make this an in depth build report for you all.

So you all know, My painting references are NOT from the kit, but from original MAP painting orders for bombers (night).

Painting refererences in the kit are accurate, but the pilot and bomb aimers sections should be Night Black. aft of the pilots area where the cover starts for the navigator etc is interior green. You will see!

5

I really like this concept. I simply don’t have room to accommodate a 1/32 scale fighter much less a four engine bomber. A similar model of a B-17 or B-24 would be fun and interesting. Here’s hoping HK brings us more kits like the Lancaster.

6

There used to be a couple of kits of modern fighter cockpits. I had intended to buy one one day but they disappeared before one day came.

7

I think Italeri are re-releasing those. Check their website.

Here is an update.

In reality, this is just like the build I did for the Dambuster Lancaster. I am doing some extra painting on stuff that will be noticed, but that’s about it. The new glue bottle for clear plastics is now here and so I can get down to business but I want to start simply.

I have to think and keep in mind that one side will be clear, but I still need to paint on that so I need to draw masking templates. So that means using the kit part to make the templates, a sheet of A5 Tamiya Masking Kabuki paper and a pencil.

The outline is drawn several times so I have fallback stuff, and also for the MkI build which I will be using a clear side.

I just need the outline. the actual cutting will be done with a steel ruler and a new blade so I have a sharp outline to paint to.

Now while I have this piece time to make it ready for putting in when the time comes.

All the detail of the engineers panel needs to come off as it will be replaced.

A sharp blade and fingers out of the way and we are there. No first aid needed tonight! It doesn’t need to be perfect as this area will be covered up, just the detail removed.

Next, a night (NATO BLACK) black paint job (both sides).

Time to delve into the Eduard Cockpit kit and put the detail back. First the base panel with the dials on.

Then the top part to add the detail.

Paint touch ups needed to get rid of the finger oils etc. That will be the last thing before installation.

Next, Working on the base painting.

Black is done and now masking for the interior green.

more parts assembled ready for painting.

Here we go. Interior green done. I will have to redo the black as there has been some overspray!

detail painting needed on some parts, but the base colour is done!

remove the masking and you can see the overspray difference!!!

This will be corrected over the next couple of days and some detail added. That’s all for now.

Comments and questions welcome.

8

Don,

Esci had a F-104 and an F-16 They are 1/12 scale and are going for huge prices on Ebay

9

off track here but…

https://www.italeri.com/prodotto/2889

I am sure the other will follow

10

Here’s another update

Pocketbond who is the current importer has announced a RRP for this kit of 79.99. This to me is overpriced as HK has it on their website for $75 USD. I am sure that the street price will be lower in the UK but Pocketbond continue to put over the top unrealistic UK RRP quoting brexit, which has nothing to do with it!

But on we go.

After reassessing the MAP painting orders and going back to my interior photos of Just Jayne and published BBMF interior pictures I went back to the floor and port side, realising that my original paint was wrong and remasking etc.

continuing with masking I moved on to the front turret. Now I usually purchase more than one set of masks for canopies etc. and for this build I did realise the need to do both interior and exterior. Eduard who are now producing T-Face mask sets for particular kits have not done for the Lancaster so you have to use their set and modify it or do your own.

I chose to modify as it is easier. The masking set is for the exterior and so you have to make them smaller (lesser surface area).

I continue with the turret, using Master Models barrels yo relace the kit ones.

All painted and ready to put together.

I have now moved on to dealing with the clear side I will be using. Doing something like this needs a clear idea of how the finished thing will look.

To avoid showing the open backs of equipment mounted on this side, mounting points etc I need to mask certain areas.

Equipment dry fitted

Interior colour

Exterior

I am now concentrating on the bomb aimers position. More next time.

11

Stunning work on this kit

and I have both. Well I have the Esci F-104 and the Italeri F-16

12

Thank you. Plenty of views but few comments. Feedback and questions help others and myself in improving ourselves.

Time for an update

This kit is not about the building, but the painting. When you see the clear fuselage side this is just too apparent and the builder needs to have a clear sense of how it should look when finished before starting.

Masking tape will get a right bashing and I have used many widths from Tamiya and Aziu already. I decided not to use primer as it will show on the clear side and will detract from the final finish so only chipset paints from Vallejo Model Air have been used.

It makes sense to paint some of the clear side to hide fixing points and avoid a lot on unneeded extra detail work

As you can clearly see in, you have to think carefully about just what can be seen. so the interior surrounds of the windows have to be painted. this means masking both the outside and inside carefully so that they match.

Now it is time to get to grips with the floor etc.

Comments and questions welcome

James

13

I’m loving this build :slight_smile:

14

Thank you, Waikong.

The only thing I am not sure about is putting the huge decal on the port side!

This build is really about the painting and attention to detail. I’m not adding any cable runs etc as I really just want to show off what you can see of the interior. Cable runs etc would add even more detail but it also comes to a point where maybe something in this scale gets cluttered with too much added.

15

I can see why you’re getting a lot of views and few comments. It’s the “wow!” factor. It’s getting in the way because it’s hard to think of commenting when your jaw is in your lap.

Lol

Amazing work. Just has me going, WOW.

16

Thanks Mike.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but to leave a whole forum “speechless” I have never done before without getting in to trouble.

What my aim is with this build is to show what can be done with this release when it becomes available and to fire up fellow builders imagination. This is just the nose section and is not too big and will sit on many a display shelf. This one will end up at Telford in 2021 on HK’s stand. I have other builds to do for this and now plenty of time to get stuck in with the cancellation of this years event.

I always say that to do a sucessful build you have to start with a picture of what you want the finished thing to look like and work backwards to make a good plan and factor in a lot of flexibility.

With my build, it was apparant from the start, and I got this from HK’s original Lancaster release with the clear sides that I have to build, is that parts of the clear side are going to have to be painted to hide joins and equipment sticking to the clear plastic. but done in such a way that it doesn’t interfear with the overall efffect and view.

to this end, masking is the very obvious solution and I have used many different widths of Aziu and Tamiya masking (quality stuff only) and lots of it. There will be much more to do once I launch myself into the Mk I.

THe ONLY Aftermarket stuff is Eduards Cockpit set and seatbelt set plus Master Models Browning barrels set. You will only use 2 from the full set, but you will also have enough left to do HK’s Dambuster Lancaster too.

Putting the plastic together is the easy bit and is not hard at all. It is the painting which brings this to life and in fact is the detail of the kit.

Putting the clear plastic in place without fogging (especially the side when it comes time) is being done with Glue and Glaze.

https://deluxematerials.co.uk/products/glue-n-glaze

My go to product for all things clear! It is white, but dries clear and you can’t see it!

Thanks for your kind words Mike. They spur me on to greater things!