talking to a guy today that I deliver papers to and mow his yard, I found out about his service in WWII. from his age, I guessed he was in WWII, but I had never asked and today he said something about being in the air force and I started asking questions.
he was a mechanic on halifax’s and later, lancasters from 1942 through the end of the war. he was telling me about all sorts of things during the war. from working on the aircraft to taking canadian POWs back after the war. he had a lot of interesting stories to tell.
but I was wondering what is out there for kits of lancasters and halifaxs, as I would like to build one for him. (1/72 preferably)
The only 1/72 Halifax I’m aware of is the old Airfix kit. I’m not sure of its quality but it dates back to the late 60s I think. I also think the reissued it a few years ago.
Airfix also has at least a couple of 1/72 Lancasters, one as a standard MK.III and the other as a Dambuster variant. I’ve heard the quality is good in those kits.
Whatever you do, stay away from Revell’s 1/72 Lancaster. Its fit for use as spare parts for kitbashing but not much else.
ok, I just talked to my LHS guy, and he has the airfix kit for a mere $52, so I asked him to see if he could find revell’s and he can’t get it from his suppliers, so he ordered me a minicraft 1/144.
[D)] Doh forgot to mention that they have more than 20 items dealing with a 1/72nd scale Lancaster. If you go there go to the search tool bar on the left and the type in 1/72 Lancaster or Halifax and you will get all the info you need. Plus they have pretty decent prices.
I’m going to have to talk to him to see what squadron he was in, but doing some quick research with what i know I came up with 4 squadrons he could’ve been in, 408, 419, 433, and 434. we’ll see when I talk to him next week.
Guday there,
If you are building an RCAF Lancaster you will find that many of them were the Bristol (radial) engined version which will take a bit of conversion.
If you can get hold of it there is an article in one of the old Airfix Magazenes covering this.
I have checked through my old editions but it is one of the many missing ones.
Check with Airfix via their web site and you may be able to get a copy of the relevent article.
Dai
One thine you might keep in mind, my father was an RCAF Air gunner in the war but serverd with 462 Sqn an Austrailan Halifax unit. I understand that there may hav been Candaian ground crew with it as well.
Before you go any further, please visit the Airfix website forum, and view the “what’s the worst kit you’ve ever made” thread in the “what’s your favourite…” forum. You will find that the Minicraft 1/144 Lancaster is a strong contender for the title of “worst kit ever”!
If your LHS charges huge amounts for the Airfix Lancaster, go to eBay, where there are lots available (Airfix having had a warehouse clearout a couple of months ago), often going for less than £10 (approx $17.50). Full retail price in the UK is £19.99, so you could also order one from the UK by mail order. Wonderland Models has them on offer, with a Spitfire and Hurricane thrown in, for £13.99.
Matchbox made a Halifax in the late 1970s. It has been out of production for some time, but is quite easy to pick up secondhand from specialist dealers or, again, on eBay. It is much better than the Airfix Halifax, which is most notable for having not just retractable main u/c, but also working main u/c doors!
Abrams, have you checked out Ebay? Ive seen lots of Lancaster going there. If you had gotten this post out a year earlier I would have sold you my Halifax. It went on Ebay and for alot less than $50. Ebays service is down right now but when I get a chance Ill see what I can find
I don’t know if revell germany have released the Matchbox halifax yet but they have been releasing a lot of old matchbox kits over the last year or two. www.revell.de
I know they have just released a Lanc in 72nd bur I don’t know if it is their own or the matchbox
No. Revell Germany havn’t yet re-released the Matchbox Halifax, though it’s possible that they might in the next couple of years. The Lancaster they released recently is the old Revell one from the early 1960s, worth avoiding because, although it has many working features, it suffers from being the wrong shape and the wrong size.
If I’m not mistaken Tamiya makes a 1/48 scale Lancaster with–I think–motorized
engines & spinning props. It’s a “Bill Gates special” at well over $100.00.
I have a 1/72 Lancaster Matchbox in my stash that you can have. I will never build it so I will be glad it will go to a good cause. E-mail me RSaddlemire@sc.rr.com and we will figure how to get it to you.
If you send me photos of the finished model, I sell you one of my Airfix Lanc’s for $10.00 Canadian. I doubt that I’ll ever get to it and if some vetern might be thrilled to see it, so much the better. Email me and we’ll talk details.