I’ve fallen in love with this aircraft. Sue it was shot down in droves, sure it’s dorky and rather kind of ugly, but there is something loveable about it. It sure was loved by those who were rescued by it! I ordered the Revell in 1/32 scale online. When in Sacramento last weekend I stopped by Riverside Hobbies a true Mecca, and low and behold they had one. Upon further inspection I found another in the same size, this one by Matchbox. Has anyone built either of these kits and can I expect a smooth build or major fit issues? Thanks.
Same plastic in both boxes. Haven’t built mine yet. Also been going to Riverside Hobbies for maybe 30 years, off and on.
Its “dorkyness” is its appeal. I love it too! There’s not too much AM available for the 1/32 kit sadly, and being quite old it could do with some detail in the cockpit which is quite visible in this scale. Having said that, some of the decals available point to some pretty exotic paint schemes.
You’ve got yourself a contended for the Eyes in the Sky GB now! [:)]
That’s an interesting aircraft. I have been watching the restoration of the plan at the Hamilton Warplane Heritage Museum over the last several years, and now it is flying. I hope to go up in it next summer. If you need any pics, let me know.
Rob
I have to admit, the Lysander is one of those ‘So ugly its gorgeous’ planes. I found this one over at Hyperscale, just to get you more in the mood,
What was the Lysander lookalike that had the ME 110 type tail with the gun turret between it?
…Guy
Thanks for those replies and that picture did get me going. Going to start mine tomorrow.
The Westland P.12 ‘Delanne’ Lysander was an attempt to create an effective ground strafer in case of invasion. A Boulton Paul Type III A turret was fitted in the observer’s position in a mock up (P1723) but c.of.g and field of fire issues ruled this out. The next idea came from a connection with the Frenchman Maurice Delanne. Petter and Penrose visited Delanne and quickly worked out a design after flying the Delanne 20T in France. A Hove coachbuilder, Harringtons, built the rear wing and fins, while Westland modified K6127’s fuselage. This took a year to complete, the first flight being 27th July 1941. The aircraft handled very well and the pilot Harold Penrose looped it on the first flight. Only a dummy turret and ballast were ever carried as the proposal was dropped. The A&AEE explored the aircraft’s handling extensively before it was sent to the RAE and struck off charge in 1944.
i love the look of the lysander and always spend time looking round it when i go to raf hendon.
maybe its the special ops role it played that inspires me.
i have 2 of the gavia special ops and 1 of the eduard(same moulds) 1/48 versions.
paul
I have also been interested in this plane for years. I ordered the 1/32 kit yesterday and have started to research the paint schemes online. There sure is a lot of variety. I have a bunch of projects to do ahead of it (finish Spitfire modelled after Douglas 'Dogsbody’Bader’s,then an Essex class carrier conversion and a 1/350 Liberty ship conversion), but I plan to build the Lysander after one used in the 161st ‘Moon’ Squadron.An advantage for me, since I don’t have an airbrush, is that some of the paint schemes are basically one color.
Regards,
stenscience
I must admit as well that the Lysander is one of those aircraft that you can’t help but be fond of it. I think of all those pilots flying over to France in the pitch dark of nite to drop off supplies for resistance fighters and S.O.E true and fantastic piolts.
I have on a few occasions had the priv to see the Lysander fly at Suttleworth in Bedfordshire when I used to live there a few years ago. It flys with so much grace and to be honest its very adgile as well.
Good luck on your build fella. Hope to see it soon.
Lenny[tup]
There’s something that I always liked about the Lysander. You could say that it was so ugly it was good looking…sort of like the Karas. I thought that it was one of the ugliest aircraft I had seen but it grows on you after awhile.
I just put my copy of the Revell Lizzy on the “Later” shelf… It went together really well, the cockpits and engine are great for super-detailing… BUT… The canopy will likely drive you insane… The flat side panels are a mystery to me as to how they’re supposed to fit… I think I screwed up when I mounted the wings and got it mis-shapened somehow… At any rate, they don’t fit… If you run into this problem and happen to solve it, PLEASE drop me a line with how you did it…
Hans, I hated to hear you say there are fit issues. I really hate thios and as many ofyou know I started a recent thread on the subject. I want this plane to look good!
And I have people I think of as friends…
I’m at UC Davis Medical Center on business every other week! Now you tell me!
I have always loved the Lizie since I was in high school. My restoration grp(Niagara Vintage Warplane Grp) was the one who took control of the joint restoration of the Lysander with our counterpart, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.
I have tons of pix of her as we restored her while at the Niagara Falls IAP. Give or take 15 yrs in the makin…
Here are a few pix that I took when she was almost complete and when she took to the skies over Hamilton for the first time… Not a dry eye on the field…
Flaps up,
Mike
Rangers Lead The Way
I live in SouKal, but I was up there twice this year on business, I stopped by both times, they are good people adn the shop stops some nicely off the beaten path kits.
I got my 1/32 Lysander kit a few days ago, and I think I will try to use it for the GB mentioned, as there is a long build time. As I said, I want to do it in the style of the 161st Moon Squadron. There is plenty of info out there on paint schemes, but I am running into issues around how to detail the cockpit. As someone pointed out, there is not a lot of aftermarket for this model (I could not find any).What I wonder is, are there any PE or detail kits out there that could be used, at least in part? In particular, I am interested in instruments.
Regards,
Stenscience