Coastal Command Lancaster

Mike Wren · October 10, 2005, 11:47:58 AM

designed as a back up in case Merlin production was interrupted, the 300 Hercules-powered Lancaster Mk.IIs built were dropped by Bomber Command in the interests of commonality in autumn 1944. Because of their better performance at lower altitudes many of them found their way to Coastal Command, operating alongside Liberators in the long range anti-submarine role.

Bulged bomb bay doors & ventral turret were removed to reduce drag & nose-mounted Yagi aerials formed part of the ASV equipment. Front turrets were faired over and provision was made for 4 fixed 20mm cannon in the nose, although only 2 were often carried. Some aircraft had their upper turrets removed to save weight & increase range.

Captain Canada · October 10, 2005, 01:32:26 PM

Hey....lookin' good, Mikey !

I think I like the first one better...not sure if it's the straight demarcation line or the turret. I think I also like the look of the twin cannon mount as well. But 4 sure would come in handy at times !

If there's no bomb bay, what are you gonna throw at the subs ? Rockets ?

cthulhu77 · October 10, 2005, 02:02:10 PM

QuoteIf there's no bomb bay, what are you gonna throw at the subs ? Rockets ?

Nah, it's a brit job...they'll post darts.

Martin H · October 10, 2005, 02:41:49 PM

QuoteI'm also thinking of a Halifax style nose glazing with a 20mm cannon on a flexible mount.

Whooops. Ive done it again...sorry lee Ive long since beaten u to that idea. I did one about 3 years ago.

Jeffry Fontaine · October 10, 2005, 04:20:58 PM

Can anyone here give me some more information on the Paragon Designs 1/48th scale resin conversions for the Lancaster and Liberator. I found the following entries at Hannants:

PAR48092 RAF 100 Group Avro Lancaster Conversion

PAR48093 RAF 100 Group B-17G & B-24J/M Conversion

What modifications were made to make these aircraft part of 100 Group?

nev · October 10, 2005, 11:13:18 PM

MIke, build it!!! Build iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttttttttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lancer · October 11, 2005, 01:29:05 AM

Mike, they look damm good. As Nev says build them!
Are the 20mm's fixed or moveable??

gooberliberation · October 11, 2005, 01:38:59 AM

Very nice! Especially the first one.

Spellbinder99 · October 11, 2005, 02:26:21 AM

Hmmm, I like it a lot. I would like to cut a Lancaster down to a Manchester look-a-like and convert it to two Hercules engines. Add an overload tank and use it for longrange Atlantic patrol.

Cheers

Tony

Mike Wren · October 11, 2005, 05:53:41 AM

thanks for the comment chaps,

Wooksta, I forgot to add the H2S fairing under the fuselage, I knew there was something missing

an extra observation bubble is a good idea. yeah, seeing those Xtradecals reminded me of this one which I thought of a while ago, hopefully I'll get round to actually building it this time... still like the idea of the cannon being fixed like the MGs on Mosquito fighters

Toad, the bomb bay is still there, but the bulged bomb doors (for carrying big bombs) have been replaced by standard ones to reduce drag, still, some rockets mounted on the sides of the nose would look good...

lancer · October 12, 2005, 01:24:51 AM

QuoteYay! Hannants have a Hercules Lanc conversion in stock. Do I get one to do the coastal one or do I get two and do a Far East one as well?

Wonder if it could take four Centaurus engines?

Do both...go on...you know you want to B) B) B) B) B)

lancer · October 13, 2005, 01:43:03 AM

QuoteI'm going to ask my supplier to order a pair tomorrow - might as well to go with the two Lancaster 6 conversions I've got, although I'm tempted to drop the engines into rubber when I get it so I don't have to rely on the Aeroclub ones, good as they are.

So, one for the maritime recce one and one for the far east. Damn - that means I've got to buy another pair of Lancasters!

Oh what a hardship....