1/72 Airfix Lancaster BIII

(special) "Dambusters Raid"

by Darren McGuinness

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Hello,

This particular bomber should need no introduction, however just in case its not familiar, this is Lancaster ED932/AJ-G of 617 Sqn. RAF flown by Wing Commander Guy Gibson during Operation Chastise on 16/17 May 1943, the famous dambusters raid.

Click on images below to see larger images

 

I had always wanted to build a Lanc. and last summer this now well aged Airfix kit came into my possession. I got the idea for this simple diorama after watching the film about the raid on TV. I wondered if anyone else had tried to recreate the bouncing bomb being dropped over water before. Before I knew it, I was building my Lancaster with its wheels up! The fit of this kit is not great and there is little in the way of detail to write about, however the finished model does look like the aircraft it replicates.

I tried to simulate the waters surface with simple plaster applied to a plain wooden base and I replaced the plastic props with clear acetate to resemble spinning props. Some metal tubing holds the model aloft as with the bomb. This model will not win any awards, but its a nice display and hopefully a respectful tribute to the many brave men of bomber command who worked on Lancs.

Darren

Photos and text © by Darren McGuinness