Avro Lancaster B.III (Special) Dambuster

On the night of 16 to 17 May 1943, Lancaster AJ-T (T-Tommy) was 617 Squadron’s reserve aircraft, prepared with Barnes Wallace’s bouncing ‘Upkeep’ bomb, for Operation Chastise, the Dambuster raids. 

I decided to finish my Airfix 1:72 scale Avro Lancaster B.III (Special) Dambuster in the markings of T-Tommy, rather than the more famous G-George flown by 617’s Squadron Leader, Guy Gibson, in recognition of the recently departed “last surviving Dambuster”,  Geroge ‘Johnny’ Johnson, the aircraft’s bomb aimer.

Having been detailed to attack the Sorpe Dam and flying the longer, northern route, Flt Lt Joseph Charles "Big Joe" McCarthy (an American serving in the RCAF) and crew, with four other aircraft of Formation No. 2, were to be the first of the 3 waves and 19 Dambusters to take off. After McCarthy's bomber developed a coolant leak, the crew had to take T-Tommy, the reserve aircraft, and followed on half an hour later.

Being an embankment dam , with concrete core covered in soil, the Sorpe dam was the one least likely to be breached, unlike the Eder and Möhne concrete-and-steel gravity dams that were so successfully breached. The attack on the Sorpe also differed from the previous ones in that the topography of the valley required the approach to be made along the length of the dam and not at right angles over the reservoir. The 'Upkeep' bomb, therefore, had to be dropped on top of the dam rather than being spun and then bounced on the water. The specialist bombsight developed especially for the raid would also be of no use. It is also amazing that the five crews detailed to attack the Sorpe Dam received their briefing on the afternoon prior to the raid.

None of the other 4 Lancasters of Formation No. 2 made it to the dam, and so McCarthy at the controls of T-Tommy was the first to arrive. McCarthy made nine attempted bombing runs before bomb aimer George “Johnny” Johnson, was sufficiently satisfied to drop the 'Upkeep' bomb on the tenth run. The bomb exploded but only a section of the crest of the dam was blown off; the main body of the dam remained. The planners of the Operation had estimated that it would take 5 of the ‘Upkeep’ bombs placed correctly to weaken the dam sufficiently for water pressure to complete the break. Only McCarthy and one other aircraft, from the Formation No.3, made it to the Sorpe with their bomb. Even a second British Operation on 15 October 1944 with five-ton Tallboy bombs failed, leaving behind only several huge craters and causing minor spillage.

Avro 504

Well that was good fun! 

It came as a surprise to me that AV Roe’s Avro 504 was the most numerous aircraft flown by the RFC during WWI, a fact I learned after recently being gifted  book on the history of Avro by a good cycling friend of mine. As it then goes, I just had to build one of these famed aircraft and this opportunity only arose when a good scale modelling pal of mine gifted me a 1973 Airfix kit of the same!

I had to go for some new decals from Hannants and although overpriced, PRINT SCALE LTD - scale model store UK were the only offering available. What a mistake.. they were truly awful, no historical reference to the options, totally the wrong scale and fractured on application. A note to never buy this make again. 

I also had a go at rigging. Having previously dismissed AMMO of MIG Jimenez NL’s useless product, I’ve since just used stretched sprue but not that long ago acquired a reel of AK-Interactive rigging which turned out to be sublime. No snagging and it pulls off the reel time after time, no problem. It was only my own lack of time that prevented me from doing a complete job, but feel the little I’ve added gives an impression of there being rigging there 😆

So, this is finished as an unknown WWI Avro 504K in honour of all those RFC flyers of the time and of AV Roe’s amazing aircraft. 

Avro Lancaster Mk II

While not the classic Lancaster we’re used to seeing, I just had to build this rare incarnation of probably the most iconic bomber of the War. It is indeed a rarity, in that it made up just 4% of the total number of Lancasters produced, it remained in frontline service for no more than a year and none survived beyond 1950.

The uniqueness of this aircraft is that rather than having the standard Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, the Lancaster Mk II. due to concerns over the supply of the Merlins, were fitted with Bristol Hercules radial engines. As it happened, by the time the Mk II entered service in October 1942, the threat to the Merlin supply was already receding and as such only 300 Mk IIs were produced. 

The Hercules engine’s performance was found to be not as good as the Merlin. The maximum operational altitude the Mk II could achieve was between 14,000 - 18,000 feet as opposed to the greater and considerably safer altitude of 22,000 feet of the Mk I. Fortuitously, in not requiring the merlin’s liquid cooling systems, the Mk II could take a little more punishment. 

The Mk II also received an additional protection in the installation of a FN64 ventral turret situated behind the bomb bay; though many crews removed these to save weight. A second problem with the Mk II was that it could only carry 14,000 lbs of bombs, compared to the 18,000 of the Mk I. Thus, by the end of 1943, it was no surprise to find the Lancaster Mk II being phased out.

A couple of additions I made to the completed build were the set of bombs sourced from the RAF Resupply Set as Airfix no longer provide these with the kit, and I drilled out and filled with liquid glazing the windows in the escape hatches. It seems odd to me that in their 1960s kit these were included while in the 2020s moulding, the many side windows are added, but the escape hatch windows are omitted!

 

In it being Halloween, it seemed only right to finish my Airfix Mk II in the markings of “Z-Zombie”, LL725, of No. 408 (Goose) Squadron, 6 Group, Royal Canadian Air Force, based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire, in July 1944. 

And in researching the back story as to why this aircraft carries the Zombie Nose Art, I dredged up the following account by the aircraft’s rear-gunner and nose artist, George Oliver:

… for some reason the call sign at Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire, was changed from Z-Zebra, to Z-Zombie. On their 8th operation to Essen, Germany on 24 March 1944, they lost an engine and had the option to dump their bomb load and return to base or to carry on. The crew agreed to press on but arrived over the target late and all alone. After the release of their bomb load they were met with intense ack-ack and were lucky to escape. On return to base they discovered that they had been posted as lost in action. It was following this experience they all agreed “Zombie” [return of the living dead] should become the nose art, and so it was. 

Arts & Craft Shop Display

Thrilled to have one of my scale models in the window of my local arts and crafts shop, Devon Art Supplies, Seaton. 

Austin K2/Y Ambulance

My build of this Airfix 1:35 Austin K2/Y Ambulance is done. The final piece in this construction was the addition of the ATS driver from D-Day Miniature Studio. The intention was to use this figure to depict Princess Elizabeth at the wheel but it failed to hit the mark, except when viewed from a distance! 

I made the mistake of not installing Elizabeth before fitting the dash as squeezing her into the cab was equivalent to performing keyhole surgery. I ended up having to cut and reposition the steering wheel and add a seat cushion to hide her unknown ability to levitate! All this effort was somewhat wasted on a D-Day Miniature’s moulding of a startled looking lady with unnaturally fitting limbs! 😢

Anyway … despite my modelling challenges this is my tribute to this amazing woman and monarch 🥰

Avro Lancaster B.Mk.III

The next of my Somerset show purchases on the bench was the 1980’s Airfix release of the Avro Lancaster B.Mk.III. This was the version fitted with the US built Packard Merlin 28 engines, the only difference between the Mk.I & Mk.III. The Mk.II was different again, but more on that later.

I purchased this 40 year old Airfix Lancaster kit at an excellent price due to the box being opened and thus the risk of it missing parts and with the absence of any instructions. Its age showed through its raised rivets and lack of any interior detail. I pondered on rectifying this by buying up a few after sales bits and pieces and it was while awaiting delivery that I kicked off that ill fated AZ Model Spitfire HF Mk VI build.

The next challenge was the decals. I wanted to use those which came with this kit of M for Mother, the Lancaster completing the highest number of WW2 missions. I had great success in reviving these original decals with extreme UV light treatment that the then heatwave was providing. This removed most of the yellowing but on application they were as thick old boots so a liberal coating of softener was called for. The reaction to this was, however, quite extreme; it was as if they were in tune with Dorian Gray and the fluid revealed their long live’s picture .. all wrinkled!

I therefore, had to fall back on a set of Xtradecal aftermarket decals which I had the good fortune to obtain from the same seller at the show. I obviously had an inkling something like this would happen. I, therefore, finished the build in the interesting look of Avro Lancaster B.Mk.III LM583, PO-T of 467 (Australian) Squadron, piloted by Flying Officer David John Sandell, which took off on 29 August 1944 from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire to bomb Konigsberg and was lost without trace, believed to have been one of the 15 of a force of 189 RAF bombers shot down by nightfighters during the raid.

The interesting feature of this aircraft is its white painted tail fin which indicated it as a G-H Leader's aircraft, i.e. an aircraft carrying blind-bombing H2S radar, which would lead the rest of the Squadron to the correct aiming point. Each squadron of No.5 Group, Bomber Command, had its own distinctive G-H tail markings, that of 467 Squadron being a blue cross on a white background.

There is much debate on line as to the accuracy of this Xtradecal sheet X72195 as to whether PO-T should actually be PO-O, as referenced in an number of other sources, and how this could be an easy typo with O and P being next to each other on the keyboard. Also the decal sheet contains black crosses for the tail rather than the correct blue ones, perhaps as historical photos are black and white? Interesting ….

Back to the scale model. I decided, for a change, not to complete this kit wheels down, but rather to mount it airborne, as if flying at hedge hopping height atop an old Airfix stand sprayed black, blending with its night camouflage black underside … I can almost hear those 4 Merlins! 

The after sales bits’n pieces of wheels, guns and interior I plan to use on a Mk.II I just had to buy in the recent Airfix Club sale .. it will be interesting to compare and contrast this build with the the much newer kit.

Stuka Ju87B-1

My build of Airfix’s new kit of the Stuka Ju87B-1 is complete and it has been a lovely model to construct.

 The fit and detail is just excellent. Airfix provide two build options: 1./St.G 2 T6+IH (W.Nr. 313), March 1941 Balkan Campaign - Krainici Airfield, or II./St.G 77 VK+ER "White 10" (Major Alfons Orthofer), May 1939 Signal Magazine - Breslau-Schöngarten. The other options were: armaments of either a single 500-kilogram or one 250-kilogram bomb under its fuselage, plus two smaller 50 kg bombs under each wing, and with or without crew; a detailed pilot’s seat being provided for the latter.

I decided on aircraft, VK+ER, piloted by Major Alfons Orthofer (1909-1942) Kommodore of Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 with the second armament configuration and no crew. I dug out my oils to apply a little shadowing and colour variation which I think worked OK, although half of me wishes I'd just left it alone!

Aircraft, VK+ER, was apparently specially decorated with the rather menacing sharksmouth for an article in the Wehrmacht’s ‘Signal’ magazine whilst based at Breslau Germany. The May 1939 date of the aircraft, as quoted in the Airfix literature, is interesting as the ‘Signal’ magazine wasn’t actually founded until April 1940!

Spitfire HF Mk VI

Finished a ‘simple build’ today of the 1:72 scale AZ Model Spitfire HF Mk VI which was one of the bargain kits I picked up at last Sunday’s show. I was in need of something simple to pass the time while I considered what after market bits, if any, to acquire for a Lancaster I also have on the workbench. 

This is the very unusual, long winged high altitude Spitfire, which I finished in the colours of P/O C.B.Brown’s aircraft of 616 Squadron, RAF Kingscliffe, May 1942. 

In building this kit, I made 3 frustrating mistakes … 

1. Attempting to hand paint acrylics in a heatwave!

2. Not researching a better kit to meet my ‘simple build’ criteria, as this was really quite painful!

3. Choosing to buy this kit in the first place!

Beaufighter TF.10

After a couple of whirlwind days modelling, my 1:72 scale Beaufighter TF.10 is just about ready for tomorrow’s Somerset show. 

This is the Beaufighter which flew with No.45 Squadron, RAF Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, during “Operation Firedog”, late May to early December 1949. 

Its role was to provide ground support to the British and Commonwealth forces engaged in a guerrilla war with the communist pro-independence fighters of the Malayan National Liberation Army. 

This Airfix kit is a dream to build, with every part fitting beautifully and being the new moulding, there was only minimal need for filling and sanding. My only complaint would be the tyres, which I should really have taken more time over to fill the rather obvious centre seams and add some tread, but I’m out of time now so may revisit them another time. 

Type 45 Destroyer

Day 9 of my Airfix 1:350 Type 45 Destroyer build and it’s complete 🎉

From a distance I’m really happy with this build.   It’s been great fun and challenging to construct, which I guess that’s what this hobby is all about. 

My attempts to fill some of the gaping joints were of mixed success and as these are most visible under the microscopic view of closeup photography, I’ve left these shots on the cutting room floor! 

I’ve finished this Type 45 air defence destroyer in the colours of HMS Dragon D35, one of the most advanced warships in the world and the star of the James Bond film No Time To Die! 

B-24 Liberator & Ju88

My 1:144 scale B-24 Liberator & Ju88 kits are built for another Dunkeswell diorama.

This one will be set on  4th September 1943 when six Ju-88 of 13/KG40 intercepted VB-103’s Lt James H Alexander’s B-24 ‘G’ B-7 “Impatient Virgin” off the Spanish coast. 

B-24 Liberator v Ju-88 diorama at Dunkeswell 

4th September 1943

VPB103: Lt. James H Alexander intercepted by 6 Ju-88s. 

During an antisubmarine patrol from Dunkeswell, Lt James H Alexander and crew were intercepted by six Ju-88 C fighters over the Bay of Biscay. During the attack, Alexander’s gunners shot down one of the Ju-88s flown by Lt Gerhard Blankenberg and crippled three others. His B-24 Liberator, numbered B-17 “G” and named Impatient Virgin was, however, damaged and unable to return to Dunkeswell. With flying instruments rendered inoperative and her four engines badly damaged, despite a painful head wound, Alexander effected a safe landing at sea.

Successfully abandoning the aircraft, he and his crew rode out a severe storm in a rubber life raft for 36 hours before being rescued by a passing Spanish fishing vessel. 

After a month recuperating, they were all repatriated back to England.

Lt James H Alexander was awarded the Navy Cross, his co-pilot and navigator the Distinguished Flying Cross and his crew the Air Medal. 

Sadly, on 3rd December 1943, Alexander, like so many of his fellow airmen, was to die in a training accident, at the age of just 23 years old.  

He has a cenotaph in Memorial Park Cemetery, Sioux City, USA

Here's perhaps my most unusual model build to date. It’s Modelcollect’s 1:72 scale WW2 Germany V1 Missile Railway Car kit which some may recall, I picked up earlier this year, at the SW Model Show at Bovington. 

The parts on the sprue bore little relation to those in the instructions; with the bogies being 3 wheeled not 2 and having enough parts left over to build a strange looking finned missile and two launching platforms! Despite this oddity, it was a fun and quite a refined kit to build. The detail, for instance, in the flying bomb, is far superior to that produced by Airfix some years back. The Airfix V1 was then included in a dogfight double kit with a Meteor … I’m still somewhat bitter to this day that the second full model in that kit was one which came on a sprue of only 5 parts! 

This V1 Missile Railway Car is also a bit of a crazy model in itself, having never actually existed. I would be surprised, however, if it wasn’t something that would have been considered at the time to provide the V1 with mobility. Being a flying bomb rather than a missile, the V1 needed a long ski ramp to launch making them relatively easy to locate and destroy. The V2 rocket, meanwhile, was very mobile … but that’s a story for another build 😉

As this never existed, I felt free to go with my own camouflage and so assuming the idea was not to be easily found, I went with some more of that Normandy 1944 scheme. I so enjoyed using this on the 1:35 Panther that I thought I’d try scaling it down to 1:72, something I found quite a bit more challenging.

Bofors 40mm Anti Aircraft Gun

I’m on a bit of a roll today! I finally finished this 1:35 scale Italeri Bofors 40mm Anti Aircraft Gun which I’ve had under construction since I started it in one of our club meetings back in February! 

The figures in this 2007 released kit are very simply moulded and strangely dressed like US Marines rather than typical WW2 Tommies. Interestingly the US did use the Bofors during the war, so I’ve stuck with it and created something in line with Italeri’s box art.