1:48 Avro Lancaster B Mk.I wheels and canopy paint mask outside only (for Hong Kong Models 01F005 kit)

A night bomber of the Royal Air Force

The Avro Lancaster grew out of the unsuccessful twin-engine Manchester and with four Rolls-Royce Merlin engines turned into the most successful British heavy bomber of the Second World War. A crew of seven flew it mostly at night, a long bomb bay without transverse stiffeners allowed exceptionally bulky loads to be carried, and it was these machines that carried out the famous strike on the German dams as well as repeated attacks on the battleship Tirpitz. The designation B Mk.I was carried by the basic production form with British engines, from which the further versions were then derived.

Why masking pays off

The glazing of the Lancaster is unusually extensive. The pilot's station, the nose turret, the mid-upper turret and the rear gun position together give dozens of small frames, with which lining in by hand is a matter of a whole evening. The films have the same spacing along the whole length of the fuselage, so the result looks of one piece. The enclosed discs cover the main landing gear tires, which are good and large on a four-engine machine.

A procedure that has proved itself

With so many pieces it is useful to work in sections and always to stick one turret on, spray it straight away and only then carry on. The transitions come out best when a light coat of the inner frame shade is laid first and the covering color only over it. Before sticking them on, free the clear part of grease from your fingers, otherwise the film will not hold on a slippery surface. The set deals with the outer side of the glazing and is cut for the kit from Hong Kong Models.