Tamiya's 1/48 scale
Avro Lancaster B.I Special “Grand Slam”

by Roland Sachsenhofer

Avro Lancaster B.I Special “Grand Slam”

Italeri's 1/72 scale Short Stirling Mk.IV is available online from Squadron.com

41 documented sorties have been flown by the modified version of the Lancaster B.I “Special”, bringing the mightiest conventional aircraft bomb ever into the target.

The 10160kg weighing “Grand Slam” was designed to pierce even hardened concrete- or, after accelerating to nearly the speed of sound, to penetrate deep into the ground -up to 40 meters- before exploding.

The bomb has been conceived to create earthquake-like shockwaves that inescapable destroyed the sighted out building, bridge or bunker- a truly impressive weapon!

My model shows PD119, a well-documented “Special” Lancaster, flown by the famous 617th Squadron in the final months of the war.

Tamiyas kit is obviously a kid of the 70´s- but still the only opportunity to get a Lancaster in 1:48. Fit is generally good- except, in my case, the engine cowlings- and construction goes straight ahead. As the kit is very basic, some detailing will be a good idea. I used for that Eduards gorgeous interior- and exterior sets and did some scratchwork on opening the cockpit windows and detailing the massive chain-like bomb rack.

After all a lot of modelling awaits everybody challenging this kit - but it will be good advice to take you time, resources for detailing- and a lot of place on your shelf for this beast!

If you are interested in the building process, please have a look on the workbench at the JAM Forum:
http://www.razyboard.com/system/morethread-avro-lancaster-tallboy-tamiya-148-raidenjack-2086023-6354178-0.html

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As ever, remarks will be appreciated: ro.sachsenhofer@gmx.at

Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2016 by Roland Sachsenhofer
Page Created 16 August, 2016
Last Updated 16 August, 2016

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