STUNNING NEW LANCASTER REFERENCE FROM VALIANT WINGS

The established publisher has added to its popular Airframe & Miniature series with a detail-packed study of the Avro Lancaster/Manchester. CHRIS CLIFFORD thumbs through the pages.

STUNNING NEW LANCASTER REFERENCE FROM VALIANT WINGS

As modelling subjects stand, the Avro Lancaster is superb and offers many avenues… and building this aerial legend became more interesting when Airfix released its new-tool 1/72 kits beginning in 2012. Since then, HK Model has issued all-new 1/48 and 1/32 options; we’ve also had the enormous 1/32 Border Model product hitting the shelves recently, and Tamiya will reissue its vintage 1/48 item this year. Regardless of which Lancaster kit and variant you wish to tackle, Valiant Wings’ new softback book on the type offers a staggering amount of detailed reference. To boot, it also educates on the Lancaster’s predecessor, the Avro Manchester. Just Planet Models has produced a full 1/72 kit of the type, in resin, but there are conversion sets to transform styrene Lancaster kits into a Manchester, such as Blackbird Models’ 1/72 resin package designed to fit Airfix’s new-tool Lancaster.

STUNNING NEW LANCASTER REFERENCE FROM VALIANT WINGS  STUNNING NEW LANCASTER REFERENCE FROM VALIANT WINGS

Modelling goldmine

Valiant’s book is weighty at 272 pages, plus gatefold 1/72 plans… but even so, it covers wartime variants alone. A Part Two will focus on post-war Lancasters in the future. Following the usual format, the book offers different chapters on the real machines, exploring Manchester prototypes and manufacturing, Lancaster prototypes and the B Mk.I, followed by separate sections on the B Mk.II/III/VI, before the focus turns to camouflage and markings, with a selection of pleasing, well-rendered colour profiles… each with a dedicated caption.

STUNNING NEW LANCASTER REFERENCE FROM VALIANT WINGSSTUNNING NEW LANCASTER REFERENCE FROM VALIANT WINGS

It's then time for the ‘Miniatures’ content, via concise analyses of the various model kits available and full build articles. The latter include projects using Airfix’s 1/72 Lancaster to create a Manchester, Hasegawa’s 1/72 B Mk.I ‘No.617 Squadron Special Mission’, HK’s 1/48 B Mk.I and Tamiya’s 1/48 B Mk.I/III. All are built beautifully, each inspiring in its own way.

One of the most useful sections of the book is Building a Collection… a ready-reckoner offering isometric drawings of every Manchester and Lancaster variant, which are brilliant for planning build and upgrade projects. There then follows an extensive In Detail section, providing a large number of photos (shots of period and preserved airframes) and factory drawings of sub-assemblies. Last of all, comprehensive listings of model kits, accessories, decals and books are supplied. Meanwhile, the gatefold 1/72 plans detail the Manchester and Lancaster; these are particularly useful as a guide when re-scribing older kits.

STUNNING NEW LANCASTER REFERENCE FROM VALIANT WINGS

Ultimately, at £28.95 plus P&P, this is superb value for what’s on offer… but the book will really come into its own for anyone wanting to build multiple sub-types. Arguably, it’s one of the best volumes in the series so far and we can’t wait for Part Two. This and all other Airframe & Miniature books are available direct from Valiant Wings.

Airframe & Miniature No 20
The Avro Lancaster (including the Manchester) Part One – Wartime Service
A Complete Guide to the RAF’s Legendary Heavy Bomber

By: Richard A Franks
Format: 211 x 298mm
ISBN: 978-1-912932-17-7

STUNNING NEW LANCASTER REFERENCE FROM VALIANT WINGS