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The Great LSP Twins Group Build Starts Jan 24, 2024 - End July 3, 2024 ×

1/32nd scale Avro Shackleton - scratchbuild project


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As explained above, I've corrected the errors I made with the fuselage windows - I am not entirely sure how I managed to get the positioning so out as I'm a firm believer in 'measure thrice, cut once', but clearly something went very wrong when I cut these on the fuselage panels a while back.

 

The fix was fairly simple though - plastic card blanks were added to the incorrectly positioned windows, and then new ones were cut, after more careful measuring. The original windows and now been filled and sanded, ready for some primer to hide my sins:

 

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Onwards and upwards, as the old saying goes...

 

Tom

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I took advantage of some sunshine this afternoon and shot some primer over the amended windows and stabilisers. No problems to report...

 

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The repositioned windows have cured the concerns I had with the fuselage - at least to my eyes, anyway:

 

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May well have a bash at the fins next.

 

Until next time,

 

Tom

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Very nice as usual Tom,

How are you going to tackle the fins? Carving them from laminated plasticard or can the Lancaster fins be adapted too?

Cees

From an initial glance, the fins themselves may well be able to be based on the Lancaster parts. As with the stabs, chord is greater - particularly with the rudders. These may be, as you suggest, laminated plastic card.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've been working on the fins of late, so time for an update.

 

My original plan was to use the Lancaster fins as a starting point, but I didn't realise how much larger the Shackleton's fins are, not to mention the substantial shape differences:

 

26138380174_f0fce4f9f9_c.jpg

 

The solution was to cut a plastic card template, and then copy it eight times to give me four laminated pieces per fin, which provided the correct thickness. These were then glued with polystyrene cement, clamped together and allowed to dry for 48 hours:

 

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I then started to sand the leading edges to get the aerofoil shape:

 

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Checking the plans regularly as I went:

 

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With the shape correct, I then primed each fin and added the surface details, including those famous rivets:

 

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I then inserted small metal pins into the inner surfaces of the fins, and drilled holes in the ends of the stabilisers to attach them firmly:

 

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I think they look passable in situ:

 

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Until next time,

 

Tom

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Nice work on the fins, didn't realize they are so much bigger than the Lanc/Lincoln.

Cees

 

Me too - it has come as quite a surprise. The whole airframe makes the Lancaster look a bit scrawny in comparison.

 

The canopy area has been giving me headaches since I started this project, but a little delivery today may have the solution...

 

Knowing someone 'in the know' at HK Models (thanks, Cees!) I've managed to source an early test-shot of the soon-to-be released Lancaster cockpit. This one is solid plastic but will be perfect for my needs.

 

In this picture below you can see the forward quarter and side windows of the Lancaster cockpit:

 

25908500333_78fda13329.jpg

 

Which are identical to those on the Shackleton:

 

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So the plan is to use sections of this:

 

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...to make up the cockpit area.

 

My plan is to drill out and open up the windows themselves, leaving the frames which will be glazed at a later date. The forward quarter and side sections will be used, with the centre-section of the wider Shackleton cockpit having frames made from plastic strip. This will then be blended with filler into the area immediately behind the cockpit and hopefully, it should do the trick.

 

That's the plan, anyway...

 

I'll keep you posted.

 

Tom

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  • 4 weeks later...

Evening all,

 

It's been slow going on this project of late due to work commitments, but more importantly having a young baby is seriously eating into my modelling time... wouldn't change that for the world, though.

 

Anyway, if you recall from a previous update, I've got a test shot of the HK Lancaster cockpit, printed in solid plastic:

 

26731049471_1274b7c461_c.jpg

 

Which I aim to get looking like this:

 

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So the first step was to remove the rear section of the Lancaster canopy, leaving me with a forward section which is identical in profile to the Shackleton cockpit, the only difference being the Shackleton's fuselage and this cockpit is wider than the Lancaster, so I carefully split the Lanc cockpit down the middle. The windows themselves then need to be drilled out, which was done by drilling numerous pilot holes:

 

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The excess, unwanted plastic was then cut away using the tips of some sprue cutters:

 

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And after the ragged edges had been carefully files away, I was left with two forward sections of Shackleton cockpit framing. The upper escape hatches were the only modification to the Lancaster framing made at this stage:

 

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The frames were then carefully glued to the rear upper fuselage removed from earlier in the build. Here you can see the additional width of the Shackleton fuselage in relation to the Lancaster and Lincoln:

 

27305111512_38794901af_c.jpg

 

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A couple of test fits shows that things are progressing as planned:

 

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It's all a bit rough at the moment and I'll need to do some fine tweaks, but you get the idea. I will now need to finish off the missing framing, fill the gap down the middle and get it all smoothed in to the upper fuselage section. It won't be attached properly until I've done the interior of course. 

 

Until next time,

 

Tom

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Tom,

That's looks great, You haven't made it yourself easy by drilling out the windows and keeping the frames, but it

really gives the Shackleton feel to it.  As soon as you have faired in the canopy you really have achieved your

goal of building a Shackleton from scratch. The outer wings must be the easy bit. :)

Cees

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Tom,

That's looks great, You haven't made it yourself easy by drilling out the windows and keeping the frames, but it

really gives the Shackleton feel to it.  As soon as you have faired in the canopy you really have achieved your

goal of building a Shackleton from scratch. The outer wings must be the easy bit. :)

Cees

 

It's getting there, Cees. The outer wings shouldn't be too tricky - I think I'll likely use a similar method that you did with your Manchester and use the Lancaster outer wing as a base - it's then just a case of extending the tips.

 

Cool...

Really curious to see how you'll tackle the windows!

 

The plan is to insert some sills for the glass to sit on - I've three canopies from the ID Models Lancaster sitting here ready to go for when the time comes. He says hopefully...

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Tom,

Are you planning on the engine nacelles aready?

Cees

The forward part of the nacelles forward of the firewall, the intakes and exhausts have all been 3D printed - modelling buddy has a high resolution 3D printer.

 

The rear of the nacelles will be made using the bulkhead and planking method.

 

I'll post pictures of the 3D parts in a future update.

 

Tom

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Looking forward to seeing those Tom.

You are really going fast with this one, ready in time for Telford.

Cees

 

I doubt it'll be anywhere near finished, Cees, but I'll certainly bring it along as a work in progress...

 

A little more progress on the cockpit today guys and gals...

 

I've added the scale 2ft widening strip down the centre of the cockpit roof from plastic card, and also scratch-built the forward frames for the glazing from Evergreen strip:

 

27427191736_cdf3436a03_c.jpg

 

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Now all that's needed is to refill a small blemish or two and prime it up to see how it looks.

 

Until next time,

 

Tom

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