Lancaster B.II [Hercules engines] RCAF 408 Sqn 1:72

Lancaster B.II [Hercules engines] RCAF 408 Sqn 1:72

Second issue of the 2013 new tool. This is the only full kit of the lesser known Lancaster B.II variant with the round Hercules engines ! Everybody knows the standard Lancaster B.I/B.III with the Rolls Royce or Packard built Merlin engines with their distinctive cowlings, but the B.II variant has always remained in the domain of the specialist modeler/historian. Previously, anyone wanting to build this exotic beast had to pick up some resin or vacform engines from the aftermarket [ or from another 'donor' model kit ] & perform some serious surgery. Now, thanks to the fine gentlemen at AIRFIX, we can all build this important variant in injected plastic without having to pull our hair out ! 

   Not only do we get this wonderful thing in injected plastic, we also get it in RCAF markings ! Airfix has hit a home run ! Bet you guys never knew that our boys flew these crates ?!?! Pffttt.....

A few words from wikipedia:

        B.II

Bristol Hercules (Hercules VI or XVI engines) powered variant, of which 300 were produced by Armstrong Whitworth. One difference between the two engine versions was that the VI had manual mixture control, requiring an extra lever on the throttle pedestal. Very early examples were fitted with an FN.64 ventral turret; however, these were quickly removed due to problems with aiming the turret through its periscope (which prevented the gunner from seeing a target he was not already aiming at), and inadequate traverse speed.

Due to the Luftwaffe Schräge Musik attacks, a variety of unofficial field modifications were made, including fitting of 20 mm cannon or a .50 inch machine gun in the open hole where the FN.64 had been installed, before an official modification (Mod 925) fitted with a .303 inch machine gun was authorised for the same location, though not in all aircraft. These were rarely installed on other variants as the H2S radar that was not used on the B II was mounted there. Three types of bulged bomb bay were used on the B II, the prototype having a narrow bulge running from just aft of the cockpit to the end of the bomb bay, while early production examples had a full width bulge that ran the same length and on late production examples the bomb bay doors were prominently bulged throughout their length.