LANCASTER
72" span
By Ian Larkin
This is my second Lancaster bomber for electric, the first one i purchased from `PRIORY MODELS` approx. 4 years ago, I enjoyed flying the model but was talked into selling it and immediatel regretted doing so.
Now i am on with building of the new one. (£75.00 For the basic kit, includes complete wiring harnes and hardware)
The kit is easy to build with most parts ready shaped, the fuseage comes in 2 parts with doublers already fitted to the foreward section, A tapered foam block is suppied to keep the doublers pressed against the rear section until the glue has dried ,I found this a great help in lining up the the fuz sides.
The good thing about having already flown this model means a can now alter one or two things which i think were lacking in the previous one,
This is nothing to do with the manufacture of the model as motors, batteries etc,is entirely up to you.
The original had 4 400 motors, cheap props and ni-cad batteries, I have changed this arangement to 2 400 motors on the outer panels and 2 480s on the inboard good quality props and li-po batteries, This should give it the extra power i felt was lacking, I did consider using brushless motors but again after flying this model i am confident the power will be ample.
Back to the building.
The kit is mostly veneered foam, nacelles are ready shaped with the angles cut to fit the taper on the wings so is the tail surfaces and wing tips etc.
Bulkheads were fitted, wing mounting plate and that just about does it for the fuz.
Part `2` Wings
The wings were straight foreward, fit leading and trailing edges, join the 3 panels using the pre-cut dihedral braces, Insert the wiring harness into the slots provided ,mark the position of the nacelles and fit these in position, wing tips glued in place and that is more or less the wing finished.
Mini servos fit into the nacelles for the ailerons, you can see on the photo the extended leads in the centre of the wing to be joined with a 'y' lead.
The pre-joined wiring harness is fed out of the nacelles and enough length is supplied to solder the wires to the motors without any dificulty.
Undercarraige can be fitted but i opted for the handlaunch, In my mind the lighter the model the better.
Part `3`
Elevator servoand pushrod fitted before the tail assemblyis fitted,
Plastic parts trimmed to shape and marked out with 'trimline' on the inside,
These can be done to a scale like appearance if you have the patience (Which i don't ).
On my previous model of the lanc, getting the battery far enough forward to attain the Cof G was a problem but this time i cut through the bulkhead into the cowl and this has solved the problem. I then devised a method of fitting the battery for easy in and out positioning using 'velcro' (See picture)
Battery is fitted to1.5 mm ply with velco,
Velco is fitted to the underside of ply and more velco to the base of fuselage and it's simple matter of sliding the complete rig into fus. to attain the CofG and press down, 'Job done'
Part 4 and final part
I have really enjoyed building this model, good quality parts , not too comlicated and a nice looking model at the end of it.
Looking forewaed to flying the model but will wait until the spring and a bit of fine weather for its first flight.
On the right evening as the sun is going down, what a lovely sight , a slow low pass for the camera with trees in the backdrop and it is very hard to determine if this is a model or the real thing.
Pic's of the finished model!!!!
Happy flying to you all
Ian Larkin
