AVRO Lancaster Bomber Model Plane Balsa Wood Kit

The Avro Lancaster Bomber is perhaps the most iconic aircraft of World War Two, most famous for dropping the bouncing bomb during the Dambusters raid in May 1943. The pride of Bomber Command from when it entered into operational service in 1942, 7,377 Lancasters were produced and over half of them were lost over the course of the war.

The Lancaster, designed by Roy Chadwick and powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlin XX engines, was developed from the twin-engined Avro Manchester which had proved troublesome in service and was retired in 1942. It entered service with RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and as the strategic bombing offensive over Europe gathered momentum, it was the main aircraft for the night-time bombing campaigns that followed.

As increasing numbers of the type were produced, it became the principal heavy bomber used by the RAF, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and squadrons from other Commonwealth and European countries serving within the RAF. A long, unobstructed bomb bay meant that the Lancaster could take the largest bombs used by the RAF, including the 4,000lb, 8,000lb and 12,000lb ‘blockbusters’.

The Lancaster became one of the most heavily used of the Second World War night bombers, delivering 608,612 tons of bombs in 156,000 sorties. 

The versatility of the Lancaster was such that it was chosen to equip 617 Squadron and was modified to carry the Upkeep ‘bouncing bomb’ designed by Barnes Wallis for Operation Chastise, the attack on German Ruhr Valley dams.

Although the Lancaster was primarily a night bomber, it excelled in many other roles, including daylight precision bombing, for which some Lancasters were adapted to carry the 12,000lb "Tallboy" and the 22,000lb "Grand Slam" earthquake bombs (designed by Wallis). This was the largest payload dropped by any bomber during WW2.

Avro Lancaster NX611 "Just Jane", the subject of this kit, was purchased in 1983 by Fred and Harold Panton to commemorate the death of their brother Christopher who was killed on the Nuremburg Raid in March 1944, and also all of the men who served in Bomber Command.

After serving as the gate guardian at RAF Scampton NX611 was finally moved to East Kirkby in 1987 and restored to taxiing condition.

"Just Jane" is one of only three working Lancasters worldwide. NX611 is now being restored to airworthy condition by The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre and a proportion of the profit from the sale of this kit will go towards getting "Just Jane" airborne.

This kit is for building a traditionally constructed, rubber powered, free flight model (or for conversion to Radio Control) of an Avro Lancaster. The kit is provided with all the materials (other than paints and sealers) to complete the suggested scheme of the Lancaster "Just Jane" NX611.

Construction of the model from this kit uses the traditional method of ‘stick and tissue’ along with the addition of some modern materials such as carbon fibre to ease the build. It uses a built-up balsa wood skeleton (framework), covered with tissue. The balsa frameworks are built over a plan printed at 1:1 scale. Power is provided by 4 rubber strip motors (the RC conversion will use electric motors) which are wound up before flight.

Free flight means just that – once the model is launched it is on its own. It will follow a flight path established when the model was adjusted for flight or ‘trimmed’. This type of traditional building technique and flying requires a degree of patience and skill and can be extremely rewarding.

The model has been designed to be converted to micro radio control by experienced builders, using 2 or 4 small out-runner motors, micro receiver and servos. The model design includes movable ailerons and elevators to further aid its conversion. The kit is also supplied with Mylar hinges and plywood control horns.