TAMIYA : REF : TAM61111 : 1:48 : AIRCRAFT SERIES KIT : UK (RAF) : AVRO LANCASTER : B Mk.III Special "DAMBUSTER"/B Mk.I (Special "GRAND SLAM BOMBER")
Tamiya REF :
TAM61111
Fabricant
TAMIYA
ISBN : 4950344611119.
Scale :
1:48
----
The kit allows you to recreate a Mk.III "Dambuster" or a Mk.I "Grand Slam Bomber".
Every detail is faithfully reproduced, based on a rigorous study of all available documentation.
Two Merlin engines are included. The engine nacelles can be shown open or closed.
Movable defensive turrets.
Three marking options and five crew figure figures.
---
Avro Lancaster B. Mk.III Special plastic model kit.
The Avro Lancaster was a four-engine bomber of World War II, initially produced by the Avro company for the British Royal Air Force. Entering service in 1942, over 7,000 were built and, along with the Handley Page Halifax, was the Royal Air Force's main bomber during this period. It became famous for its night bombing runs.
The Avro Lancaster was developed from the twin-engine Manchester bomber. The latter, which was unsuccessful due to its performance falling far short of expectations, nearly spelled the end for Avro. In desperation, Avro's chief engineer decided to modify it into a four-engine aircraft to improve its performance. In doing so, he transformed a mediocre bomber into an aircraft that became the spearhead of Bomber Command until 1945.
The Lancaster also had the capacity to carry a bomb load two or even three times greater than similar aircraft of its time, such as the B-17 or B-24, with roughly equal performance.
In May 1943, modified Lancasters were equipped with bouncing bombs to break through dams (the "Dam Busters").
From early 1944, it could carry a single bomb weighing nearly six tons, known as the Tallboy, or ten tons, called the Grand Slam, depending on its intended target.
7,377 airframes were built in six factories, and 7,374 aircraft were delivered, including prototypes. Peak production was reached in August 1944 with 293 aircraft assembled that month, not counting spare parts.
During World War II, Lancasters dropped a total of over 600,000 tons of bombs.
B I (FE):
To anticipate the needs of Tiger Force, which was operating against the Japanese, Lancasters were "tropicalized," hence the name "FE" (Far East) version. The central turret was removed, and an additional fuel tank was added. The radio and radar systems were also modified.
Among the many versions of the British Avro Lancaster heavy bomber, the Mk.III "Dambuster" and Mk.I "Grand Slam Bomber" are the most famous. The "Dambuster" was modified for attacking dams in Germany using special bombs capable of bouncing off the water to breach the protective netting and strike the structure underwater, inflicting structural damage. The "Grand Slam Bomber" could carry the 10-ton Grand Slam earthquake bomb. The bomb bay doors and dorsal turret were removed to reduce the aircraft's weight. These giant bombs were dropped on submarine bases, rocket production sites, and viaducts.
---