HK Models 1/32 Lancaster in box review part 2.. The sprues

[@billgayowsky366]

I purchased the kit here in Canada from my hobby shop for $600. Canadian . The only issue i have is that for the price of the kit , and the fact that it is , overall , very nice . For the price and the size , could they not have made a rubber , or vinyl tire ?.

[@edsternet]

You give a good review Nige, and people are with you. The thread generates good debate, the best I have seen on a review page. Also problems are discussed and solved. Well done.

[@Tom-Lahaye]

Those circles on the bomb bay floor and the bomb doors are definitively ejector pin marks. Just checked the photographs from the bomb bay of the Avro Lincoln I have seen 3 weeks ago in Cosford. As the fuselage of the Lincoln shares DNA with the Lancaster the bomb bays do indeed look quite similar. And on those pictures no signs of any circles between the ribs of the floor or on the doors, those are flush from the inside with rows of flush rivets running allong the width of these doors. After seeing pictures of the WnW version which should come end of this year I decided to wait for this version, it looks even better detailed, with a lovely stressed skin effect and no obvious oversized recessed rivets. Altough this will be even around £50 more than the HK it will be worth the money I think, altough it is difficult to get the fact a plastic model airplane kit costs the same as a quality etched brass locomotive kit in O gauge.

[@crisruiz8609]

Hello Nigel I believe it was a very good review for both parts. Also enjoyed the detailed insight given. Would really like to see the finished kit. Good luck with the build.

[@derekdownunder3497]

Thanks for the great review Nigel. Interesting kit for sure, a little perplexing that it has some exceptional detail in most of it, yet some seemingly obvious oversights or compromises in a few places...... almost as though it has been rushed into the stores. The lack of decals for the instrument faces is very surprising. As you say, it’s a lot of money, so most buyers wouldn’t be too keen to have to buy aftermarket as well, for the sort of basic inclusions that most kits have theses.days (even egg plane kits have instrument decals). Perhaps the WNW announcement prompted a release of this kit a little earlier than it should have been.

[@dougbolton5503]

Hi Nigel, I'll try to keep this short... My Father flew 37 Ops in Lancs mostly at Scampton 153 Sqn. In honour of him and the other brave pilots, I've purchased the HK 1/32 kit, but haven't started building yet. (I'll probably start with a Harvard, another airplane he trained and flew...) Nigel, did you make any "build" videos of the HK 1/32 Lanc kit? I've read other Utubers refer to your Lanc series, but I can't find any. Many thanks, Doug

[@NigelsModellingBench]

All gone I'm afraid. I got so frustrated with the quality and inaccuracies in the kit I sold it unfinished and dumped the videos.

[@dougbolton5503]

@@NigelsModellingBench Sorry to hear That, but thanks for responding! BTW, the Horizontal stab rivet/inspection plates issue has been fixed - hopefully other inaccuracies have been too. Keep up the fine tutorials!!

[@chrisbarber5842]

Fair review not a bad kit a little work should look good agree price is a bit high thank you nigel happy Christmas

[@NigelsModellingBench]

You're welcome Chris. Hope you have a great Xmas.

[@edsternet]

Hi Nige 8:13 The detail on the starboard wing you comment as maybe a fuel tank or something is actually the Dinghy stowage point for a Type J Dinghy. It is usuallyoutlined in red over the camo.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Thanks Edward, I am aware of that now having carried out some reference. I can, unortunately also confirm that the panel is repeated on the port wing!!

[@rayfraser1773]

Hi Nige, I’m sure you started this HK 1/32 Lancaster and made lots of changes to the interior ? I can’t find them ! Please correct me if I’m wrong.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

I did indeed. Then I sold it part built.

[@rayfraser1773]

@@NigelsModellingBench was the kit that bad ? As I was considering purchasing it.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

@@rayfraser1773 I shall withhold my opinion at this time. Lets just say I won't be getting another HKM kit.

[@rayfraser1773]

@@NigelsModellingBench cheers Nige !

[@themapmaker5374]

Nice review. Yes, those have to be ejector pin marks without a doubt. That's a shame for some. Luckily, most, if not all of the interior of the aircraft will not be visible once the model is completed. I'm more perplexed with the very little to no detail on the inside of the bomb bay doors. If there's an option to pose the doors open, then we have a problem there for sure. I suppose it's an opportunity for Eduard. I can't imagine what a full photo etch set for this model from Eduard is going to cost because it appears there are loads of opportunities all over the kit for sprucing up. I still think its a phenomenal model at 1/32 scale. With that said, I'm going to hold out on my purchase until I see what the Wing Nut kit looks like.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

The more i look, the more I am beginning to think some of the marks in the flaps area are in fact mounting points for the multitude of rods that operated them?

[@lestermiller2717]

Really is an awesome model. I’m finishing up building the Lancaster dam buster bomber in 1/72 scale now. Just wish I had decals don’t know who or where to get them from just yet. It is ashamed that this large model plane in 1/32 scale kit is around $500 USA. Plus with shipping it’s even more. It is really missing a lot of detail sorry to say, but with tons of extra work scratch building into the model you can go hog wild.

[@militarymodellerpaul5932]

Nigel’ I have got this kit but will wait for the aftermarket for the cockpit details. It is over priced the Wing-nut wings kit will be ever pricier lol.

[@johnreed3638]

Excellant review Nigel. What you have to pay to what you get is very very poor. Compared to the hobbyboss B-24, yes a bit of work will be needed but at least you get your monies worth, and also none of those nasty sink marks to worry about. So a big NO to Hongkong models and a big yes for Hobbyboss B-24. Keep up the good reviews Nigel.

[@peterfield3563]

Does look nice Nigel but I lost interest in this with the announcement from WNW and is this kit £200 better than the Hobbyboss 1/32 B-24. Definitely more to it than the Liberator but it'll be the WNW kit for me.

[@davidallen1213]

Thanks for the very helpful review, Nigel. What a darned shame about all those ejection pin marks. If I were spending 350 quid on a kit I would expect there to be absolutely none at all in any places that might be remotely visible. ...they really put me off. Other manufacturers manage it so why couldn't HK models, especially, as I say, on such an expensive kit? Some of the EP marks look very difficult to fix as well. It will be very interesting to compare with the WNW version when the latter is released. I wonder if the non-limited edition version (i.e. no clear fuselage parts) of the HK Models offering will be at a lower price.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

I'm sure you're correct on all counts David. The WNW kit will have no EPM's in visible spots, but.. it will have a much higher price than the non clear version. I will be getting the WNW kit whatever happens, and it'll be reviewed here. Obviously I have been researching this aircraft a lot, (See my mods thread here), and the more I look at it, the more I think the canning on the WNW may be a little overdone? We'll have to wait and see what our government does over the next weeks to see what the final price will be??

[@stevewyatt9546]

Thanks for the review....new subscriber

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Welcome!

[@stevewyatt9546]

@@NigelsModellingBench good to be onboard... cheers

[@brettpeacock9116]

Nigel, I'm sure you know by now that the wing slots into a fairing assembky at the root, and that mounts onto the fuselage halves.. My only real complaint is that they only give you the standard bombay doors, and not the option for a bulged bombay.

[@toboldlygosmodelworks1973]

It should be about £250, for £400, I'd expect photo-etched instrument panels, resin parts & white metal under-carriage legs etc. The bomb bay doors are poor, even Airfix's current 1/72nd offerings have an inner & outer skin to the doors (even though the instructions have the doors the wrong way round!)

[@NigelsModellingBench]

I agree 100% James. It is overpriced, and poorly engineered in places. I commented on LSP forum that I feel the BB doors wouldnt be out of place in a 1970's Airfix kit. The inside surfaces are a complete joke. Also, the EPM's all over the place are a complete pain. I'll wager there wont be a single visible EPM on the WNW kit.

[@steve08717]

re your question about the bomb load and if the Lancaster carried bombs in rows of four answer is yes tactical carpet bombing load used only in the lead up to d day and after on armoured concentrations and v1 sites 2 front rows of 4. 2 along side the cookie and 2 rows of 3 at rear not a normal load and only used in the brief period April to September 1944

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Thans Steve. I assume these kit bombs are 500lb?

[@kevinhaan1532]

HK Models kits are a mixed blessing of hit and miss. I HAVE built their b17s, b25s, meteor and mosquitos. There always seems to be some accuracy issues and slight fit issues. But that being said the kits are buildable and under a coat of paint they look the part. The problem is they are soòo expensive, but I must get one to add to my garage ceiling air force.

[@williambickerton-hudson7043]

At the point at which you realised that the Main Wheels were made of Injection Molded Plastic Nigel @20.37 'Flat molded tyres'. You seem to be somehow impressed that my favourite Plastic Modelling skill during the period that Frog were still ahead of the game, which was to use a light sandpaper to give the impression that my kit weighed so much that the Black and White (Grey) painted plastic wheels were in fact rubber and were slightly flattened due to the weight of a real aeroplane. Well, it occured to me at that point that the kit wasn't really worth its salt on a number of counts; 1\ A super-detailed 1/32nd Avro Lancaster, costing that much money is not so great because there are no sprues with real rubber parts ala some Tamiya kits 2\ There are no alternatives other than to create a 'fully-laden' Lancaster due to the weight on the plastic tyres as represented. What if I wanted to build a Lancaster that was sat waiting for its bomb load to be driven from another part of RAF *****. I'm stuck Nigel HELP! The Bomber Command Museum of Canada Video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5TJf3isibKXbs0

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Very soon the Wing nut wings Lanc will be out.. get that one!!

[@williambickerton-hudson7043]

@@NigelsModellingBench Good idea Nigel thank you

[@williambickerton-hudson7043]

@@NigelsModellingBench I am just dribbling to see progress on your HK series here Nigel, you've not abandoned it? Space and wallet restrictions are going to stop me investing in the Wing nut Wings that deeply in at the moment. I haven't seen the video yet, but I did read about how, on one of your Channel's 'most recent', that the company had gone bust? True or not, they had a lot of good looking WWI kits worth looking at.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

@@williambickerton-hudson7043 sorry bud I sold it.

[@williambickerton-hudson7043]

@@NigelsModellingBench No worrys mate I can well understand, I hope you got a good price for it!

[@darronhedges5873]

WAKEY WAKEY!.......

[@andyrichardsvideovlogs8835]

The only difference between B1 and B3 MK1 or MK3 for purists, is that the MK1 has Rolls-Royce Merlins and MK3 has Packards and relocated pitot tubes H2S radar was fitted to any Lancaster and also removed from many once the Germans knew how to track it.