Indeed. Though my day job is more than partly to blame.

OK, I need to amend that list I just gave ....

Distracted in passing by reference pictures of the engine covers (and knowing that Belcher's Bits supply great replacements to correct the rather inaccurate kit parts), I decided to make my own. I see how this can eat up time !

Paul,
Your scratch building skills continues to amaze me. I'll be following along quite closely.
Joel

Joel, really you're too kind.
I have to admit that this build is a lot of throwing caution to the wind and attempting things I would never have had the guts to do if I hadn't been inspired by other's work since I joined up here, including your own.
I nearly didn't go for the engine cover modification... Admittedly, I'm still nervous about building up the sides of those walls i've built to correct the shape and getting a nice curve.

Paul,
Not being well versed in the Rolls and It's coverings, I'd never had known. But you will feel better about your modifications....no matter how many times you have to reshape them.

It's only by daring to make such changes that make us better modellers.

Keep on inspiring!

Gaz

Thanks Gary, I'd have quite happily left them well alone only it's one of the biggest complaints about the kit next to the navigator's window being in the wrong place. (something else i feel needs to be tackled!). I'd have felt i wasn't doing the model justice if i didn't go that extra mile.

Your overall work and you scratch building skills continue to impress Paul. Absolutely first class work.

Great Paul!
From the Lockheed campaign and your Blackbird up to now your modelling and presenting skills are steadily enhanced. Fantastic, move on
Thomas

Thank you both.
That Blackbird seems so long ago! It was only completed around eight months ago???

Today I got the other three engine covers altered. Just need to do the filler work to build up the sides a bit. It seems to take a long time looking at reference , thinking about how you will approach a problem and then getting the first engine done. The other three probably took an hour to do once i'd got over the initial hurdle.

Anyone care to venture what this part i've modified is called? I've been hesitating to call it an exhaust. It's more like a passive heat vent to allow air to pass through the radiator and straight out again.... ????

Hi Mate, Following this build with interest as I won one of E-bay a few months ago. I didn't realise that this kit had so many glaring inaccuracies !
You have also hexed me as I`m an inveterate tinkerer so I`ll have a little tinker when I get round to starting it using your posts as a guide.

Hi Danny, glad to have you on board!

I wouldn't say the issues with the kit are glaring as such but once you learn of them it's hard not to feel the need to fix them. The navigator's window for example : You would never realise it's too far forward unless it's pointed out to you and then you look for confirmation in reference photos.

Feel free to share any interesting stuff you might find on Lancasters. I've been doing a bit of background digging on this particular aircraft and will share some history when I don't have a lot of progress to show.

Work continues.... (Work? who am I kidding? This is great fun!)

Hi, Paul.

Great scratch building skills. Thanks for saring your techs.

Cheers!
Gabriel

Thanks for looking Gabriel

Things have been quieter recently in blog terms but work has continued in the background - the flaps for the second wing are now 75% complete and the second landing gear is nearly ready for the anodised paint scheme. This kind of repetition isn't worth blogging but other updates certainly are! :

Wow, just wow. Fascinating build. I am really impressed!!

What he said!

Cheers guys! It's going to get really interesting from here on I suspect.

Paul,
I'll 3rd that.

Your scratch building skills are just 1st rate. You make the work involved look easy enough for any novice modeler to do it, yet we know that's not the case. It's the key that you're just that good.

Joel

Once again, thank you all and apologies for this somewhat rambling and text heavy update. Some unexpected luck, a lot of planning ahead, a touch of dodgy photoshop and a little progress!

You continue to impress mightily. Love the part about discovering the top turret blank-off piece. What luck!!

Thanks Brian, indeed what a find! I was looking at the piece next to it on the sprue and suddenly realisation of what it might be struck. It will certainly save a bit of time and effort.

Hi Paul

Amazing skills!! Will be following along to learn as much as I can.

Looking forward to the next installment.

Regards,
Kobus

Thanks Kobus, it's good to have you along. The next installment will be very soon as I'm "in the zone" and full of enthusiasm!
I'm trying to describe almost everything I'm doing as I'm learning as I go too. We all have different approaches and techniques so it's great to be able to share ideas.

Yesterday I got stuck into the actual structure of the fuselage:

Very impressive, Paul!