Thanks for that Brian though unfortunately I can't find the documentary on Netflix or Amazon. Perhaps it's a regional thing that it's not available in the UK.

Can you elaborate a little on the extra tank mystery?

Let me try to find it myself and take another look at it. It was a weird arrangement. A Wellington bomber fuel tank was placed athwartships inside the fuselage, and on top of that there was some kind of strange looking triangular-shaped Mosquito tank that looks like it may have been separate.

What was interesting was that one of the crewmembers said, even though the tanks were thoroughly sealed, there was an overwhelming smell of 100 octane fuel, and that everybody was extremely nervous about it.

I saw this thing last night and frankly forgot which service I used. Ideally, I can relocate it and try to figure out if there's some kind of software that would let me download that passage. Of course that could be a bit hard. I'll do my best given your dedication to the project.

Paul:

I found the video on YouTube. See if this works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYK9nVgg7tA The directly relevant stuff begins around 9:16

Thank you Brian,
The quote from Flight engineer Frank Tilley is interesting indeed:





I'm inclined to think this is the most definitive answer on the additional tanks although my own research turned up conflicting or very vague clues.

If this has turned up six months ago I would probably have been inclined to model the tanks this way but alas...
A small part of me is tempted to make a change but it would mean stripping out and making good the compartment between the wing spars. It's too fiddly and difficult an area to get into since the fuselage halves went together and it's just not worth it in my opinion.
I shall have to stick with my artistic license and hope all the "rivet counters" will forgive me!

Paul, I had mixed feelings disclosing "the truth" to you on this because you had researched so hard to come up with the best solution for the extra tanks. Who the hell would have dreamed that there would be a visual of the set up and testimony on the tube from people that were actually involved in flying with the damn thing!?

But, figuring you were like me in this respect, I would have wanted to know what the actual configuration was even after my aircraft model was finished.

In my own B-17 build there are tons of suppositions about this and that. There comes a point where you give it your best effort and leave certain things to artistic license because that's all you can go with. If you get it "wrong," well it's just a model isn't it.

I agree that it makes no sense to undo what you did on the completed model.

Having said all that, I was amazed that this video came out when it did and contains some of the technical details that it did. My goodness, the participants that they are interviewing here are in their nineties! Un-freaking believable.

No, you're absolutely correct! I'm glad you shared this titbit Brian!
It all adds up to a more complete understanding of this unique mission and the configuration of the aircraft.

It's a strange thing though isn't it? : It really is only a model after all but when you are depicting such a specific subject you do feel that you owe it to (yourself? / the crew? / posterity?? ) to get the details correct. For me it's not any internal sense of OCD but the external pressure of all the people looking over your shoulder to get it right !

Yeah, there is a burn there, but when you display the model have that screen-capture printed om glossy paper and put on a little base with a notation, "Subsequent to completion of this model, new information came to light about . . . ." I might even overlay that onto a photo of that section of the build, or make a second diagram that illustrates it relative to your build. Given the peculiarity of this A/C that's what I think I would do.

Well, the Lancaster blog has certainly had some ups and downs over it's course but today I can reveal that it has finally come to it's conclusion.... (so no more last minute surprises Brian !)

I'm immensely proud that RAF College Cranwell has taken ownership of the model.


It's been a topic of discussion over the last couple of months to whom I might offer the model as it seemed a shame to let it gather dust on our bookshelf. There was a short list of several places with varying links to the RAF and Bomber command but top of the list was Cranwell where the painting hangs of Tony's Lancaster releasing it's Tallboy bomb above the Tirpitz.

I was overjoyed to hear back from the curator at RAF Cranwell saying that they would be "delighted to accept" the Lancaster into their collection and we arranged a family trip to deliver the model.

The curator kindly gave us a tour of the old college building and it's collection of art and artefacts, many of which relate to the birth of the RAF and it's founders.
Key amongst these of course for my own interest was Gerald Coulson's painting of the Tirpitz attack. As a working MoD college for officers joining the RAF it did not seem the place to be a snap-happy tourist with the camera but I couldn't resist this one !



Below the painting , the case holds information and photos relating to the mission along with several sections of the Tirpitz' deck. Sadly there's no room in there for a 1/48 Lanc but the curator hopes to find a place somewhere to display it.

Since we were in the area we drove a few miles up the road to RAF Coningsby to the BBMF. Their Lancaster has been away to Duxford for a major overhaul so that was a shame to miss it but it's a great place to visit regardless and I managed to sneak into another photo relating closely to the model.

Here I am demonstrating scale against the Tallboy

Paul! Probably the best place you could find for your Lancaster! You don't have to make room for it at home and it will stay at a place where it will be appreciated by so many more people!



Magnus

Thanks Magnus ! It's true that I don't have to make room for a large model any more but now there's a large gap on top of the bookshelf that looks empty

Paul - wonderful conclusion to your hard work which I have followed all along - well done and congratulations !

As to the void on your shelf - perhaps the the solution is to keep building until it is filled and then some -

All the best - Richard

Wonderful denouement Paul, and I must say your donation choice is perfect.

With the skills you've shown, perhaps you'd like to tangle with the F.M. Halifax or Sanger Sterling? to fill that empty space.

[Just kidding, I wouldn't wish either on anybody!] But there's no doubt you took this venerable Tamiya kit to a completely new level.

Again, thanks to you both!
That empty space will certainly not remain as such for very long i'm sure. I've got a few options floating around in the back of my mind for other cutaway style presentations. Maybe not scalping the length of the fuselage again but certainly some ways of maximising the views of scratchbuilt interiors.

Ill keep you posted !

Hello, sorry it’s taken such a long time to reply but I’ve just found this while doing some research.... you asked what happened to my great uncle Les Smith after jumping from the Lancaster, well he along with the other crew members were captured and taken to Stalug luft 3 where they remained until the War ended, the other crew members of KC-M who managed to land in Sumburgh the Shetland Islands didn’t know of their fate until after the War..
did you ever manage to recreate the nose art you mentioned of captain Reilly - foul? Also is there a model of the lancaster KCM or KCF I could purchase that would include the correct nose art..

Hello, Paul and Everyone Else!

OUTSTANDING!!! A BEAUTIFUL JOB!!!

I'm coming in VERY late in this forum; it caught my eye because I also have the 1/48 TAMIYA Lancaster BIII kit. I bought it when it was first released, many years ago. Once I got to the Main Wings and Engine Nacelles, I gave up on it. WHAT a NIGHTMARE!!!

Are the "newer"-releases better? Or should I just wait patiently until some enterprising model manufacturer releases an "all-new tooling" Lanc..?

Once Again, KUDOS!!!

Thanks Much...

VR, Dennis