Speedracer2112

OK......So here is the American skinny on the planes. Both the Lancaster and the B-17.

I promised photos. I forgot. Sorry, but I will post some soon. I took so much time examining the planes I completely forgot.

Starting with the B-17:

This is not "Old ASM" this plane is SOLID. I was very pleased with the construction and the weight. The ABS plastic seems very tough and durable. It DOES NOT BEND AND FLEX like the old ASM planes. The inner skeleton is rigid and more than ample for everyday use. The wings and stabs are supurb. The finish is a overspray on the glossy finish of the film such as Monocoat that has a oxidized look and feel. The panel lines are somewhat poor but look like they can be fixed. There are a few places that need some type of modification for strength. The wing fairings for sure! The landing gear are very questionable. They look like ESM gear at a higher price. Fairly cheezy.

So the big question! Is the plane worth $1400 and the gear $500. Answer? No. The price needs dropped down and Im sure it will after the idiots, such as myself, have been filtered out. Yes, I bought the plane. Lets just say I have more $ than brains and call it a day. I did make the hobby shops day! They are great folks and it made me happy to support my LHS. I think the total as $2080.00 USD for the plane and the gear. I left the plane at the Hobby Shop and will be picking it up Friday. The box is about 5'X2'X1.5' just shy of fitting in the car I was driving. As with all my ARFs I will add my personal touches to make her last and look spectacular.

I think/hope its going to be a great plane! I'll fly this one while I build the WingSpan Models B-17 and take my time to do it right.



Now for the Lancaster.

First off I did not completely examine the plane as I'm not interested in it. ( Strange since I'm on this thread?) On the B-17 I unwrapped everything and examined every detail since I was going to buy it. I didnt unwrap the Lancaster.

The box is about the same size. Well packed and everything wrapped. The colors are very nice. The wings are light and well done. The fusalage is a little less firm than the B-17 and gave in a little as you picked up the parts. Still its solid. All of the thoughts for reinforcement would now go to only small details as in the B-17. As far as the price, well you know.....

As far as a crash salvage, I think both would do "OK" in bad landings. Quiggs stated that the Lancaster that crashed at hs field was going slow and torqued in wing low. With its size, I'd bet it was moving a little faster than it seemed with the type of damage pictured. Large amounts of torque on any lagre scale plane is brutal to the fusalage.

Unfortunatly, I wont be able to start building her until next weekend. [&o]

So there you have it. If you have the $$$, go get her. Tomas has a couple left.

SR

fockewulf37

My Feedback: (102)

Hey I would consider taking the gear back if they would let you . I talked to Darrell at Sierra ,a d sent him The PDF File on the B-17. He is planning on having a set of the B-17 gear and I believe at a lower price than the ASM Gear. I am recieving both planes next week. . So leave room for a cokpit .. I'll be working on them soon.. B-17 will be first..

Ty

Speedracer2112

How long until they will be ready? A couple weeks would be OK but not much longer. Do you know the time quote? Another thing, the gear is complete with air kit, wheels and struts for $560USD. Will Serria match this? This plane will be built in very few hours. I would be suprised if it took 20. It is truly a simple build. Throttle mechanical throw matching would take the most time.

I have the gear in the car. I could shoot some photos of them if anyone wants them.

Sad part about this plane is you cant put in a bomb bay. The Lancaster has one! [:@] Also, the windows are very small. I'm not sure you could see into the cockpit to enjoy your work.

BTW, the manual is a small pamplet. LOL. Get your readers ready or print off a new one!! It looks just like the online one but is about 8" tall.

SR


EDIT. The rubber bands are on my ESM B-25 not this model! Sorry.

fockewulf37

My Feedback: (102)

SR,
Can you give me the exact detentions of your B-17 box.
I am trying to figure my cheapest shipping.

Speedracer2112

I can on both boxes by 10:00 in the morning. I'm on call tonight and will be home in the morning

SR.

Speedracer2112

B-17 photos here.

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10071563]ASM B-17[/link]

SR

Speedracer2112

Cheepest is free. Graves Hobbies in Orlando has free shipping on both models!

Did you get yours?

SR

MANFRED

My Feedback: (27)

Mine arrived today and she is BIG! Fairly well built and the abs is stiff. The canopy and turret parts are a little thin but okay. All in all it's very impressive for an arf. Definetley the largest plane I have attempted. I will be putting 4 RCV 58cds, probably replace the tanks for dubros, replace any cheesy hardware and wait for the sierra gear to come out. I'm sure Ty will have an awesome interior kit for her as well. This one comes with massive bomb bay doors, should be fun for dummy drops. Will need some more scale looking wheels. This is a space consuming project. Fuse does come in 2 pieces and the wings in 4. Nacelles appear to be well designed. Would send pics but i"ve mostly repacked her.

fockewulf37

My Feedback: (102)

Ok Guys, Has anyone got any pic's of ther nose of the Lancaster.. Front bombardier area. I have searched but don't have anything really good...I am starting on a cockpit for the lancaster this week..

ty

norm

Hello Ty.

I got some pictures of the details inside the noze Bomber area. The colimator in details as well as the mounting of it. the chute escape and the mat the bombaimer would lie on. Those are copyright images and cannot be published on the forum, PM me and I'll send them to you.
For now you have a view of the "computor" and the "colimator" the bombaimer would use to aim its bombs according to the winds, the airspeed, the height and the vector the plane would be on. Very interestig piece of technology.

Normand

fockewulf37

My Feedback: (102)

Hey guys,
I finally getting started on the cockpit for the Lancaster. I finished the B-17 cockpit last week. I want to get these done so I can get these planes ready for springtime...


As far as the cockpit goes I have the basic layout setup for the main cockpit area. I need to start adding detail . Here is an early instrument panel. I also made a recess for the rear of the canopy at the observation dome. I made the recess so a bust could be added to that area easily.I had to do that due to the the things below and it would be really diffcult to carry the main area back that far...

Ty

MANFRED

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beautiful, what scale are the pilots? Probably hard to find brit bombadiers on that scale hunh?

MANFRED

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http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CBsQ9QEwAQ

MANFRED

My Feedback: (27)

Ty, here's a bit more. http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazin..._lancaster.htm

MANFRED

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Anyone going to personalize their ship? I'm liking the Phantom of the Ruhr.

norm

Wheels for the Lancaster,

I milled some wheel covers, very light to cover Robart 6 inch wheels for my Lancaster. The scale is to some 1000th of an inch perfect but the cost is nowhere near a set of near scale custom wheels. I'm also detailing the guns to perfection, exact 1/9th replica of the browning 303 in 6 parts. take a look at the wheels.

Normand

fockewulf37

My Feedback: (102)

Manfred,
Great pic's. Thanks for the website also. Hope ya'll had a good Thanksgiving.. I been too busy to do any work the last few days...
I had feel that the fuse on the Lancaster is a little wider than scale??? Maybe just me....Hope to get back to work this weekend...

try this one out: http://www.pan3sixty.co.uk/360_full_...s/quicktime/15

Ty

MANFRED

My Feedback: (27)

Ty that is sweet! Always blew me away that the Brits would go with one pilot on alot of their muti engine birds. Do you know if Darrel is working on the retracts for this ship? I like Norman's work on those wheels, can hardly wait to see the guns.

MANFRED

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Ty, any progress?

fockewulf37

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Well, I hope to get back to it today. I had 2 large orders to get out this past 2 weeks. Have the main cockpit laid out just adding some detail now. I need some pic's of the stripped down gun turrets if anyone has some...

Ty

fockewulf37

My Feedback: (102)

Also I have a set of 1/10 scale pilots on the way to me. Hopefully they will look right for the Lancaster. This cockpit area id wider than scale. I think thats what make the canopy look a little too wide.. or is it just me ?????

Ty

fockewulf37

My Feedback: (102)

Hey guys here are a couple more pics of the progress. I still have to make the primary pilot seat. And some instrument panels for the navigators section.. But i think its coming along very well...

Ty

fockewulf37

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More. I don't why they are loading so big..

norm

Nice work Ty,

It is big picture time again!

Are you Vacu-forming all those parts?

(BTW just to be a pain you're missing one throttle!!!) (and below the blue levers are the governors)

Very nice work and quickly done!

Normand

fockewulf37

My Feedback: (102)

Normand,
Yeah I know about the throttle.... I use alot of plastic models for my cockpit detail and the one I am using shows only three. I thought it was odd but was too far into the mold at the time...

I am vacuum froming all these parts and will have a cockpit kit available by next weekend....

Ty