Avro Lancaster Mk. VII Aeronavale

[b29r]

Following the conclusion of WWII, several Allied nations including France were seeking to rebuild their armed forces.  During 1952/53, she began receiving a number of surplus Avro Lancaster bombers from Britain for use by the Aeronavale.  These aircraft equipped four Flotillas and were still in use into the mid-1960's.



The aircraft in this article was a late build Mk. VII and was flown by 14 Flotilla.  Initially used as a crew trainer, this bomber underwent a number of upgrades to make it capable for the maritime strike mission.  Requests to the US and Britain for strike weapons were largely denied, although the Bristol RB-1 was adopted.  In order to carry this weapon, the bomb bay was modified to Type 464 Provisioning standards by Avro at their Woodford facility.  Salvaged Heinkel 177 bomb attachment racks were also utilized.



Efforts were also make to increase the defensive capability of the Lancaster, in addition to improved radar and all weather capabilities.



This aircraft participated in Operation Musketeer, and was credited with damaging the Egyptian warship Domiat, leading to her capture by Israeli forces.



This is of course the old Revell Dambuster, with kit bashed Airfix nacelles, and borrowed VEB Tu-20 props.  The missile is the HS 293 from the old Airfix He-177, and armaments are various scrap box items.  This has been posted on a couple of other sites, and I thought I would give it a try here (first post) as well.   I hope to follow on with some additional whiffery in the near future, but I am one of those glacially paced styrene mutilators 
I sure do like the concepts and builds on this site, congrats to you all! 

Best regards,
Kem

[The Rat]

Well that's a heck of an introduction! Welcome aboard! 

[Hobbes]

Very nice! Interesting concept, keeping an old aircraft in service for far longer than intended. Got me thinking about a Lanc with turboprops and Sea Eagles 

[Captain Canada]

Very nice ! Thanks for posting it here. I like all the bits you've added.

[Rheged]

A fascinating idea!   welcome as a  citizen of Whiffworld.....you belong here!!

[Geoff]

Excellent!!!

[zenrat]

Marvellous.

Welcome Kem.

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice piece, those Tu-20 props find frequent and good use. 

And welcome on board!

[McColm]

Looks great.

[comrade harps]

Welcome to the whiff-house. 

Like those contra-props and it's a good use of that cut-bsck bomb bay. 

[NARSES2]

That's come out nicely 

Nice introduction, welcome aboard

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Just superb !!

Ian.

[dwomby]

Great concept - extended life of wartime aircraft.  Well done.

David

[crudebuteffective]

Very nice work 

welcome to the mad house

CBE

[TallEng]

Great build 
And a couple of interesting ideas as well!
It kind of reminds me of the Lancaster engine test bed which was fitted with
Armstrong-Siddley Python contra rotating turbo props

Regards
Keith