Avro Lancaster
The Survivors

Mushroom Model Publications

Reviewed by Glen Porter

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There were 7377 built but only 17 survive today and all are in major  museums around the world. We are talking, of course, about the Avro Lancaster, a World War II heavy bomber that we almost didn't get and which some believe was the best of the war.

Modified from the failed Avro Manchester, it became the mainstay of RAF bomber Command for the second half of the war and served some over-seas air forces well into the 1950s.

There are two in Australia, a whopping eight in Canada, one each in France and New Zealand, four in the United Kingdom and only one in the United States. Each is covered with a history from factory to museum, a few early B&W photos and a host of colour shots of the interior and exterior of before, during and after restoration. The majority are Canadian built, hence the number there, but only two had extensive WW II histories, 'S for Sugar' in England and 'G for George' in Australia, both having high mission tallies, 90 for 'George' and a staggering 137 for 'Sugar'. Four are ex French machines as France and Canada were the last two users, one in Western Australia, one in France, the Kiwi example and one in the UK.

Only two are currently airworthy, FM213, Canadian Warplane Heritage Hamilton, Ontario and the Battle Of  Britain Memorial Flight's PA474 seen regularly at UK air shows.

Conclusion

In modelling, it is often stated not to rely on restored aircraft for reference purposes but if you want to model one of these museum Lancs, this book is perfect. You won't have to worry if the restorers have been historically accurate or not and there are plenty of full colour pix to show just what they have done. If you just want to know how cluttered and what detail existed in one of these aircraft, again, you can't go far past this one.

Thanks to Mushroom Model Publictions  for the sample.

All Mushroom Model Publications books are available direct from the publishers, who now accept credit cards (Visa, MC, Amex, Switch)  

North American distributors are MMD, Australian distributors are Platypus Publications. In Europe, the books are available from any good bookshop (via our UK distributors, Orca). Contact MMP direct in case of difficulties. 

Thanks to Roger at Mushroom Model Magazine  for the sample.

Review Copyright 2010 by Glen Porter
This Page Created on 14 December, 2010
Last updated 14 December, 2010

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