In a follow-up to the sheet review, I'd like to point out some errors, notably with the two RCAF example's ("Sugar's
Blues" & "Picadilly Princess"), that have come to my attention.
"Sugar's Blues", 428 Sqn. Lancaster B.X (NA*S, KB864)
According to "Canadian Aircraft since 1909", the initial B.X production (they were all produced in Canada, commencing
with KB700) followed the B.I pattern, including the upper-turrent installation. Beginning with KB855, the
installation of the Martin250/CE Type 23A mid upper turret, armed with twin .50's (ala B-24 or the B-26), 4000lb bomb
doors (replacing the 8,000lb doors) & the introduction of H2S, commenced. The position of the Martin turret is 6 feet
forward of the original Fraser-Nash mid-upper (approx. over the aft end of the bombay). The RAF's B.VII is an identical
fit, but none the B.VII saw service until after V-E Day. Scale Aircraft Modelling, vol.17, no.2 (Apr. 1995) has an
excellent article on a 1/72 B.X conversion.
When I mention the exclusion of the turret in the "Sugar's
Blues" illustration I should've also mentioned that the sole
"profile" shot in Aircam #11 (their listed B.X reference), was taken while the a/c was on the ground, back in Canada,
at Avro, immediately post-war. The angle was such that the position of the wing totally obscures the position of the
Martin turret.
"Picadilly Princess", 424 Sqn. Lancaster B.I (QB*P, NG374)
Two areas of concern, about this one. First, the code letters. The correct colour should be the typical dull red
that was utilized by RAF Bomber Command. The C1 fuselage roundels & the lt.grey code combo should send up a red flag,
particularily on Lancaster, signaling some further investigation. An examination of the quoted reference
photos from "Royal Canadian Air Force at War, 1939-1945* reveals three in-flight photos, two of which, show the codes
as a light colour, but further examination of the photos show that the light angle has washed out the markings. The
other photo, with the markings all in a uniform "shadow", reveal the true dark tone of the codes in relation to the
roundel & fin flash. Other photos exist, but by quoting the sheets listed references, there is common ground. As a side
note, according to "RCAF Squadrons and Aircraft (S.Kostenuk & J.Griffin), 424 Sqn. only operated the Lancaster
B.I/III Jan - Oct 1945, having flown the Halifax Mk.III, prior to that, long after Bomber Command stopped using the lt.grey
codes.
The other area of concern is the nose art, or at least the size of it. The illustration depicts it as extending onto
the bombay door, yet all the photos of "Picadilly Princess" clearly shows the art-work extending from the cam
demarcation TO the bomb doors (specifically, sitting on the hinge line of the bomb doors), not onto the doors. Also the
photos show that the cam demarcation on the forward fuselage was higher than normal. Instead of being at a point running
along the bottom of the navigator's window, the line, forward of the navigator's window, extended forward from a
point approx. 1/2 way down the window. Hopefully, the correct location of this line will allow the nose-art to fit
correctly on the fuselage.