The ASM Avro Lancaster Giant Scale RC Airplane.

Kit Contents:

• Balsa, plywood, carbon fiber rod and molded  ABS fuselage skins.
• Balsa and ply wings and tail, sheeted and film covered.
•  Factory painted fuselage, wing, tail surfaces, engine nacelles and cowls.
•  4-piece wing, for easy transportation.
• 2-piece fuselage.
• Complete hardware package.

Nice flying shot, from Model Airplane News, of the ASM Avro Lancaster.

Extra Components Required:

• 6-channel or more radio system, with mixing, dual rates and exponential.
• 9-standard size RC servos, for flaps, throttles and retract control valve.
• 4-high torque ( 6.5 kg. cm.) ball bearing, metal geared servos for elevator halves and ailerons.
• 2-mini servos for rudders.
• 2-standard size RC servos for bomb doors.
• 1-high torque, ball bearing servo for tail wheel steering.
• Extension leads, depending on set-up.
• 1-pair main wheels, 5 1/2in. diameter, balloon type.
• 1-tail wheel 2 3/4 in. diameter.
• 1-5 cell (6.0V) 3300mAh or greater capacity receiver battery.

Optional Accessories:

I have listed these parts as "Optional", but as far as the retracts and struts go, they are not really optional. The manual, for the ASM Avro Lancaster, offers no alternative arrangement!

Pneumatic Retracts:

Heavy duty retract set, designed specifically for the ASM Avro Lancaster. Complete with all the necessary air control hardware, like the operating valve, air tank, tees and tubing etc.

These Pneumatic Retracts are in stock-

Struts for the ASM Lancaster:

Sprung oleo legs, for the ASM Lancaster. Scale looks and fully functional giant scale RC struts, that fit the retracts shown above.

The struts are in stock-

Bomb Set:

A bomb set is also available. This is a collection of 18 bombs, that drop when the bomb bay doors open.

The Avro Lancaster, looks really impressive, when making a low level bombing run and bomb bay doors open and all bombs are away!

The bomb set is in stock.

Cockpit Kit:

This is a very nice cockpit, available from Ty's Planes LLC. All parts are vacuum formed, from plastic sheet and you have to build it yourself!  Designed specifically for the ASM Lancaster. it features a full cockpit (Complete with a scale size map!), bomb site and information on how to build some impressive looking guns, that should outlast the plastic ones supplied with the kit.

The links on the photo and the text above, will take you to Ty's site where you will find more information, on the cockpit kit. Ty sells through VQ Warbids, and if you click on the "Click to Order" button, you will be taken to the relevant page, on the VQ Warbirds site. There you will find a few excellent videos, showing full details on how to build the cockpit, as well as some great tips on finishing and painting.

To give you an idea, of how good the videos are, take a look here at the first one.

There are a total of 5 videos, for the Lancaster, plus 2 more on finishing and painting small parts such as cockpit details.

The Cockpit Kit for the ASM Avro Lancaster, is in stock.

Sound System:

If you decide to power your Lancaster with electrics, then I have an option you will find hard to resist!

Aerosound RC Products have a sound system to add to your scale RC plane. Now you can have authentic, high volume sound, that is hooked up to the RC transmitter throttle channel. The full start-up sequence is there and as the throttle is advanced, the sound of the full size engine is generated and advances as the throttle setting is increased.

In the air, the full Doppler effect is created, as the RC airplane passes by. Also gun fire can be hooked up to a spare channel. There are various sound tracks available and the sound of 4 Rolls Royce Merlins, in a Lancaster, is listed. The video below, shows a P-51 Mustang, with the Aerosound system installed and I think it is truly impressive and adds another dimension to scale fidelity!

The Aerosound RC Products unit, for the Avro Lancaster, is in stock.

Electric Conversion:

Using electric power for the ASM Avro Lancaster, is a very smart idea. The reliability of today's electrics means that, in my opinion, the only reason not to make this into an RC electric plane, is that the noise produced by four RC glowplug engines is far more realistic than that produced by four electric motors. Now if the sound system produced by Aerosound RC products is used, then that objection is soundly removed!

Motors:

This outrunner brushless motor, the HP 4120/05,is made for Hobby People and is rapidly gaining a reputation for reliability and value for money.

It is known as the HP4120/05.The Kv rating is 710, the maximum Continuous Current is 50A and the maximum Burst Current is 65A for 60 seconds. The body diameter is 50mm(1.968in.) and the length is 55.5mm.(2.185in.) Total weight is 307gm( 10.82oz.) and it uses 3 bearings. Please note that 4mm Gold Bullet Connectors are installed. 

The HP4120/05 Outrunner Brushless Motor is in stock.

RC ESC:

The Arrowind 80A ESC should suit this application nicely. The maximum burst current of the motor being 65A.

You will need four of these for your ASM Avro Lancaster and I suggest they be mounted in the nacelles, close to the motors. Ensure there is ample air flow to keep the motor and ESC cool.

The Arrowind 80A ESC unit is in stock.

Lithium Polymer Batteries:

These  batteries, available from Hobby People, are 5-cell, 18.5V, 500 mAh, 25C.

Four of these batteries are required,( One per motor) and they should be mounted in the nose of the ASM Avro Lancaster. One suggestion I read about, was to fix them in place, in the front of the bomb bay. this places them far forward, but does mean that a few less bombs can be carried. Long leads are needed, to reach the ESCs, mounted in the nose. Ensure that these long leads can carry the maximum current!

Also ensure that cool air is passing over the batteries, for efficient operation.

The HP 5-cell, 18.5V 5000mAh, 25C Lipo battery is in stock.

Propellers:

The above electrical system, used 2-bladed 13X6.5 Falcon wood props.  12X8 and 12X6 2-bladers have also been used, As far as 3-bladed propellers, a Master Airscrew 13X8 has been tried.

These sizes give you a starting point. It is best to experiment to find the best size for your application. The total weight of the airframe is a big factor in finding the most efficient prop. A Watt meter is a very useful tool to own and can be very useful in determining the ideal propeller for your model.

Alternative Electrical Set-Up:

Ty of Ty's Planes used the following electrical equipment-

• 4- Turnigy 4250/700Kv brushless motors.
• 4 x 4S Rhino lipo batteries.
• Propellers- Master Airscrew 13X8 three blade. 2 left hand and 2 right hand rotation.
•  Total weight of the ASM Avro Lancaster- 34lbs.

Note that Ty uses 2-LH and 2-RH rotation motors. This feature cancels out the torque generated when all 4 motors rotate in the same direction and means that less rudder correction is required, especially on take-off.

Flying Impressions:

The Lancaster will have no problem in problem in rolling on short grass or a hard runway. The big wheels make this an easy task. If all your motors are turning in the same direction, then you may find it a good idea, to have both rudders pointed out slightly, to counteract torque.

This giant scale RC plane flies like a big powered glider. The flaps really help on landing and effectively slow this big bird down. Keep a bit of power on, during the landing approach as the Lancaster will stall and drop a wing, if flying too slow.

A bomb run, at low altitude, is very impressive-just assign a helper the task of recovering all the bombs!

This is an impressive looking ARF RC airplane and should be flown in a scale like manner. Although it is capable of loops and rolls, RC aerobatics just do not look right, when performed by a World War Two bomber!

Pros: