The Avro Lancaster Part 2 Book Review
By David L. Veres
| Date of Review | October 2023 | Title | The Avro Lancaster Part 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Richard A. Franks | Publisher | Valiant Wings Publishing |
| Published | 2023 | ISBN | 978-1-912932-33-7 |
| Format | 272 pages, softcover | MSRP (BP) | £28.95 |
Review
Valiant Wings continues its superb saga of the legendary Lancaster in The Avro Lancaster: Post-War Service – number 21 in the publisher’s respected “Airframe & Miniature” series.
Defeat of Axis powers in 1945 did not mark the end of Lancaster’s service career.
With excellent availability, range, and payload, Avro’s rugged, reliable design proved eminently adaptable to other roles. And author-editor Richard A. Franks charts those developments across 272 picture-packed pages.
Like all titles in this popular range, contents broadly divide into “Airframe” and “Miniature” coverage – four chapters of the former, and three of the latter.
Post-war, Lancaster only served as dedicated bombers with the Argentine and Royal Egyptian air forces. So Franks largely devotes initial coverage to Lancaster’s less militant variants: chiefly adaptations, conversions, and test beds.
How about that bizarre airfoil-testing rig on page 69?
Camouflage & markings notes – including dozens of color profiles, plan views, and detail insets by Richard J. Caruana – completes “Airframe” commentary.
Subsequent “Miniature” sections include dozens of variant isometrics, a step-by-step kit build of HK Models’ impressive 1:32-scale Lancaster B Mk I, detail shots, and tech-manual excerpts.
Appendices listing kits, accessories, masks, decals, conversions, production, and references conclude contents. And another pull-out of 1:72-scale plans conveniently caps coverage.
If you get just a brace of books on Avro’s immortal Lancaster, grab Valiant Wings’ exhaustive, two-volume set: they’re really all you need.
Robustly recommended!
With thanks to Valiant Wings Publishing for this review copy.