AVRO Lancaster, Manchester, Lincoln and Shackleton (and derivatives) Ideas and Inspiration

[PlasticMasticator]

Can't find any info online, and no literature to hand so question:

Under each Lancaster wing are three large bumps/fairings. Anyone tell me what these are?

[GTX_Admin]

I take it that the bumps you are referring to are the 3 streamlined ones seen in the below image:

[PlasticMasticator]

Them's the ones. Can't raise any info, even from cutaways. Any knowledge?

[GTX_Admin]

Am researching.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Based on the location, my guess would be that these bumps are for something to do with the fuel tanks and fuel transfer system between tanks for balance and c/g. 

[jcf]

I agree with Jeff as they're directly below each tank.

[GTX_Admin]

I agree but have been trying to get confirmation.

[PlasticMasticator]

I'd agree with that...I was thinking maybe something jury-rigged when the wing was extended to fit the four merlins. Speed of design over eloquence, so to speak.

[elmayerle]

Looks like an aerodynamic fairing over a pump installed from the underside of the wing with some elements of the pump extending below the plane of the mounting flange.

[GTX_Admin]

Based on this I would definitely say that they correspond to the fuel pumps:

[jcf]

There are Lancaster tech sources that state the Lanc had immersed fuel pumps, so I'd guess that
the cover gives clearance for the fittings and also gives access to remove the pump from the tank.

[apophenia]

Those Pulsometer pumps are described as "immersed" but only the uppermost flange was actually set into the fuel tank - hence the teardrop fairings below them. Attached is a close-up of a drawing similar to Greg's (albeit of a B.Mk.II) showing the arrangement of the Pulsometer FB fuel pumps.

Apparently some B.Mk.Is lacked those fuel pumps on the inboard, 'No. 1' 580 Imp. Gallon tanks. This was 'Mod. 594 (temporary)' which substituted stack pipes on the No. 1 tanks but retained pumps on the other two sets of outboard tanks.

There is also mention of alternative Thomson fuel pumps but, I believe, only on Victory-built Mk.X Lancs. A look at the underside of Mk.Xs shows the same (or similar?) teardrop bulges as on UK-built Lancs.

Pulsometer refers, of course, to the London-based Pulsometer Engineering Company, Ltd. I'm less certain about who "Thomson" was. At first, I assumed that they were US or Canadian ... but now I'm wondering if it might be Thompson Bros. (Bilston), Ltd - the maker's of fuel bowsers? British Thomson-Houston also occurred to me (but then, I suspect, the pumps would be dubbed 'BTH' rather than 'Thomson').

[PlasticMasticator]

Many thanks...very interesting. Would these fairings be linked to the operation of the Merlins or would they be there whichever engine was strapped on? The Manchester/Vulture combo does not seem to have them although the wing was essentially the same.

[GTX_Admin]

I believe they are independent of engine type which would make sense.  You can see them under the wing of the B.II as well:



You don’t see them on the Manchester, Lincoln and Shackleton though as they had different wings.

[PlasticMasticator]

Very grateful...I'll keep them on as I like the look, makes the wing look busier.

[The Big Gimper]

Via Facebook.

[kitnut617]

From what my Dad told me, there was only one Grand Slam Lanc that was painted as a night bomber and it was used as the 'proof-of-concept' aircraft and testing. All operational ones here painted in 'day-bombing' scheme

[GTX_Admin]

Good close up of a Manchester:



Click on the picture to zoom it.

[GTX_Admin]

I thought these had been posted before:

[jcf]

Here's the Type 679 with the fat ass and big turrets.


The original Type 679 design with catapult concepts.


I posted views of the 2 and 4 Hercules and the 2 Centaurus configs on page one of the topic.
http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=987.msg11394#msg11394

[PlasticMasticator]

It's been building up inside me so here goes....always preferred the Manchester to the Lancaster, and the B.II Lanc with the Hercules engines to the Merlin variant. I'd love Airfix to do a Manchester at some point 

[GTX_Admin]

Thanks Jon - I thought that was the case.

I just did some checking too:  whilst 40mm cannon were an option, the turret shown above was actually one that had 4 x 20mm cannon and would probably have ended up being identical to that proposed for the Boulton Paul P.92:

[GTX_Admin]

I am awfully tempted to do a Manchester with Napier Sabres

[apophenia]

I am awfully tempted to do a Manchester with Napier Sabres

Yes, that's a natural 

I assume the Centaurus-powered project drawing above depicts the long-span Manchester IIC. Has anyone ever seen a photo of the built (but unflown)  Manchester IC with Centaurus?

[GTX_Admin]

Has anyone ever seen a photo of the built (but unflown)  Manchester IC with Centaurus?

I haven't and have been looking.  Even my best reference:



Doesn't have a photo.  It does however have much other interesting info such as:

• Dive bombing was part of the original specification.  Imagine a Manchester in a 60° dive
• The Napier Sabre was considered an alternative engine alongside the Centaurus so I guess my idea is not so far fetched after all