PSSA Dambusters Anniversary Fly-In
A brief report from Llandudno on our ‘Dambusters’ event by Phil Cooke
As our 2023 season continues to unfold, the weekend of 20th/21st May saw PSSA members gather at the Great Orme for our second planned Fly for Fun event of the year. This was an Avro Lancaster themed event timed to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the famous 617 Squadron ‘Dambusters’ raid which had taken place this week back in 1943.
The event had aimed for us to showcase a number of PSS Lancaster models with both a static lineup and some ‘Lancaster only’ flying slots throughout each day. Unfortunately the dominant weather conditions throughout the weekend meant the light NE winds were only strong enough for a period on Saturday afternoon when a single Lancaster built by Chris Collis was poignantly flown – enabling us to focus and reflect on the history for a short time at least. Chris’s model handled the light conditions quite ably, but sadly all other Lancasters remained grounded over the two days – the lift just not deemed strong enough to consider safe operation from the unforgiving North East slope.
Apart from the light NE winds – which were only forecast upto 10mph each day – the weather was stunning with clear blue skies and very pleasant temperatures and with the site all set up we kept ourselves well entertained with sports and vintage models when the lightest of our PSS models couldn’t be flown.
PSS flying was possible with the right model, particularly on the Saturday when the breeze was a little firmer than Sunday. There were a few models worthy of note for able performance in these light conditions on the NE slope. Peter Garsden and Jeff Mortimer flew their BAC Canberra bombers, both built from the Andy Blackburn/Sarik plans and previously both well proven in light lift, and Harry Twist flew his well campaigned NA Mustang P51-B. Martin Pope enjoyed some airtime with his little Shorts Tucano built from the Cyril Carr EP plans, and Steve Kemp was revelling in the perfect conditions and huge blue skies with his new Alpha Jet converted to PSS from the FMS free flight model.
Andy Johnson grabbed some airtime with his Windrider A380 which looked superb in its BA livery, and both Andy and Tim Mackey had some good flights with the little foam Vampires built for the slope from the DuraFly EDF kit. We saw Phil Stone flying his little BD-5 and James Archer and myself both flew the little Jet Provosts built from the Andy Blackburn plans.
Despite the poor flying forecast we amassed a total of 8 Avro Lancasters on site – an impressive feat considering the distance one has to walk from the car park to the NE slope with a rigged model. We set them up to view and compare in the marked out static area, there were Lancasters of various marks and scales ranging from the biggest at 136” span down to the smallest at just 38” span.
Andy Johnson had brought with him a pair of huge Lancasters, originally designed and built by Chris Collis and flown together previously as a duo before at past events – at 26lb AUW these impressive machines were now dominating the static park with their 136” wingspan. At the other end of the scale spectrum we had the new Lancaster model designed and built by G&M Models and soon to be a feature plan in RCM&E magazine. At 1/32 scale, this 38” model is designed to be built using scrap material from your balsa box and uses simple 2 channel RC – although the plan will also show an electric power train option for twin electric motors. Martin Gay had successfully test flown this new model back in April and was keen to go again at the Orme, but alas there just wasn’t sufficient wind to contemplate launch.
There were 2 model Lancasters built and finished especially for this event. Firstly, David Sack had completed a 72” span model from the Tony Nijhuis plan/laser cut short kit, the build commencing at pace once our initial event plans had been announced late last year. Based on a modified BMk1 version the dorsal turret is removed and underneath there is the bouncing bomb modification just like the full-size AJ-S used in the raid. The model was fitted with fixed undercarriage for scale, but David explained wiring had been routed into the wings during assembly for the future fitment of retracts. David explained all vac-forms were obtained from Tony Nijhuis and all pilot and crew figures were 3D printed by Real Model Pilots to give the model a good scale look on the ground. The bouncing bomb modification was made and fitted snuggly into the bomb bay, the under hanging protrusion currently protected by the fixed wheel arrangement. The model was nicely finished using Humbrol enamels with home made decals.
Harry Twist was another keen modeller who commenced work on a Lancaster build once the idea of our event had been hatched. Harry’s model was superbly finished in an overall white scheme to represent a Lancaster ASR3 from coastal command used towards the end of WW2. At 72” span the model was built from an old Priory models kit, originally designed for four electric speed 400 type motors. The fuselage and wing sections are preformed foam shapes skinned with balsa veneer with all other parts cut from balsa. Harry explained that a number of modifications were needed to the kit, particularly around the nose area in order to get a good, scale like shape. Finished in 25 g/m2 glass cloth and resin the model has an AUW of 4.5lb. Harry 3D printed his own pilots and Merlin exhaust stacks and the spinners were 3D printed by Dave Gilder, who also supplied many of the decals. The ASR3 is worthy of note for having all guns and turrets removed with a modified bomb bay used to carry a droppable lifeboat to rescue downed aircrew – the boats fell to the sea under parachutes which were jettisoned by rockets. Amazingly the model has this idea built in and Harry had made a droppable boat with parachutes – all yet to be tested from the slope!
On Saturday afternoon I was delighted that we’d been joined by Matthew Atherton and his wife Gwen who together produce excellent HD video content for their ‘ScaleMeDown’ YouTube channel – and we were very happy they wanted to cover our Dambusters meet for a future episode! They talked to a number of builders and pilots and gathered data on a range of the models on show as well as our broader PSS activity. You can see the video now released HERE – flying from the North East slope with the sun on our backs the models are superbly lit and look stunning in flight on the video! Matthew had also brought with him an excellent Supermarine Spitfire built for PSS from the Balsacraft power kit and superbly finished in the colours of a MkII Battle of Britain machine flown by Geoffrey Wellum DFC.
On Sunday morning Al Gorham had joined us with his superb dual purpose EPSS Lancaster built from the John Ranson & Trevor Stannard plans published by Sarik. This is a 100” span model with an AUW of 10lb in PSS guise (although the motors, gearboxes and retracts are all still fitted) and the model stood tall in the static line up on its scale retracts and wheels. The model is superbly finished as a/c serial PD112 of 617 Squadron as flown by Sq. Ldr. Charles “Jock” Calder as flown on the mission to attack Bielefield viaduct on 13 March 1945 with paint being applied over a tissue and dope covering. All markings have been superbly hand painted and the model comes fitted with either a Grand Slam or Tall Boy bomb.
On Sunday afternoon – with us sadly still not able to fly the Lancasters due to the light winds – we presented some Dambuster related prizes based on the static viewing, and all attendees were gifted a memento with some PSSA/Dambuster themed real ales brewed especially for the event by Libatory Brewing. Many thanks to Dave Worron and Dave Gilder who kindly donated some of the prizes on offer. Our prize winners were;
- Andy Johnson for his large scale Lancaster duo
- Harry Twist for his Lancaster ASR3 completed for the event
- Al Gorham won ‘model of the event’ with his impressive dual purpose 617 Sqn Lancaster
Well done to our winners and once again a big thanks to all who travelled and took part despite the high pressure forecast combined with additional headaches of getting the large models out to the NE slope from the car parks etc.
More photos from this weekend can be viewed HERE and HERE.
Our next event (back up on the Great Orme again) is planned to run 1st/2nd July – fingers crossed for some energetic South Westerlies when we can focus on some serious PSS flying and really get our season underway!
Just watched the scalemedown video. A superb record of the event.