5 new TOW Lancaster MkIII's 2026-07-31

[mongoose]

In fact if you can just send me the whole aircraft folder!

 

[mongoose]

This one looks like the standard model plus an H2S blister. How many other variants do we have out there? I know there is the one with the enlarged bomb bay doors, and a Dambusters one, and one for the Grand Slam. Are there enough gmax files around where the missing parts of one might be able to be added from another and vice versa (I'm probably displaying my great ignorance in how gmax works). With the model Clive has, if glass is added to the turret, we could have that one plus a standard Mk.I with the blister deleted.

I have in the TOWII install 15 ETO and 30 B1,2,and 3 TOW lancs inc. the special 617 Squadron ones + more to make from new textures by John! No other gmax files around that I know of.

 

[jetor]

Have you folks now got the Lanc's cockpit glazing?

Cheers

Shessi

Hello, yes, I noticed it, and the far left engine prop disappears when running slow after starting.

 

[flashgordon]

Found some stuff which may of interest re 582 Squadron PFF formed at RAF Little Staughton in April 1944 as part of 8 Group BC and represented here by 6O-H PB966.

PB866 was the 4th Lancaster with individual aircraft code 'H'. The first was ND816 which was damaged by enemy fire on the 11th May but managed to return safely to base. ND931 took part in her first raid on the 19th May returning safely from her last on the 23rd July. PB119 was the 3rd 'H' taking part in numerous raids from the 24th July until the 9th April 1945 when replaced by PB966. In her short operational life PB966 took part in 5 raids and then from 1st May the 'Manna' food drops over Holland and then the POW 'Exodus' repatriation from the 9th.

Due to their special role as Pathfinders with their additional vulnerability at the front of the bomber stream PFF aircraft were replaced as new navigational and defensive equipment was introduced and thankfully the loss rate of Bomber Command deminished during the latter part of 1944 allowing the replacement of the old rather than the 'FTR' aircraft. 582 Squadron were fully re-equipped with new Lancasters Mk. 3A with serials from PB956 during April 1945. The individual aircraft raid reports from the 'Manna' drops (Appendice 2054) shows these aircraft were equipped with Gee, H2S Mk3A, Mk.14 Bomb Sight (Blackett sight), Fishpond (downward looking fighter warning radar), Role B.U.?, Air Position Indicator, Ground Position Indicator (a pioneering mechanical analog computer designed by the Royal Aircraft Establishment), PB Loran (a hyperbolic radio navigation system), AWL?, AGLT (Automatic Gun Laying Turret), G.G.S. (Gyro Gun Sights), Carpet (ECM radar-jamming device).

 

[Pat Pattle]

Hello, yes, I noticed it, and the far left engine prop disappears when running slow after starting.

Thanks Jetor, one I'd missed and probably related to the textures. Will fix it

 

[Pat Pattle]

Interesting read Gordon. The AGLT dome would be an easy add-on.
Any other lumps and bumps that could be portrayed on the model?

 

[Pat Pattle]

Ok, so here's the latest .M3D with fixed prop0 animation and textures tidied up.
If this looks ok to everyone I'll get the Gmax wrapped up and sent out.

 

[flashgordon]

From my extensive knowledge (curtesy of AI -who needs a brain!) :

• • H2S Mk3A: A distinct, large teardrop- or shallow-blister radome made of plywood or plastic laminate housing the rotating scanner dish was mounted under the rear fuselage (occupying the space normally used for the ventral gun position or set further aft). [1, 2, 3, 4]
  • AGLT (Automatic Gun Laying Turret / "Village Inn"): Featured a bulbous, prominent streamlined radome housing a parabolic scanning antenna mounted directly underneath the tail gun turret. [1]

External Aerials and Antennas

• • Gee: Utilized a single vertical whip or pole aerial mounted on top of the fuselage, typically positioned just behind the cockpit. [1]
  • Fishpond: Integrated into the H2S scanner electronics rather than requiring a separate exterior antenna; it shared the H2S under-fuselage rotating scanner signals to look downward. [1, 2, 3]
  • PB Loran: Required a dedicated external long-wire or whip aerial system on the metal fuselage, often utilizing a trailing antenna during flight. [1]
  • Carpet (ECM Jammer): Utilized external stout rod or dipole aerial arrays, commonly fitted beneath the lower rear fuselage or near the bomb bay areas to broadcast jamming frequencies against German Würzburg radars. [1, 2, 3]
  • Lucero / Rebecca-related Beacon Aerials: Small forward-facing rod/spike radar beacon aerials frequently appeared on the lower nose sides (often misidentified as Rebecca, but used to home in on ground/air beacons in conjunction with H2S). [1]

(Note on abbreviations and internal systems: The Mk.14 Bomb Sight, Air Position Indicator, Ground Position Indicator, and Gyro Gun Sights [G.G.S.] were internal optical, mechanical, or computing instruments inside the cockpit, navigator station, or turrets, and did not add dedicated exterior radomes or visible external aerodynamic blisters of their own. "Role B.U." and "AWL" generally refer to specific operational roles, installation fittings, or tactical designations rather than distinct unmapped external radar radomes.)

 

[flashgordon]

Clive, whilst you are in the aerial, and have 5 minutes to spare!!, you couldn't model a101 Sqn Lanc with 'Airborne Cigar' just need to put your Pinocchio hat on.

"
An Airborne Cigar (ABC) equipped Avro Lancaster carried three prominent vertical metal mast aerials (approximately 7 feet / 2.1 meters tall) used for transmission, alongside a smaller wire/reception aerial. Two of the large masts sat upright on the upper spine of the fuselage, and the third was mounted underneath the nose.Aerial Sizes and PositionsTop Fuselage Masts (Transmitters): Two large 7-foot vertical masts stood on top of the main fuselage. They were positioned linearly along the upper spine—typically placed forward of the mid-upper turret area (between the wireless operator’s/astrodome section and the mid-upper gun turret).Lower Nose Mast (Transmitter): A third 7-foot vertical mast was mounted externally underneath the forward fuselage/nose area, slightly offset to the starboard (right) side near the bomb-aimer's compartment.Reception Aerial: A smaller auxiliary wire or whip reception aerial for monitoring enemy signals was located further back toward the tail assembly.

Adrian Marks RAAF (completed a full tour as SDO).

Marks was already proficient in Morse code before joining the air force; after completing his Morse code course conducted by the PMG Dept, he went on to train in Britain as a Special Duty Operator (SDO) in what would now be called electronic warfare. Joining a Lancaster crew as an eighth member, SDOs or “Specials” as they were called, were German-speakers who operated special jamming equipment code-named Airborne Cigar (ABC), which disrupted the radio-telephone frequencies between Luftwaffe pilots and their night fighter controllers on the ground. At no time could the SDO transmit voice, as is claimed in some novels.

Lancasters fitted with ABC jammers were easily identifiable, with three large transmitting aerials mounted on the aircraft. Two of these aerials were mounted above the fuselage, with the third carried below the nose. A smaller reception aerial was located near the tail. The SDO’s cramped position inside the aircraft was between the main spar and the mid-upper gunner. The only contact the SDO had with the rest of the crew was over the intercom. Marks, and those like him, worked in great secrecy; he was not even supposed to discuss his task with the other members of his crew. And it remained secret until about 1954, owing to the Cold War."

 

[Pat Pattle]

No problem Gordon. BS R code?

 

[mongoose]

Ok, so here's the latest .M3D with fixed prop0 animation and textures tidied up.
If this looks ok to everyone I'll get the Gmax wrapped up and sent out.

So does that mean the Mk3 has glass pit visible?? I thought that was in the cockpit m3ds which was why I wanted to have the whole ac not just the main m3d.

 

[mongoose]

OK tried this m3d in QR M having changed the appropriate t and s dds files and have glass. So I suppose I can now do that for all MkIIIs

 

[flashgordon]

There are 3 Ton-Up Lancasters which are likely candidates for 101 Sqn:

SR-H DV302 operational from 07/11/43 through 30/05/45 with 121 ops. This was fitted with the 'Rose' twin .5 inch rear turret.
SR-R LL772 first 22 missions coded UM-F2 with 626 Squadron from late January 1944 until transferred on 21/05/44 to 101 Sqn flying a further 99 including 'Manna'. Having several RAAF NZ regular crews it featured a kangaroo and name Struth! (see attached). Believed standard turret.
SR-S DV245 operational from 10/43 reached 118 until FTR 03/45 on a mission to Bremen. Only a text description of her nose art remains:- 'It featured a haloed stick figure riding astride a red bomb, playing on the classic haloed stick-figure logo of Simon Templar ("The Saint").' It is believed it was fitted with the 'Rose' twin .5 inch rear turret.

Also a couple of pics of other 101 Lancs, Airborne Cigar, the Rose Turret and Monica fighter warning fitting.

Additional information re the other TOW Lancs:

EA-P PB522/G was transferred from 460 RAAF Sqn in mid April 1945 and only flew Exodus missions with 49 Sqn. It was AR-G2 at 460 based at RAF Binbrook. The shot of EA-P would seem to show the bulbous radome of 'Village Inn' under the rear turret. The /G on the serial possibly relates to the fitting of Gee denoting the requirement for an armed guard for the aircraft when landing away from base.

GT-H JB307 was a 156 PFF aircraft based at RAF Upwood which FTR 27-04-44 on a mission to Essen.

PA177 HW-J was a 100 Sqn aircraft based at RAF Grimsby replacing ND326 which had been damaged by flak over Essen and landed at RAF Carnaby's emergency strip with some 200 holes and a wounded rear gunner. The use of H2S is mentioned in it's operation reports with the first on the 18th November 1944 to Wanne Eickel Synthetic Oil Plant. For it's mission on the 9th April 1945 the report says it was coded J2 but reverts to J for the next.

 

[Pat Pattle]

So does that mean the Mk3 has glass pit visible?? I thought that was in the cockpit m3ds which was why I wanted to have the whole ac not just the main m3d.

Yes. Anything that you see externally is in the external model. The cockpit, gunner, navigator, or bomb aimer positions etc. have there own model which cannot be seen externally.

 

[mongoose]

Yes. Anything that you see externally is in the external model. The cockpit, gunner, navigator, or bomb aimer positions etc. have there own model which cannot be seen externally.

Great I'm working though the Mk3s replacing their model with your QRM model (change the dds names of course!) and all shown glass pits. Ta mate!

 

[mongoose]

OK I've come across a problem making glass visible cockpit with this ac as it has a bulging bombay so the m3d is different from the normal Mk.III's . It needs your special attention if possible. Also the specials YZ P and C!!

 

[MajorMagee]

I went through an inventory last evening and the Lancs with the bigger bombay and no H2S are: AJA (ETO), LEC (ETO), WSU(ETO), and WSY (ETO).

AJM (ETO) is for the Dambusters mission with search lights and a recessed bay.

SRW (ETO) has a couple of additional Antenna Poles on top of the fuselage.

 

[MajorMagee]

The ones that match WSJ with the H2S are: GPY (AvH), DXA (ETO), QRM (ETO), HCU (ETO), ARG (ETO Aus), VRR (ETO Can), NAS (Can), 6OH (TOW), AAW (TOW), EAP (TOW), GTH (TOW) and HWJ (TOW).

G4G (AvH) and ORM (AvH) without H2S already have their glass. The one that matches those is OPS (ETO Can).

 

[gecko]

Are there any with the bulged bomb bay that have glass? There are some loadouts that won't fit in the standard bomb bay.

 

[MajorMagee]

I didn't find any.