Avro Lancaster models · Compare UK prices
Avro Lancaster Models & Kits
Choose a Lancaster bomber model by scale, construction difficulty and aircraft version. Compare Airfix, Tamiya and Revell plastic model kits, from 1:72 bombers to substantial 1:48 builds.
The range also includes COBI brick kits, Metal Earth kits and ready-built diecast or wooden displays. Our history and variants guide explains the B.I, B.III and Dambusters Special.
Featured build · Airfix Dambusters Lancaster, 1:72
Featured Lancaster models
Three different Lancaster projects: the Dambusters subject in 1:72, a detailed 1:48 plastic kit and a large brick-built bomber.
Best for the Dambusters subject
Challenging · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · 267 parts · B.III Special
Best for a large detailed plastic build
Challenging · Plastic · 1:48
1:48 · 64.8 cm wingspan · Four marking options
Best for a brick-built Lancaster
Intermediate · Plastic · 1:48
1:48 · 1,595 pieces · No glue
Intermediate Lancaster builds
A step up in detail can mean different work: forming Metal Earth’s etched parts, following COBI’s long brick build or assembling the three aircraft in Airfix’s Memorial Flight set. These Intermediate-rated choices use different methods; choose the kind of project you enjoy.
Best for a small metal project
Intermediate · Metal
Etched metal · Tab-and-slot assembly · Unscaled
Form the etched metal parts and secure them with small folded tabs to create a compact silver Lancaster. Glue and paint are unnecessary, but precise bends and patient handling matter. Compare its stated dimensions rather than assuming a numbered scale.
Best for a brick-built Lancaster
Intermediate · Plastic · 1:48
1:48 · 1,595 pieces · No glue
Build a substantial Lancaster from pre-coloured interlocking bricks, with markings for the RAF’s Polish No.300 Squadron. The 1,595-piece set includes a pilot figure. Its Intermediate rating reflects sustained assembly rather than masking, gluing or painting.
Best for a three-aircraft project
Intermediate · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · Lancaster + two Spitfires · Supplies included
This Memorial Flight boxing contains a Lancaster B Mk.III, Spitfire Mk.IIa and Spitfire PR.XIX, plus basic paints, brushes and glue. The Intermediate-rated set suits a longer project across three aircraft; the Lancaster still needs careful glazing and finishing.
Challenging and Expert Lancaster kits
Expect more precise assembly, clear-part handling and finishing from these plastic kits. Airfix’s Dambusters and Tamiya’s 1:48 bomber are Challenging; the Revell Model Set is Expert. The ratings describe construction demands, not historical significance or the number of included supplies.
Best for the Dambusters subject
Challenging · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · 267 parts · B.III Special
Build the modified No.617 Squadron Lancaster used for Operation Chastise. The 267-part plastic kit needs glue and paint, with careful work around the glazing, turrets and special bomb installation. Choose the supplied markings before starting.
Best for a large detailed plastic build
Challenging · Plastic · 1:48
1:48 · 64.8 cm wingspan · Four marking options
Tamiya’s large Lancaster includes detailed cockpit, turret and bomb-bay areas, parts for two Merlin engines and five figures. Some canopy frames come pre-painted; the rest of the model still needs painting. Allow room for its 64.8 cm wingspan.
Best for a detailed kit with supplies
Expert · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · 257 parts · Paints, glue and brush included
Revell’s Model Set adds basic finishing supplies to a detailed 257-part Lancaster Mk.I/III. It retains an Expert construction rating: included paint and glue do not simplify the cockpit, turrets or glazing. Check the instructions for any additional colours and tools.
Ready-built Lancaster models
Choose an assembled Lancaster when the display matters more than the build. These finished diecast and mahogany options do not carry construction difficulty ratings. Only the AirModels example below has a stated numerical scale; compare physical size for the other displays.
Best for a compact scaled display
Ready-built · Diecast · 1:144
1:144 · Diecast with plastic details · Stand included
This finished 1:144 Lancaster B.I offers a compact display with a diecast body, plastic details and a stand. It needs no construction or painting project and carries no kit difficulty rating. Check the listing’s photographs for the represented finish.
Best for a small ready-built Lancaster
Ready-built · Diecast
CS90651 · Diecast · Display stand included
Corgi’s Flying Aces Lancaster is a finished diecast model supplied with a display stand. It is a fit-the-box model without a stated numerical scale. Choose it for a straightforward display rather than a detailed construction project.
Best for a wooden RAF display
Ready-built · Wood
Mahogany · Three aircraft · Stand setup only
A finished mahogany Lancaster shares a display with a Hurricane and Spitfire. Minor wing and stand fitting is setup, not kit construction. The overall display measures about 40 × 56 × 23 cm; no numerical scale is specified.
Choosing a Lancaster scale
A Lancaster occupies more display space than a single-engined fighter at the same scale. The main kit choices here are 1:72 and 1:48, with 1:144 diecast alternatives and some unscaled models. Compare the finished wingspan alongside the assembly method.
| Scale | Subject | What to consider | Catalogue examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:72 | Traditional plastic Lancasters | Allow roughly 43 cm of shelf width for these kits. Small turrets and clear parts still demand care; scale alone does not determine difficulty. | Airfix B.III / Airfix Dambusters / Revell Model Set |
| 1:48 | Large plastic or brick-built bombers | Tamiya’s wingspan is 64.8 cm; COBI’s is about 64.5 cm. Compare construction style as well as size. | Tamiya Mk.I/III / COBI B.III |
| 1:144 | Compact ready-built diecast aircraft | A useful smaller display scale. Check the stand, markings and supplied parts rather than applying a kit difficulty rating. | AirModels B.I / MOUDOAUER Lancaster |
| Unspecified | Etched metal, fit-the-box diecast and wooden displays | Use the stated finished dimensions. Unscaled products should not be assumed to match a 1:72 or 1:144 collection. | Metal Earth / Corgi Flying Aces / Mahogany RAF set |
1:72 Lancaster models
Compare the standard Airfix B.III, its dedicated Dambusters Special and Revell’s Mk.I/III. All three are glued plastic builds requiring paint, but the subject, tooling and supplied options differ. Their roughly 43 cm wingspans make 1:72 a practical bomber scale rather than a tiny display.
Best for a standard bomber subject
Challenging · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · 235 parts · Glue and paint required
Airfix’s standard B.III offers a conventional bomber subject rather than the specialised Dambusters installation. Its 235 parts and Challenging rating suit builders with some plastic-kit experience. The finished aircraft spans about 43 cm, so plan the display space before building.
Best for the Dambusters subject
Challenging · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · 267 parts · B.III Special
Build the modified No.617 Squadron Lancaster used for Operation Chastise. The 267-part plastic kit needs glue and paint, with careful work around the glazing, turrets and special bomb installation. Choose the supplied markings before starting.
Best for experienced builders with supplies
Expert · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · 257 parts · Conventional plastic kit
Choose the 04300 boxing if you already have your preferred paints and adhesive. The Expert-rated plastic Lancaster rewards careful work on its cockpit, turrets and undercarriage. This is the basic kit rather than Revell’s 64300 Model Set with supplies.
How to choose a Lancaster model
Choose the building method first. Traditional plastic kits involve glued assembly, painting and careful treatment of the glazing. COBI uses pre-coloured interlocking bricks; Metal Earth needs accurate metal folds and tabs. A ready-built Lancaster suits someone who wants a finished aircraft. Read how our construction ratings work when comparing different formats.
Match the exact boxing to the intended result. Airfix A09007A depicts the Dambusters Special, while A08013A is a standard B.III. Revell 64300 includes basic paints, glue and a brush; 04300 is the basic kit. Check the marking options, extra finishing supplies and completed wingspan before buying. The two 1:48 choices are large displays even when their assembly methods differ.
Compare the recommended Lancaster models
Each recommended model appears once below. Prices and Buy Now buttons use the same stored retailer offer. Ready-built entries have no construction rating; unscaled models are marked accordingly.
| Model / brand | Format / subject | Scale | Difficulty | Price | Buy now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airfix A09007A Dambusters Lancaster | Plastic · Dambusters Special | 1:72 | Challenging | £46.74 | |
| Tamiya 61112 Lancaster B Mk.I/III | Plastic · Mk.I/III | 1:48 | Challenging | £88.67 | |
| COBI 5759 Lancaster B.III | Bricks · B.III | 1:48 | Intermediate | £103.57 | |
| Airfix A50182 Memorial Flight set | Plastic · Lancaster + two Spitfires | 1:72 | Intermediate | £43.99 | |
| Metal Earth Avro Lancaster Bomber | Etched metal · Lancaster | Not stated | Intermediate | £13.00 | |
| Revell 64300 Lancaster Model Set | Plastic · Mk.I/III with supplies | 1:72 | Expert | £36.63 | |
| AirModels Lancaster B.I | Finished diecast · B.I | 1:144 | Ready-built | £37.99 | |
| Corgi Flying Aces Lancaster | Finished diecast · Flying Aces | Not stated | Ready-built | £10.50 | |
| Wooden Model Company RAF display set | Finished wood · Three-aircraft set | Not stated | Ready-built | £215.00 | |
| Airfix A08013A Lancaster B.III | Plastic · Standard B.III | 1:72 | Challenging | £34.99 | |
| Revell 04300 Lancaster Mk.I/III | Plastic · Mk.I/III basic kit | 1:72 | Expert | £26.62 |
Lancaster history and variants
Roy Chadwick’s Avro team developed the Lancaster from the twin-engined Manchester, using a larger wing and four Merlin engines. The prototype first flew on 9 January 1941, and the aircraft entered Bomber Command service in 1942. Its four engines, long wings and twin tail became a familiar outline. The Avro Heritage Museum traces that development.
Specially modified Lancasters of No.617 Squadron carried the Upkeep bouncing bomb during Operation Chastise on the night of 16–17 May 1943. The RAF’s account of the raid provides the historical context for Dambusters kits. A Memorial Flight model represents a commemorative aircraft, so its displayed markings may differ from the airframe’s original service identity.
What do the Lancaster marks mean?
B identifies the bomber role; I, II and III are Roman-numeral marks. The B.I and B.III principally differed in who built their Merlin engines, rather than representing a simple progression in external appearance. Match the kit’s options and decals to the individual aircraft. BAE Systems’ Lancaster history explains the principal variants.
| Variant | Engine family | What differs | Catalogue examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.I / Mk.I | Rolls-Royce Merlin | Standard bomber mark. Turrets, exhausts, propellers and other details vary by aircraft and production period. | Tamiya Mk.I/III / AirModels B.I |
| B.III / Mk.III | Packard-built Merlin | Produced alongside the B.I with broadly the same external airframe. Choose the correct marking and parts options. | Airfix B.III / COBI B.III |
| B.III Special | Packard-built Merlin | Operation Chastise modification: Upkeep carrying gear, removed bomb-bay doors and omitted mid-upper turret. It is a distinct configuration from a standard bomber. | Airfix Dambusters |
| B.II | Bristol Hercules radial | Different radial-engine installations give a visibly different appearance. Check the full designation when looking for this variant. | No dedicated B.II recommendation in this selection. |
Browse all Lancaster models
Compare Lancaster kits and ready-built models across the current range, including multi-aircraft sets. Filter by 1:72 scale, plastic construction or finished display models. Prices and offers update from the catalogue; numbered pages appear as the range grows.
Airfix A09007A Lancaster B.III Special Dambusters 1:72 Model Kit
COBI 5759 Avro Lancaster B.III 1:48 Brick Model Kit
Lancaster model FAQs
Which Lancaster model is suitable without glue or paint?
For a construction project, COBI 5759 uses pre-coloured bricks, while Metal Earth uses folded metal tabs. Neither requires glue or painting. Both have Intermediate ratings for the assembly involved. For a finished model, choose a ready-built diecast aircraft or the mahogany RAF display set.
Is a 1:72 Lancaster a small model?
It is smaller than the same aircraft at 1:48, but still a substantial bomber. The Airfix Dambusters kit has a 43.2 cm wingspan. Tamiya’s 1:48 kit spans 64.8 cm. Measure your shelf and leave room for a stand or protective case.
What is the difference between a Lancaster B.I and B.III?
The B.I used Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, while the B.III used Packard-built Merlins. The marks were produced alongside one another and have broadly similar external airframes. A combined Mk.I/III kit supplies options, so follow the instructions for your chosen aircraft rather than relying on the mark alone.
Is the Dambusters Lancaster the same as a standard B.III?
The B.III Special was modified to carry the Upkeep bouncing bomb, with changes including its carrying installation, removed bomb-bay doors and omitted mid-upper turret. Choose a dedicated Dambusters boxing for that configuration rather than assuming a standard B.III kit includes the required parts.
Does the Revell Lancaster include paints and glue?
The 64300 Model Set includes basic paints, glue and a brush. The 04300 basic kit is a separate boxing. Included supplies do not lower the Expert construction rating, and you should check the instructions for extra colours or tools.
Which aircraft come in the Airfix Memorial Flight set?
The A50182 boxing includes a Lancaster B Mk.III, a Spitfire Mk.IIa and a Spitfire PR.XIX, all in 1:72 scale. It also supplies basic paints, brushes and glue. It contains two Spitfires; it is a different combination from the finished mahogany Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire set.
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