How to Build the COBI Avro Lancaster B. III Dambuster Set #5758
By COBI Bricks: Building Blocks For Kids, Construction Block | Published: 2026-11-04
Category: How-to Guides
A step-by-step build plan for the COBI Executive Edition Avro Lancaster B. III Dambuster, with checkpoints for the landing gear, bomb bay and 617 Squadron markings.
Quick answer
Build the COBI Avro Lancaster B. III Dambuster in the order the manual lays out, but treat the landing gear, ailerons and cockpit interior as checkpoints: test each moving part before you close the fuselage around it. Sorting the 617 Squadron markings and clear parts before you start saves the most time on this large aircraft.
Why this Lancaster build rewards patience over speed
The Executive Edition Avro Lancaster B. III Dambuster is a large aircraft model with working features rather than a static display piece. Rotating propellers, folding landing gear and movable ailerons all depend on small axle and hinge parts being seated correctly the first time. If you rush the wing and engine assemblies, those parts are the hardest to reach later.
The cockpit also has a reproduced interior that accepts crew figures. That means the interior needs to be finished before the fuselage halves go together, so plan your build sessions around sub-assemblies rather than trying to complete the whole aircraft in one sitting.
- Work on one sub-assembly at a time: wings, engines, fuselage, then landing gear.
- Keep clear parts and printed marking tiles in a separate tray until the final stage.
- Leave the model on a flat surface between sessions so the landing gear struts are not bent.
Where builders usually get stuck
The most common problem on a large COBI aircraft is installing the folding landing gear after the wing is already attached. The gear mechanism sits close to the wing structure, and reaching it with the wing mounted makes the folding action stiff or misaligned. Build and test the gear while the wing is still loose.
The second common issue is the cockpit interior. Because crew figures fit inside, the interior has to be complete before the fuselage is closed. If you follow the manual page by page this happens naturally, but builders who assemble the fuselage first often have to partially disassemble it.
Finally, the 617 Squadron markings are a defining part of this set. Apply them after the surrounding structure is finished and dust-free, not in the middle of the build, so the tiles stay aligned and clean.
Step-by-step build order for the Lancaster Dambuster
- Sort the bags and clear parts: Open the bags and group parts by sub-assembly: wing, engine nacelles, fuselage, landing gear, cockpit and markings. Keep clear parts and printed tiles in a separate tray. Common mistake: mixing the marking tiles into the general parts pile, which leads to scratches and lost pieces. Do not start building until every sub-assembly group has its own pile.
- Build the cockpit interior first: Assemble the reproduced cockpit interior and test-fit the crew figures before anything else. Check that the figures sit without forcing the interior panels apart. Common mistake: closing the fuselage before the figures are seated, which means reopening the model later. The cockpit must be complete and figure-tested before the fuselage halves meet.
- Assemble the wing and test the ailerons: Build the wing structure and fit the movable ailerons while the wing is still off the fuselage. Move each aileron through its full range by hand. Common mistake: pressing the hinge parts too far in, which locks the aileron in one position. Every aileron should move freely before the wing is attached.
- Fit and test the folding landing gear: Install the landing gear mechanism on the wing before joining the wing to the fuselage. Fold and unfold it several times to confirm the struts align. Common mistake: attaching the wing first, which makes the gear stiff and hard to reach. If the gear binds, fix it now rather than after the wing is mounted.
- Mount the engines and propellers: Attach the engine nacelles and fit the propellers so they rotate without rubbing the nacelle. Spin each propeller a full turn. Common mistake: pushing the propeller hub too tight against the engine, which stops it turning. Each propeller should spin freely with a light push.
- Join the fuselage and wings: Connect the completed wing assembly to the fuselage and check that the landing gear and ailerons still move. Common mistake: forcing the join and cracking the surrounding plates. If the join resists, check that no interior part is out of place. Re-test all moving parts immediately after the wing and fuselage are joined.
- Apply the 617 Squadron markings last: Dust the model, then apply the unique 617th Bomber Squadron markings and any remaining printed tiles. Press each tile evenly along its full length. Common mistake: applying markings before the build is finished, which lets dust and fingerprints collect under the edges. Markings go on only after the airframe is complete and clean.
Set facts that affect the build
- COBI EXECUTIVE EDITION AVRO Lancaster B. III Dambuster : Set #5758: The Executive version builds the Avro Lancaster B. III in a special Dambuster version with unique 617th Bomber Squadron markings. Plan a final marking stage so the squadron tiles are applied once the airframe is complete and clean.
COBI EXECUTIVE EDITION AVRO Lancaster B. III Dambuster : Set #5758 - COBI EXECUTIVE EDITION AVRO Lancaster B. III Dambuster : Set #5758: The model has rotating propellers, folding landing gear and movable ailerons. Test each moving feature as you build it, because access gets harder once the wings and fuselage are joined.
- COBI EXECUTIVE EDITION AVRO Lancaster B. III Dambuster : Set #5758: The cockpit has a reproduced interior that can hold crew figures. Finish and check the cockpit before closing the fuselage, or you will need to reopen it.
