In late 1941 British air ministry issued specification for the fast four engined heavy bomber. The aircraft had to cruise at 350 KPH, 6 ton bomb carrying capacity, 3000 km combat range and 8000 meters service ceiling.
Few months later Avro proposed their design and ministry ordered first prototype for testing. The design was quite different from other bombers in service, it was high wing twin tail monoplane that resembled rather B-24 then Lancaster or Wellington.
First flight took place in summer 1942. Testing went successful and after few minor changes of tail and fuselage structure.
In December that year the aircraft begun to be delivered in RAF squadrons.
Coastal command was also interested in purchasing the aircraft to replace it's fleet of American aircraft like B-24 and B-17 with the better and domestically made aircraft.
Coastal command's version (the version in this post)

Armament:
- 3×500kg torpedoes
- 12×250kg bombs
- 8×.50 cal defensive machine guns

Special features:
-two functional auto aiming turrets (top and bottom, you can see one of them shooting the oher plane on thumbnail image; max range - 5km)
-camera aimed side and rear machine guns with sights for better accuracy
-detailed interior

View from waist gunner's position
Cockpit

Bomb aimer's station

Instructions:
AG1 - belly automatic turret;
AG2 - top automatic turret;
AG3 - waist right gun;
AG4 - waist left gun;
AG5 - rear gun;
AG6 - lights;
AG7 - bomb bay;
VTOL down - flaps.
Other photos:

Enjoy the plane!