DH 88 Comet Airfix 1/72

[Willem]

Thought I'd put this here though it could go in the civil section. Mods feel free to move.



Bought this on a whim as I fancied a quick and easy build (har har). Should've looked it up on scalemates but more of that later.

Suspicion was aroused when I tipped this little lot onto the work bench.











Yes, that is meant to be a canopy and not a lava lamp.



First stage goes refreshingly quickly.



However...... those heads will have to go.



You can get the nose to line up or you can get the tail to line up. Your choice. However, neither will get the heads to line up.

Wings and tail planes fit where they touch.



In fact the slots for the tail planes are so mismatched as to make this thing unflyable in real life. This is after cutting off the locating tab and using cocktail sticks inserted into drilled holes.



I had to carve chunks off the wing locating tabs to get them anywhere near in line. Still left a gap you could drive a tank through.



Some evergreen going in to shim one wing.



Engines. Short shot molding and nothing lines up.









I may just dip this in a bucket of polyfilla.





I'm trying to represent this.



I've done some checking on scalemates and this mold dates back to 1957. Airfix are still peddling this in a nice new box with beautiful artwork and I've seen this on sale at the de Havilland museum and at the Shuttleworth collection. I think that's a bit cynical. Surely if you are going to have this sold in a museum shop, you'd like to think that a kid could spend their pocket money on something actually buildable.

I'll persevere with this as it is intended to be a gift and, if I'm honest, I'm quite enjoying the challenge. Although by the end I may be living in a padded room with a nice jacket that fastens up the back.

[Goose]

Probably the most beautiful plane on earth!!!

would love to see it in flight!!

Too bad that there are no other brand to propose it at the 1/48th scale...would defintiely crock on that one!! but this airfix is just a shame.

Lots of courage to you buddy
goose

[Willem]

Cheers Bruno.

I totally agree, she's a real looker (in real life anyway).

Did some research whilst on scalemates. There are some 1/72 resin kits around but they're a bit pricey, still, I may be tempted. There have been some multimedia kits in 1/48 but now rare.

I agree. I think a new tool 1/48 is long overdue.

[Willem]

Thought I'd take a break from other projects and do a bit to this.

Blending the...er....canopy into the fuselage.



The canopy is beyond saving so I have a plan for this.

A bit (ok, a lot) of filler later.









Primed using Alclad grey. The rough texture is operator error. Should've dropped the pressure.



I rubbed it down and went for the white primer and rubbed it smooth. then on with Vallejo scarlet. Given it one coat so far, will rub this down as I'm looing for a gloss finish and add another coat. Hopefully the decals can go straight on without any need for a clear coat.





A bit of both underspray AND overspray. Good going but at least it is only the first coat.

That's where she sits up to now.

[Homerlovesbeer]

Omg what a mongrel kit of a gorgeous plane. You've done well so far....nice!

[Goose]

You re on top mate!

congrats

Goose

[NoelSmith]

Those were the days, when any kit sort of vaguely resembled the subject matter and aimed at the pocket money market.
Oh! The sheer delight of seeing those moulded in pilots heads!
Did the DH88 come with a clear plastic stand too? Or just the slot left in the bottom of the fuselage for it?
What nostalgia from when I was a nipper and could just look over the counter in Woolworths (Remember when they used to be a general store? Those that can remember Woolworths at all!) and the kits were 2 shillings in the old money (10p).
Back home quick with the tube cement, whack on the decals (I'm sure they used to be called waterslide transfers) and up on the shelf in a day.
I can remember my nose pressed up to a hardware shop window selling small paint tinlets and seeing an ME 109 that had been painted (actually PAINTED!) for the very first time. No authentic colours in those days, just something that looked vaguely right but better than bare plastic.
Mind you, Mars bars were sixpence each then and you could buy 40 for a pound!

[RangerNeil]

I remember building this as a very young lad - maybe 10 years old so 56 years ago... From what I remember the issues were nowhere near as bad as this. I think the main wing fits had some slight gaps but that was all.
It's a real shame you are facing these as it's a beautiful plane when finished - or was back then....

[NoelSmith]

Someone did a resin of this aircraft a few years back in 1/48th I think.
Also, didn't Frog kit it way back in 1/72nd with the markings for 'Black Magic' ?I

Willem is doing remarkably well in building this very old kit.