DeHavilland DH.88 Comet 'Grosvenor House'

1
December 4, 2024
Cockpit is straightforward. I deviated from the instructions and painted the office black - or better to say: dark gray - as it appeared black and not wood colored in one of the ol pics I happened to come across.
2
December 4, 2024
For the floor I sticked to wood. The PE fret contains minuscle parts to detail invisible stuff - which I used, of course. I payed for it after all.
3
December 4, 2024
With the wings in place it resembles a plane already
4
December 4, 2024
Areas to adress.
5
December 5, 2024
The landing gear is beautifully rendered and appears to be pretty much to scale. This of course makes separation from the spues and cleaning a bit of a challenge but the result when treated with care is quite convincing.
6
December 5, 2024
The front part of the engine cowlings require an insert with a basic representation of the first cylinder of the engine. Everything was primed black and the cylinderrelief received a drybrushing with Vallejo aluminum.
7
December 5, 2024
Wheels need some touch ups and I didn't realise the necessity of central holes on both sides of the hubs. Will have to drill those too.
8
December 5, 2024
ClearProp suggests some grey for the inside of the engine nacelles. I went with lightened XF-53 and used the same color for the rear surfaces of the wheel covers in the absence of other information.
9
December 6, 2024
I didn't like the kit's spinner tip and replaced it with a 0.3 mm syringe piece and a brass disc from my PE spares.
10
December 6, 2024
Prop parts painted. Most of them the second time as merciless silver revealed even the smallest blemishes. Now you have to look realllly hard. 🙂
11
December 6, 2024
With the installation of the shoulder belts assembly of the cockpit is complete.
Behind the cockpit is an access panel of some kind, or maybe even the nozzle for a rear fuel tank. Anyway I tried ro engrave it but ended up off center. So it was filled again with black superglue and sanded flush again. Will have to redo this.
There have been rather big oil tanks at the rear of the engine/landing gear nacelles. Their locks have been replicated with PE spares.
12
December 6, 2024
Same for the fuel cells at the fuselage. To achieve a plain surface for the PE parts I drilled a hole and inserted a rod of corresponding diameter with a flat top. Like this the PE parts are flush with the surface and don't protrude.
13
December 7, 2024
I am convinced that the whole front of the engine nacelle up to the oblique engraving (arrow) consists of a single piece. So the seam after attaching the front had to go. I filled it with black superglue and sanded it flush.
14
December 7, 2024
I followed the instructions and glued the part outlined in red to the wings at an early stage (see pic 3). In a next build I would delay that and align it together with the nacelles as I had to close a bigger gap with pieces of styrene and superglue.
15
December 7, 2024
The outlets for the exhausts were opened.
16
December 7, 2024
Let's hope that my homemade masks are up to the job.
17
December 7, 2024
Canopy colored with the interior color of the cockpit.
Silver at critical areas revealed some sloppy work on my part.
Detention.
18
December 8, 2024
Wheels done after some drybrushing and washing. There are decals for the Dunlop-Text but I think it will be too prominent. But maybe I should bring it out a bit more still.
19
December 8, 2024
Props assembled.
20
December 8, 2024
Final go with Tamiya sanding sponge superfine, cleaning up with IPA and I decided it's time for primer.
21
December 8, 2024
22
December 8, 2024
Highly diluted Mr. Surfacer 1500 white
23
December 8, 2024
Not entirely surprising but still be a bit frustrating, as I had been in coloring mood, was the detection of some areas that needed a bit more attention. Most problematic are the right inner vents of the engine nacelle. I thinned the walls to open them up but that didn't work and I skipped it. Here I perforated it and repaired it with superglue. Should have put a piece of Styrene behind. Should have...
Was thinking hard how to repair this.
24
December 8, 2024
I chose gluegue to have similar properties between the kits plastic and my repair material which - I hope - will make sanding and particularly rescribing easier afterwards.
25
December 8, 2024
Some more filling, sanding and (re-)scribing done. Let's wait for the gue to dry...
26
December 12, 2024
Reprimed.
27
December 12, 2024
Masking? For a plane all red?

Wanna try something...
28
December 18, 2024
Masking done
29
December 18, 2024
By using pink as base color in certain areas I want to achieve different hues of the red top coat. At the top I limited that to the control areas.
30
December 18, 2024
The bottom was covered with pink all over
31
December 18, 2024
The control areas have been covered with doped linen over a wooden frame. The texture of this has been nicely replicated in the kits parts. I wanted to emphasise this and carefully sanded the pink down again to show the white primer.
32
December 18, 2024
33
December 18, 2024
I more or less managed to bring out the texture without sanding down through the white primer and onto the grey plastic.
34
December 18, 2024
Unmasked. Has it's own appeal.
35
December 18, 2024
I am anxious to see how my strategy will fare when the red is applied.
Tamiyas LP-7 will be my choice.
36
December 21, 2024
Deniz' comment let me test various base colors to find a good match to my imagination. Here I tested Silver (S), White (W), Pink (P) and Yellow 👍. I don't like the hue with a yellow base, it being too orange (doesn't really show on the pic). Will try lighter yellows. Contrast between pink and white is either nonexistent or the red looks too pinkish on a white base. Not there yet.
37
December 21, 2024
Tested now various yellow and grey tones.
38
December 21, 2024
Everything grey darkend red considerably. The only yellowish color that led to a nice shade was H413 from Mr. Hobbycolor. Unfortunately it appeared darker with a yellow base rather than lighter as I would like to have it.
39
December 21, 2024
Another series. Grey, yellow and pink were lightened 1:3 and 1:5 with white.
40
December 21, 2024
This attempt didn't show the desired result either. Either contrast was lost or it appeared the other way round.
Running out of ideas and not wanting to repaint the whole plane I decided to cover the white/pink base with red - and expect to loose the desired contrast.
41
December 21, 2024
As expected. But looks nice nevertheless.
42
December 21, 2024
Let's slash on a gloss coat and then onto the decals.
43
December 25, 2024
I was a bit afraid that the mostly white decals would not be completely opaque. They are not but appear only a tad pink. Not too bad.
44
December 25, 2024
What bothered me more were their almost complete inertia once placed. It was almost impossible to just adjust their position on the X-22 gloss coat. Often I had to remove them completely and as a memory for that I was left with quite e few air bubbles. A bit annoying.
45
December 25, 2024
I want to depict the Comet on a field fuel stop on the way to Australia. So some equipment is needed.
46
December 26, 2024
Most of the work is done. The issue with the decals could be ameliorated with meticulous puncturing of all the little bubbles and another generous flush of Mr. Mark Softener added by a final coat of gloss varnish.
47
December 26, 2024
A bit of weathering will be added. As much as I deem reasonable for a long distance flight with multiple stops in a new aircraft.
I painted aluminum colored stripes at the engine nacells. I interpreted one of the old pictures as such that this is the contact area between the nacelle halfes and paint is rubbed off there (or there never was any in the first place).
48
December 26, 2024
The tail skid will be next. In my eyes it requires some modifications as its configuration seems ok with the tail of the plane lifted but not when weighted. Then the angle seems off. I will alter that.
The kits exhaust pipes were replaced by metal ones
49
December 26, 2024
And a few preliminary motivational shots.
50
December 26, 2024
Pretty happy with the canopy. Was worried about paint seepage, but everything worked out fine. After placing the masks I sanded the frame more flat to achieve a more realistic appearance (I think that in most kits the canopy frames are way too prominent).
51
January 3, 2025
Ok. Wasn't to be the last build for last year. So it became the first completed model of 2025.
52
January 3, 2025
Calling it done after adding the details.
53
January 3, 2025
Masked and sprayed my imaginary fuel tank locks and added some pigments where I found them convincing.
54
January 3, 2025
Last bits to be added included the homemade counterbalance weights of the rudder and stabilizer and the pitot tube at the wing.
55
January 3, 2025
56
January 3, 2025
57
January 3, 2025
58
January 3, 2025
59
January 3, 2025
60
January 3, 2025
Exhaust stains were replicated with pigments too, oil stains with oils.
61
January 3, 2025
62
January 3, 2025
63
January 3, 2025
A light overall application of Tamiya pigments added some decent dusting.
64
January 3, 2025
65
January 3, 2025
66
January 3, 2025
67
January 3, 2025
68
January 3, 2025
69
January 3, 2025
70
January 11, 2025
Diorama stuff
71
February 26, 2025
Rough layout for a little vignette.
72
January 11, 2025
Not 100% sure whether I use all. Let's see how they will work out
73
February 26, 2025
74
February 26, 2025
After quite a bit of back and forth I finally made up my mind for the refuelling setup. Airmodels fuel drum and pump provided PE parts and the template for the pump. For the barrels I chose Balaton Models barrels bespite their flaws as they are closer to british barrels.

Hozzászólások

73 4 December 2024, 11:33

Łukasz Gliński
Following

4 December 2024, 15:38

Christoph Kunz
Da schau ich Dir mal über die Schulter.

4 December 2024, 16:24

Robert Podkoński
Taking a seat, for sure!

4 December 2024, 17:25

Alex K
... sure!

4 December 2024, 20:37

Michael Kohl Szerző
Welcome mates. Happy to have you around.

5 December 2024, 17:40

Michael Kohl Szerző
Those familiar with the kit might have noticed the absence of the firewall. I simply lost it and decided that I will just omit it as it is invisible anyway.

5 December 2024, 17:42

bughunter
A very interesting plane! You made a good progress with another (parallel?) project 👍

5 December 2024, 18:39

Michael Kohl Szerző
Parallllllel, alternating. You name it. 😉

5 December 2024, 18:47

J35J
Great start!👀

5 December 2024, 19:55

Cuajete
Well done so far 👍

7 December 2024, 19:41

Michael Kohl Szerző
Thanks and welcome.

7 December 2024, 20:44

Nicolas
Great start.

7 December 2024, 20:48

Thomas Haberl - TH SCALE MODELS
Interesting build and very promising start - I´m in for this 🙂

9 December 2024, 09:13

Jennifer Franklin
Following

12 December 2024, 12:52

Michael Kohl Szerző
Moin zusammen Thomas und Nicolas.

1 12 December 2024, 13:39

Michael Kohl Szerző
...and Jennifer too, of course. 🙂

1 13 December 2024, 15:16

Nicolas
Interesting approach to simply sand the control surface structure in the primer. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a good result.

18 December 2024, 13:53

Denis Dogadov
As a base for the red color, you need to use yellow, then the red will be bright.If you put red on white, you will get just pink.

18 December 2024, 14:08

bughunter
Michael, using different primers for one top coat is my idea! The usage of my idea is geBIERenpflichtig! 🙂

18 December 2024, 15:38

Łukasz Gliński
Looks like you're the partial member of The Infanous Order of The Pink Primer 😋

18 December 2024, 18:19

Guy Rump
Looking good, following. 👍

18 December 2024, 22:02

Michael Kohl Szerző
@ Nicolas: I cross my fingers too. But looks like I have to do some homework before the final coat (see below 🙂 )

@ Denis: thanks for your input. I tested your suggestion on a scrab wing. With LP-7 I get a nice hue as well over white primer and pink base alike. Problem is that there is almost no difference between them. Over yellow (XF-3) the red receives a rather orange hue which I do not like for this project. But I am optimistic to finetune that and use lighter yellow or buff as base coat and see how that turns out. I'll keep you posted.

@Frank: So, se wollen erheben ne kleene GeBIER?!
Da trifft es sich ja gut, dass mein diesjähriger Adventskalender aus 24 Flaschen feinem fränkischen Bier aus 24 verschiedenen Brauereien besteht. Es wird mir eine Freude sein, ein-zwei-drei mit Dir zu teilen - in N?! In M?! Gruß 🙂

@Lukasz: I applied, but as PartPrimerer I am only allowed into the Entree so far. Full membetship pending. 🙂

Welcome Guy

19 December 2024, 09:52

Denis Dogadov
Yes, I will be interested in what your red color will turn out to be. I recently painted small parts red, but there was a noticeable difference in color, depending on the color of the soil. Perhaps your LP-7 is better.

19 December 2024, 10:09

Michael Kohl Szerző
I tested a couple of base coat variations for LP-7. A nice combination in my eyes is achieved when using Mr. Hobbycolor H413 yellow as base for the darker areas and pink (Tamiya X-17) for the lighter ones. But that would have meant to redo the whole base paint. So I stuck to my combination and mourned the loss of contrast.

21 December 2024, 23:27

Mark Sherwood
Looks good to me Michael. 🤘🥸👍

23 December 2024, 19:05

Cuajete
Me 2! 👍

23 December 2024, 20:10

Jennifer Franklin
That is a gorgeous colour red

23 December 2024, 20:56

Christoph Kunz
I say the same as Mark and Jennifer. 👍

23 December 2024, 22:22

Łukasz Gliński
Add some white today and it will be perfect Xmas gift just in time 😋

1 24 December 2024, 09:43

Jennifer Franklin
There's the white! Perfect Xmas gift.

25 December 2024, 20:59

Jakub Biganovsky
Really great job. I appreciate your approach.
I didn`t test different base color. I used GS Aquarius H23 at first piece at black surfacer, and it wasn`t fine. I will use gloss yellow at 2nd piece.
How did you do such perfect wing bottom side. It looks really nice. I had relatively big gap there and some residual step although I precisely brushed big material layer out from both wing half. Maybe, the used glue did a step at the end.
I thing, that this, wings bottom, is weakest part of this model although, as you ar writing, engine nacceles also need some attention.

26 December 2024, 13:04

Bernhard Schrock
A nice red! 🙂

26 December 2024, 13:30

Michael Kohl Szerző
Welcome mates and thanks for your encouraging and funny comments. Bottomline I am quite happy with the shade of red. I just haven't made up my mind about how gloss it should appear finally. If I would have had access to a cutter I would have scanned the bigger decals and cut masks for painting the letters.
Now what's left are the tail skid and a few bits and pieces at the wings and the stabiliser.

@Jakub: wing assembly requires some scraping and dry fitting. With super thin cement I didn't encounter any issues afterwards. But there still remains a considerable gap towards the flaps and ailerons which I filled with super glue.

1 27 December 2024, 08:21

Mark Sherwood
By Gum. That's a lovely looking aircraft. Kudos Michael. 🤘🥸🤟

27 December 2024, 10:32

Robert Podkoński
Looks beautiful already, Michael!

27 December 2024, 17:16

J35J
Almost there! Great build & paintwork👍🏻

27 December 2024, 21:30

Michael Kohl Szerző
Thanks mates. Let's see whether the year is still long enough to finish the plane.

1 28 December 2024, 17:59

bughunter
Nice 👍
Regarding the cutter - you know I can always help here! If you still want to do it may another mate can scan the decals ... or next project.

29 December 2024, 20:08

Cuajete
Fantastic job. Very nice result. Great!
Congrats!

30 December 2024, 20:14

Zbynek Honzik
Great job! I like it very much, Michael. 👍

30 December 2024, 20:33

Jennifer Franklin
I agree with everyone; great job, nice result, and I like it very much.

30 December 2024, 21:10

Rui S
I like it, a Lot 👍

31 December 2024, 11:09

Michael Kohl Szerző
Thank you all for sneaking in.
Couldn't finish it last year, so might be the first to be completed this year.
Wish you all a lot of happy modelling in 2025.

1 2 January, 01:27

Neuling
Very beautiful model. A good start into 2025 !

3 January, 09:45

Nicolas
Great looking model. 👍 Happy 2025 to everyone.

3 January, 11:14

J35J
Excellent! Your setting the scene for the 2025 build year👍🏻

3 January, 12:59

Robert Podkoński
Absolutely fabulously looking model!

3 January, 14:57

Guy Rump
Great result, congrats!

3 January, 19:41

Michael Kohl Szerző
Thanks mates for yor very nice feedback. Is a nice kit. Still pondering about a few details for a little vignette.

5 January, 12:23

U1 PLAMO
Beautiful! That's a wonderful piece of work!

5 January, 12:42

Michael Kohl Szerző
Thanks mate

1 11 January, 21:02

Christoph Kunz
High End Modelling. 👍

12 January, 11:08

Cuajete
The figures and other elements look great. Are they 3D printed or commercial?

13 January, 19:39

Michael Kohl Szerző
Thanks Christoph and Cuajete,
all items are commercial, some classic resin casts, some 3D-printed.

1 13 January, 22:27

Jennifer Franklin
I love the additional elements, especially the bike.

16 January, 12:10

Thomas Haberl - TH SCALE MODELS
The comet turned out beautifully 😊 - excited to see the finished dio my friend 👌🤞

24 January, 08:07

Michael Kohl Szerző
Thank you Thomas.
progress is a bit slow as the last figure I bought needed a decent makeover due to casting imperfections. Same with the barrels I bought. Issues I weren't used to from.Balaton and White Storck Models.

24 January, 13:47

Project info

DeHavilland DH.88 Comet Crosvenor House

74 képek

1:72

Folyamatban

De Havilland DH 88 Comet

MacRobertson Air Race
G-ACSS / 34 Grosvenor House (C.W.A. Scott & Tom Campbell Black)
1934 1934 MacRobertson Air Race (London - Melbourne) - Melbourne, VIC

(Result: Winner)
Red

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