Unkempt Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 The "Warner Bros. Comet" was an American entry in the 1934 London-Melbourne air race. Adapted from Boeing's then-new, state of the art low wing monoplane airliner, it was fitted with extra internal fuel tanks and navigation gear and flown by pilot Roscoe Turner, coming in, well, third. You can't have everything. The kit is an oldie from Williams: and the box contents: As you can see, it's already got the racing version as an option with the interior fuel tanks ready to replace the seating. The decals also look good with one exception which we'll get to in a minute. There's a fair amount of references for this one. A couple of Pathe films of the race show the plane with some of its interior: ... and there's also a load of images around if you google, for example this (public domain) one. (Museums Victoria, https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/1548480) So, in that image - you see that honking massive logo on the side? The 'Warner Bros Comet' logo? It's on both sides, and yeah, that's the one marking they didn't include on the decals. I have no idea why. Anyway, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. First up is the interior. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyTiger66 Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 My favourite era. For all things..especially pioneers. I'm going to be watching this with interest; This kit is supposed to be a little tricky to build and get accurate, some say very tricky. I feel it may not be that bad. Their Northrop Gamma kit is fine. Welcome to the GB! Best regards TonyT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin W Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 A great choice. Now we just need someone to build the DC2 and we will have the podium set. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 A great choice Unkempt I had this kit in my stash until recently, when I sold it to another BM member - I fear that I may now I regret that decision! Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 On 01/04/2017 at 5:18 PM, CliffB said: A great choice Unkempt I had this kit in my stash until recently, when I sold it to another BM member - I fear that I may now I regret that decision! Cliff It's gone to a good home Cliff I will look after it, still looking for a scheme to finish it in. I am also watching this build 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 Looking forward to this build. I think it'll be an impressive model. Don't think I've ever seen one built up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkempt Posted April 6, 2017 Author Share Posted April 6, 2017 OK, here we go. Cockpit is basic but should be OK through the transparency. The interior is almost entirely taken up by fuel tanks. The instructions say to cut out some 'floor heaters' before gluing the tanks to the floor; I didn't bother as you couldn't see the heaters anyway. That turned out to be a bad idea - if you don't remove the heaters then the tanks are too far apart so the assembly won't fit in the fuselage. So off with the tanks, out with the 'heaters' and back on with the tanks a bit closer to the centre. It fits now. Cockpit's also in, but there's a bit of a fit issue with the bulkhead: Next up is rooting through the spares box to find something better for the radio equipment than the squarish blob provided, then I can get the fuselage together and fill in that cockpit bulkhead, and then onward and upward. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkempt Posted April 12, 2017 Author Share Posted April 12, 2017 I busied up the navigator's table: - hope he's okay getting to Australia using the back end of a 1/35th machine gun because that's what he's got. Fuselage together, wings next, still some filling and sanding to go. Also going to reposition the elevators a bit, the kit representation doesn't look much like the real thing. Still haven't got the canopy on, looks like some more fit issues there. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkempt Posted April 15, 2017 Author Share Posted April 15, 2017 I've had kits that fit a lot worse than this one, but this isn't good,,, Still, nearly done with filling/sanding now. One or two more passes should do it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caerbannog Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Nice topic and build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkempt Posted April 26, 2017 Author Share Posted April 26, 2017 On 25/04/2017 at 8:57 AM, Caerbannog said: Nice topic and build. Thanks. I was feeling good about it last night, when I finished the overall grey and gave it a gloss coat. Unfortunately, this morning this happened: It just completely disintegrated. I've tried one from the other scheme and that's disintegrating too. Currently trying overspraying another spare decal with varnish to see if I can salvage something, but it's not looking good at the moment. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greggles.w Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 Oh that is disappointing.. good luck with the rescue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caerbannog Posted April 27, 2017 Share Posted April 27, 2017 Maybe you should scan or photocopy the decals first - just to have a back up for masks or DIY decals. Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkempt Posted April 27, 2017 Author Share Posted April 27, 2017 2 hours ago, Caerbannog said: Maybe you should scan or photocopy the decals first - just to have a back up for masks or DIY decals. Good Luck! Yep, they're scanned. And good news! A thin coat of acrylic gloss seems to have done the trick. So I'm just short of the lower registration number I screwed up in the first place, but I have to do the fuselage logos anyway so it's off to photoshop. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkempt Posted April 28, 2017 Author Share Posted April 28, 2017 (edited) Hmm. A bit wobbly. edit: Yeah, I can't get a good result with my 5-year old inkjet paper. I've ordered some laser stuff which I can print down at the library, so we're on hold for about a week. Edited April 29, 2017 by Unkempt update 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyTiger66 Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Absolutely brilliant progress! I had heard that this kit could be a challenge, but you've steamed through the fit issues with style . Good save in the decals. I too have an old Ink jet printer. I have to scan and make new transfers for the Jak-23 Im trying in this GB. Amy hints and tips on dpi and printer settings would be most welcome! Looking forward to the next instalment All best regards TonyT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkempt Posted May 24, 2017 Author Share Posted May 24, 2017 (edited) Thanks. Sorry about the delay - while I was waiting for the new paper I got an Eduard Lysander out and this happened - - but that's all done now, and I've got the new paper and I've photoshopped up the decals I want. I tried a test print down there and the images were coming out at about 80% the size that they were at home which is obviously useless, I'll be down there again this afternoon trying to sort that out. Edited May 24, 2017 by Unkempt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkempt Posted May 26, 2017 Author Share Posted May 26, 2017 Much better! I'm afraid my tip is to avoid inkjet printers and use a laser printer. Much better results than any inkjet decals I've ever tried. On the home stretch now, need to tidy up, do gear & engines, aerials, a bit of weathering (but not too much). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkempt Posted May 29, 2017 Author Share Posted May 29, 2017 Just need to get aerials on and I see I've forgotten a couple of little decals. Should get this in the gallery tomorrow. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkempt Posted May 31, 2017 Author Share Posted May 31, 2017 All done and in the gallery! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 That's a great result Unkempt and having the door open really adds some interest. Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy61 Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 I found these in my older files. Hope these are of some help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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