tpat

Hi Paul, I have scratched a whole range of 1/144th De Havilland aircraft but the DH106 Comet 1 is virtually the only one that I have built from a kit. This is mainly because I believe that Geoffrey De Havilland had a eye for aesthetics and the Comet 1 is by far the most attractive, much more so than the later versions. Probably not the best reason for choosing the F-RSIN but that's the one I would go for.

Thanks Lazy8, that's lots of info, Graham M Simmons book on the DH86 shows the PLUNA 86 looking like its' fuselage is painted in a very dark colour with white or cream fuselage stripe and engine flashes.

Does anybody have colour info on the two DH86 Express airliners that were used by Primeras Lineas Uruguayas de Navegacion Aerea (PLUNA).

Hi Neil, I have no knowledge of this kit however I have built a 1/144th scratch build of this aircraft. I was interested to hear that you worked for de Havilland some time in the past. I have always considered DH aircraft to be the most attractive aircraft. I suppose it's for that reason that I have built a 1/144th range of scratch built DH models. I wonder if you may have seen my DH display at Telford.

Thanks for your help everybody, I think that's me sorted, all I have to do now is paint it.

Does anyone have the camouflage pattern for the three colour Shorts Sherpa as used by the USAF in Europe?

mrvr6 what does btw stand for? Martin how do I get to read your thread? Sorry I'm new to this stuff. Terry

I agree Martin I see models at all the shows that I simply couldn't match, no way, but I like building up collections and the models that I required were not available. Especially not in the small scale. Looking at the model now I do wish I had fitted the pitot tubes they are very distinctive on this aircraft especially the one on the acorn fairing, perhaps I'll add it later. I also broke one of the flap tracks off during painting and had to glue it back on, never a pretty site. Anyway here's the finished thing, it should have the national markings outlined in silver but I couldn't source any

Martin Strangely enough one of my models was voted model of the year by the Solid Model Memories (SMM) group. The strange part about it being that I hadn’t entered it. A member of another group that I belonged to called Small Scale Models also belonged to the SMMs group, he had seen my model and presented it to them, they then voted it top model. I didn’t even know it was entered, the sad part was that I couldn’t work out how to thanks them. Perhaps I’m getting a bit off topic but you can see the model here, I think the link works. http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pid=3545 Terry

Thanks everybody, as you say it used the Attacker fuselage, it also used Swift wing roots and instrumentation. The wing was a .34 sized replica of the proposed Victor wing. I suppose it does remind you a little of the Buccaneer, wing plan form and tail position. i am aware of the solid modellers site but I can't fathom the operating of it. Terry

This is the photo that I missed from my last submission. I next prepared the canopy, fin and rudder, the fin and rudder are always the first item to be added to the fuselage, this is because all alignment is based on these first two components being properly aligned, there are no pegs or slots here. The wings are then cut out. The main components are all shaped, coated with sanding sealer and resanded two or three times and are now ready for assembly. Now the assembly can start, most joints are fixed using a sort of 'bisbuit joint' I use a tiny sliver of brass shim as the biscuit. the added advantage of this is that a small degree of alignment checking can be then be carried out before final gluing. Joining a wing to a fuselage requires the wing to be at the correct hieght on the fuselage it also has to have the correct sweep back, angle of attack and correct diheadral, again no pegs or slots unless you make them. The undercarriage is fashioned from brass wire and plastic card. The assembled model, a jet will never look right as a tail sitter. That only leaves the painting and decaling, here it is in its base paint. I still have to do the detail painting, canopy etc but my real problem is that Handley Page outlined their roundels in silver, any body know a source? Terry

This is my idea of scratch building, I mainly build in wood (bass wood), I use plans from what ever source is available in this case Barrie Hygates British Jet Experimental Aircraft plus as many photo's as I can find. I believe my work is accurate in outline and cross section but I do not strive to include great detail. Hopefully the following photo's show the plan, the materials and the beginning of the construction. If this works I will post more photo's.

Hi I'm Terry Patrick (tpat), I would like to join the 1/144th Group Build. The majority of my builds are 'scratch builds' or home made resins. I am an enthusiast of experimental aircraft and the model that I would like to present is the Handley Page HP88, this aircraft was built to test the cresent wing prior to the construction of the HP Victor. tpat

Can I come on board, I know I am a bit late, but I can meet the finish deadline. This is all assuming that I can master the computer side of things. Telpatrick

I have recently mastered, moulded and cast a resin De Havilland DH89 ‘Express’ in 1/144th scale, the kit is very basic it comprises of a fuselage/tailplane, port and starboard upper and lower wings and some strut material. I would say that it is only suitable for experienced modellers, assembly is not easy there are no locating tags and a little wire and plastic card work is required. I previously offered them for sale to a Small Scale Model group that I am a member of and I stated that I would only sell 25 of them, I now have only 7 left but I would like to keep a few to sell over the counter at model shows. Consequently I have 3 may be 4 for sale. I have attached a couple of photos of my development models. The photo also shows my resin Dragon Rapide and Percival Q6. I also intend to sell them in limited numbers if the sale of the Express goes well. Any interest? I'm sorry I can't work out how to post photo's, if anybody is interested perhaps you could contact me on - [email protected]