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My latest build is the Authentic Airliners 1:144 DH-106 Comet 4C Mexicana. I once made Airfix's Comet 4B, but that kit has a lot of flaws and when I heard that Authentic Airliners came out with a kit for the 4C, I couldn't pass it up. Poor famed Comet 1....what civil aviation enthusiast doesn't know the tragic story? The world's first commercially produced jet-powered passenger jet airliner with the famous fatigue-induced crashes in the 1950s. The Comet could have been a real success story, but Boeing and Douglas, among others, learned from the mistakes of De Havilland and build superior aircraft. By the time De Havilland came out with an improved version in the form of the Comet 4, the Comet had already played its part (although the Comet 4 was otherwise a very capable aircraft). The Comet 4C I will be making is an extended version of the Comet 4 sans suffix. In particular, the fuel tanks on the wings of the Comet 4 I find very striking (our 5-year old son likes those a lot too. It looks like an X-Wing he said :p) . The kit is truly excellent and comes highly recommended. The decals by Vintage Flyer are also very nice (and as a bonus come with AccuScribe, for easy masking). Cockpit decals are from Authentic Airliner Decals, but I didn’t like all the windows from that decal sheet, so I made the windows a combination of Authentic Airliner decals and Vintage Flyer’s window decals. I used Tamiya white for the top of the fuselage and Inspire Chrome for the metal parts. The antennas are scratched and the wire antenna is made using a hair from my girlfriend. At any rate the pictures: My next build will be the Authentic Airliners Lockheed L-1011 (Air Atlanta). Thanks for watching and see you next time! Martijn

DH Comet, BEA Red Square. 1/144 Airfix with 26Decals After much Chopping around an Amodel Comet last year I thought I'd have another go at the old Airfix kit, I used the most recent boxing which has the cabin windows filled in. First released in 1961, it is very simple with only 6 parts to make the basic airframe (2 fuselage halves, upper and lower full span wings, and 2 tailplanes). The wheels are far too skinny for my liking, so I replaced the mains with the spare ones in the Amodel kit, and the nose wheels are Viscount main wheels from S&M kit. We really do need an up to date injection moulded Comet in 1/144 scale, but this one still scrubs up well considering it's age. (oops, just noticed I've knocked the aerial wire loose while taking the photos). With my much modified Amodel Comet C.4 Thanks for looking, John

Unusually I listed my planned build for 2021 and I looked through the BM Group Builds and 'Anything but Injection' appealed to me to make something different. So whilst the Anzac GB continues, and my two entries are gradually reaching completion, its time to jump into another GB! So I offer up the Heritage Aviation 1/48 DH88 Comet racer in resin and white metal as a qualifying entry. One of the local modellers recently built the Micromir version and made a great job of it and I know it will take a bit of patience to get the resin version anywhere near to that, but I'm aiming for a nice gloss black G-ACSR 'Black Magic'- registration in gold decals. Another 1930;s machine, but is there a better era for aviation? Obligatory pre-start shots this morning: Kit decals are for G-ACSP but I also bought the Whirlybird decals for G-ACSS just in case I changed my mind - well actually I thought they were 1/72....... No instructions with the kit but its relatively few parts: Aaah the bag of white metal bits - thats why superglue was invented right?? And two canopies predicting the average modeller will screw up the first one.... plus anothe vac form shape x 2 which I presume to be undercarriage doors..... The GB for all will be more of a challenge for all compared to the usual plastic kits but looking forward to it. The Comet is also one of the most elegant aircraft of its time and era and this will be the first one that I will complete. I have 3 1/72 versions in primer that were started by a fellow now departed modeller and completing them will be a tribute to him. Also hope to enter another simple resin kit into this GB, but I am reserving judgement and a decision until I've looked in the box again... As always good luck to all entering and here's to us all completing our chosen model (s)! JP

Time for a first WIP. While putting an order together, I needed just €5 added to get free shipping, so in went this little DH-88 Comet. The stash expansion (excluding the Phantom box): Now, the Mozzie and Boomerang are known older kits, but the Comet has the newish box style. Little did I know... Why, yes! It's the original Comet from the baggie era. ....including the staggering (ahem) amount of detail - or rather, flashy bits - you might expect from a 1960s mould still being used today. So, mismoulded wheels, mismoulded props, flashy bits, tired old mould... out with the filler, putty and sanders to start with. The pilot figures - well, heads, really - are so out of scale that it's better taking them off and make it flush. Canopy has an air bubble in it, and is way too big as is so that will be carefully sanded down to fit. I'm doing this as a fun build mostly, not going to go all out but I want to clean it up a bit and see what we can do with this.

Here’s my first model started and completed this year - the Bronco 1:35 Comet finished out of the box as “Iron Duke IV” of 1RTR, 7th Armoured Division in Germany, April 1945. My first go with so-called workable tracks (they are a bit wonky, but most of worst bits are hidden), and there was some more complex photoetch than I am used to (the exhaust cowls at the back), but the rest was a pure joy to build. Used brush painted MIG Ammo SCC15 for the main paint job, with Tamiya acrylics for any detail work. Various oil and acrylic washes to make it a little grubby and a final flat coat of brushed on Italeri Clear Flat. Pretty happy with how it turned out. Not sure what to do next - I do have the Tamiya 1:35 Matilda (more recent one) in the stash Thanks for looking.

Hi all, My first model for a very long time, I was going to do the Trumpeter enhanced armour chally with eduard etch bits, but thought I would keep it a bit simpler to start with, so out of the kits acquired so far, the Chally, AA CrAARV on chally 1mk3 and Takom 432, I am going to attempt the Bronco A34 Comet (all the kits have a bit of a personal touch in real Armour except CrAARV), so first photo is the tracks found these and couldn’t resist them by Masterclub, so far pretty impressed and happy, going together easily not rushing them taken about 2 hours per 50 link length

New MikroMir/AMP project is to release 1/48th and 1/72nd de Havilland DH.88 Comet kits. 1/48th - ref. 48017 - Havilland DH.88 Comet Source: https://fr-fr.facebook.com/mikro.mir.dnepr/posts/1750103291734066 3D renders V.P.

Comet A34 as used by the Irish Army, pics by murfv taken at Curragh Camp, Co.Kildare

I am looking at buying a model of a de Havilland Comet & would very much appreciate some advice as to which one to choose. From what I can make out, the options in 1:144 are the old Airfix 4B, Amodel 4B or 4C, and the F-RSIN Comet 1, whereas in 1:72, there is Mach 2's 4B. I have read individual reviews of each, and all clearly have their good (& not so good) features - e.g. Airfix has raised panel lines but seems to fit ok (at least for its age!), whereas Amodel has engraved lines but reviews suggest fit isn't great. However, I have not been able to find any direct comparison reviews between the 1:144 ones or build reviews of the Mach 2. I do not mind whether it is a Comet 1, or a Comet 4 - what I am after is a decent representation of a Comet, and one that is not going to take (too) much work to build, to display. With that in mind, which would be the best one to go for?

Mach II from France will have a new surprise at Telford for RAF post war transport aircraft lovers. Air Graphics is reported having partnered with Mach 2 and will be releasing resin update sets to compliment this new kit. To be followed. And the winner is a: de Havilland DH.106 Comet 4C V.P.

Well, since we got 2 more weeks on this great Classic GB, I feel safe to commit to another build to really keep pushing the stats through the roof. Another of the Trailblazers series not already covered - the D.H.88 Comet Racer. Note the colour chart only has one colour specified - Red! Since the plastic is already this colour, I will have little to do. I'll retain the kit colour as far as possible and just do a bit of detail painting as required. I've never built this kit or aircraft before so it will be interesting. First off, I can see that the seated pilots are missing but two 'larger than life' standing figures have been provided. ??

So! Hot off the Bugle Buggy build, I sat down and pondered what to build next. Luckily sitting down is a skill I master quite well and t'was a clear evening and no clouds to obscure the stars. As I sat there, staring at the stars, and letting my mind wander, it suddenly hit me: How 'bout a Comet - no - not one, but two! I happen to have two AModel 1/144 DeHavilland Comets in the 'stash - a 4B and a 4C. They'll be built almost OOB and mostly for the fun of it. So - 'nuff said - let the building commence: Cheers Hans J

AZmodel/Kovozávody Prostějov has just announced working on a 1/72nd de Havilland DH.88 Comet kit - ref. ? Source: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235010228-kpaz-central-discussion-questions-answers/&do=findComment&comment=2959594 So just as MikroMir :-< ... Thread: link In the same scale there's also the SBS Model resin kit: link V.P.

I will go for my 'oldest' Airfix kit - the DH Comet 4B. It did occur to me that this might be a 'collector's piece' but I have decided I'm a 'builder', although I will keep the box with the finished model. I will be putting in a big effort (for me) by including after-market add-ons and really try for a pristine finish. It could represent the journey that some kits have been on... Raring to go and happy modelling all!

It's been a very long time since I posted on here, my last model being my BR86 loco. Unfortunately that has gradually ground to a halt, i've been busy letting life get in the way of model making so here I am. It's been at least 2 years since I actually completed a model so I decided I need to pick something nice and simple to get back into it. This particular model is yet another result of spending too much time in the Hannants tent at an airshow. I'm not usually a fan of resin kits, but this one just caught my attention being rather more sophisticated than the resin kits of old. Well I have to say it's a beautiful kit, and of course within about half an hour I managed to slice my finger with a fresh blade whilst cutting a piece off the casting block (I never seem to learn to use a saw and I always cut myself pretty well at least once when dealing with resin). This is the kind of kit that makes my fingers seem like huge clumsy blobs despite the fact that they're smaller than average, this little seat being a great example. That said, I seem to be able to get on somehow and haven't crushed anything yet! I'm pretty impressed with how the pieces fit together once they're off the casting blocks, they really do need very little, if any adjustment to fit perfectly which is a bonus. I've just finished detailing up the cockpit ready to go together, I decided to go more dark grey than black as it's only tiny and I actually want something of the cockpit to be seen, it being pretty much mostly black!

OK, this is is my first foray into the odd world of airliner modellng, so be gentle! This year I've been introducing my lovely girlfriend Louise to aviation history, bit by bit. Among other things we've been to Duxford for a look round, and enjoyed a couple of Shuttleworth shows and Flying Legends together. ] Anyhow, for no reason that I can determine, the two aircraft she has most taken to, out of all the things we've seen, are the DH Comet and the Fieseler Storch. She's also shown quite a bit of interest in my modelling, so I bought her the Academy Storch for her birthday (very much still a WIP) and agreed to make her a Comet for Christmas! So here's the result. From the start I wanted to convert my 1:144 Airfix kit into a Comet 4 of BOAC, as well as improve the detailing. Changes to the base kit are was follows: Cut 1.99 scale metres (two windows) from the fuselage length-this was tricky as the fuselage tapers subtly outward towards the nose! Cut off the wingtips, and added new carved from scrap plastic to reach correct wingspan for longer-winged Comet 4. Wing pinion tanks from 1:72nd Vampire T.11 drop tanks (they're an amazingly good match) Tank fillet fairings from scrap resin and filler Re-profiled fin tip Detailed exhaust cans Added rudimentary cockpit including floor, instrument panel, seats and yokes. Cut out near-nonexistent nosehweel bay, built new to appropriate depth with plasticard, detailed with more plasticard. Thinned out nose and main u/c doors and added extra struts to legs Replaced cockpit glazing with individual windows from CD case Cut out underside thrust reversers and various vents etc. Lined intakes and added rudimentary compressor faces. Drilled out auxiliary intakes between main ones Drilled out landing lights outboard of intakes and replaced with shaped clear sprue Plasticard aerials, intake scoops, anti-collision beacons added to added to fusleage and centre section Plasticard fuel dump pipes added to wings and tanks, hinge actuators added to aileron trim tabs, and wing fenclets added to leading edge. Scribed majority of panel lines, filled and re-scribed double joints between control surfaces The model is shown below before painting with Halfords Appliance White and Hunbrol Metalcote rattle-cans. I used the S&M sheet for Comet 4 to represent G-ADPC, one of the two aircraft which flew the first scheduled transatlantic jet service in 1958. The decals were of very good quality but rather over-sized, for example the tailfin decal was much too big, and the fuselage stripe needed cutting down to fit the kit windows better. The bit where the stripes widen and join around the nose was a nightmare, especially as I had to cut around the cockpit windows. In the end I mixed paint to as close a match as possible for BOAC blue, and had to touch up! It doesn't notice too badly under a coat of gloss varnish though. Hope you like the results! Horrible flash shot shows up all sorts of nightmares, but it's the only way to see the intakes properly: U/C bay. Just noticed the ruddy stripe isn't central. Grrrrr! Happy customer.

De Havilland Comet 4c - 1:144 Airfix (Updated pictures) Dan Air - 26 decals [Edit] New pictures as I had forgotten a few final details on the model. Added this morning are nav lights, aerials, aerial line from fin tip, taiplane black tips, and some panel lining/weathering. [/edit] The Comet is one of the most beautiful airliners ever. In the 4c version with extended wings and pinion tanks it looked at its very best. To further emphasise its beauty and pure shape I wanted to model it in flight without the clutter of undercarriage. The idea of doing a 4c was inspired by Phil 'Vulcanicity's lovely model in BOAC colours. Phil used 1:72 drop tanks from the Airfix Vampire for the pinion tanks, so I nicked his idea! It's appropriate too, from one DH aircraft to another! Decals are from Two-six, and as usual are top quality, settling down beautifully. I used the cockpit decal here, although I normally prefer to kit the kits clear glazing, but there was no hope with the tiny, ill fitting part supplied with this old kit. I used one from my stash, remember this bit of nostalgia from the 1980's? The decals were yellowed and curled though, so I'm glad that Ray at two-six sells a far superior set for the 4b and 4c. This is the major part of the conversion. Extended wing tips, and slots cut for the pinion tanks which were also shortened by cutting a section from the middle. Starboard side mostly complete, port side in rough format. Thanks for looking, John

I've been meaning to visit this museum for years and finally got around to it a couple of weeks ago. Small, but perfectly formed, the highlight is of course the three Mosquito aircraft, and for me the opportunity of sitting in a Sea Vixen, thus fulfilling a boyhood dream! More here if you're interested: http://www.hanger51.org/aircraft-museums/uk-museums-collections/de-havilland-aircraft-museum/ IMG_8611 copy by tony_inkster, on Flickr IMG_8615_copy by tony_inkster, on Flickr IMG_8614 copy by tony_inkster, on Flickr IMG_8610_copy by tony_inkster, on Flickr IMG_8597 copy by tony_inkster, on Flickr IMG_8588_copy by tony_inkster, on Flickr IMG_8577_copy by tony_inkster, on Flickr IMG_8571 copy by tony_inkster, on Flickr IMG_8619_copy by tony_inkster, on Flickr

I have started compiling a list of DH.88 Comet Racer kits - static and flying. Any more would be much appreciated. Static Helmet aircraft; 1:200 white metal. Frog/Air Lines/Novo; 1:72 injection. (out of production) Airfix; 1:72 injection. SBS Models; 1:72 resin + white metal + etched. Heritage aviation; 1:48 resin + white metal kit. Akatombo; 1:48 resin (Japan only). ecardmodels; 1:48 self-print paper. Aerotech; 1:32 Resin + white metal + etched. Flying (Most if not all flying models have enlarged wing tips and washout to make them flyable) Durafly; 1120mm [44"] span. Pre-painted foam. T&J Models; 50" span. Traditional built up construction. flight characteristics. Cloud models; 52" span. Moulded plastic/foam. Stuart Mackay Models; 2.1m (84") span. Moulded. Advanced Scale Models; 88" (2235mm) span. Mixed materials.

It’s done. It took 18 months, the sniffing of copious amounts of CA glue, bankrupting myself on the bills for filler and Tamiya primer and the printing and reprinting of many, many decal sheets, but I finally have a completed 1/72 model of my favourite airplane of all time, the DeHavilland DH-106 Comet I. It is certainly not the most perfect model I have built, but I’m extremely pleased with the result, especially when I think back of all the challenges I’ve had to deal with in building it. I won’t repeat everything I wrote in my WiP progress thread (here), but this was one of those Murphy’s Law builds. For starters, the kit itself, made by the now defunct Fliegerhorst of Germany, is crap. I paid (or rather my parents did, as it was a birthday gift) over 100 euros for it, and there can’t be a model kit that is worse value for money than this one. The resin parts were warped, badly moulded, full of pin holes, detail was non-existent and the panel lines of inconsistent depth and crispness and completely missing in some areas. This is the first kit where I’ve actually broken parts on purpose to make them fit. After gluing the parts together, the misalignment between them required the use of insane amounts of CA glue and subsequently the use of a file with a coarseness only associated with crude woodworking to deal with the seams. But I persevered! So after covering most of the room in resin dust (I did use a mask and I wet-sanded almost everything) out came an object that did look suspiciously like a Comet. Of course, application of primer highlighted many, many imperfections and it also showed the panel lines either had not survived the onslaught, of were of such ragged and indistinct quality that they needed rescribing. I am terrible at rescribing, but I like to think that doing it on this kit (in most cases, four of five times for every panel line) has improved my skill somewhat. I think this stage took the longest to get to a level where I was satisfied. Painting went quite well – at least initially. I used Humbrol Polished Aluminium from a rattle can and it went on very well. I moved on with the white section for the roof, which also went on very well. However, after removing the masking tape I found out that Humbrol’s paint didn’t like masking tape, and I had to redo the silver, then cover it with a layer of future before I could move on. In the meantime, I had discarded the lousy decals that Fliegerhorst had included because they were the wrong color. My dad used them as a base to make new ones on the computer, and I applied these to the kit. Stupidly, I didn’t properly check the alignment of the fuselage bands and after thinking about it for a day, I decided to remove them. I hadn’t come this far to screw it up like this! Removal of the decals necessitated reapplying most of the paint. Naturally! In the end, a lot of trial and error to get the decals just right was required and my dad has printed probably close to 20 A4 sheets to get to where we wanted to be, with variations in color, windows painted black or grey, smaller and bigger sizes… I probably have enough left for 10 more Comets, but they’ll all be slightly different! Home stretch then…. I had replaced the front wheel bay and landing gear with some nice resin and metal parts intended for a Nimrod, which gave some much needed detail in these crucial areas. I also tried ordering resin wheels intended for the Nimrod but this didn’t work out so I polished up the kit wheels as best I could. I added some pitot tubes, a light wash to the moving surfaces, a few coats of future and satin finish and that was it. It all sounds a bit negative when I reread this, but it wasn’t like that. I did have a lot of fun building this kit and seeing it progress over time, and it’s most definitely my favourite model. Now if only I had a safe place to put it…

Sources: http://www.marshmodels.com/main.asp?s=Aerotech http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/news.html V.P.

De Havilland Comet 1A G-ANAV – BOAC South African Airways Charter – 1953 FRsin (injected plastic) kit. A fairly rough kit but it turned out OK. The decals were excellent. Undercarriage was replaced because the kit items were too small. Finish is Halfords Appliance White on top with Halfords Nissan Silver below, coated with Rub N Buff, polished and sealed with Klear. Commission build for a Comet enthusiast.

Beeing uttlerly undiscerning I add another one to the pile... Enter Heritage Aviations de Havilland Comet racer: The D.H. 88 Comet kit is a 100% Polystyrene-free resin kit with vacuformed clear parts and white metal detail parts. Decals are included as well. All well packed in a sturdy box. The kit dates back to the previous owner of Heritage Aviation and thus is a bit older, which can be seen in the details and mold quality. Compared to newer resin kits this one looks to be "exciting". I purchased this kit some years ago but never picked myself up to start it (I shudder at the tought of the u/c assembly and the fuselage - see below). There are three seats included. Two were not 100% OK but one was very good and I recased it in resin (not shown). The lack of photoetch parts became unbearable to me at some time and I did new instrument panels in CorelDraw and had them etched by Peter Kormos (excellent guy! - see Tinyland.com). As said the castings are so-so. Some pin-holes and some larger ones... One of the biggest flaws is the fuselage which has very prominent steps from misaligned molds. I have the stron feeling that one side is longer than the other giving it a banana-like shape from above. At last I have made out a way to solve this in the years the kit rested in my stash. Wish me luck or better a broken leg so I can stay some weeks at home finishing all the started kits... ;-) Rene

Hi People, I have just returned to scale modelling after too many years and have decided to build WWII British tanks and cannot find a 1/35 model of the A34 Comet. Nearest is the Bronco model that seems to be long out of production. Is there a 1/35 plastic model kit that I could use as a base and where would I find any scale drawings? Cheers

Hello folks, A while ago Airfix released a newly boxed version of the dH-88 Comet but it was "The Green 'Un". For me, the iconic Comet is Grosvenor House so when they recently released that version I bought one. I'd read a number of reports detailling the ancient molding of this one (late '50s for the original I think) but decided to take the plunge anyway. The model is offered in the new red box style of current Airfix releases but the plastic is showing it's age. There are very fine raised lines on the surface which will prove a challenge to sand around. The fit of some components looks to be a bit vague at best and the cockpit detail is none existent, two amorphous pips on top of a flat deck suggesting the crew. So, where to begin? Inspired by several 1/72nd scale builds here on Britmodeller I decided to attempt a little additional work. As many know, the Comet has a big glass house looking canopy so that seemed a sensible place to begin. I carved away the flat decking on both fuselage halves and added a semblance of an interior. I did n't go all out on this as A/, it's all black and B/, I planned to add a crew (from the old 1/72nd scale Tiger Moth) to fill out the space. With these modifications complete it was necessary to take a long hard look at the kit canopy. The clear plastic is very thick. My copy has two air bubbles trapped within the plastic and the shape is not accurate. To allow a better view inside the modified opening and in an attempt to improve the shape I smash molded a replacement from clear packaging material. A resin master was carved from waste resin pour stub and mounted on stilts so that the plastic sheet would clear the template. The canopy shape of the full sized bird is quite complex so it took a number of tries to get anything resembling the real deal. Equally, it took even more attempts to arrive at a part that fitted the opening adequately. I used scissors to cut each canopy but it was trial and error to get a good enough fit and there was plenty of waste. Finally I ended up with a passable (for me at least) result which is much clearer than the kit part. I've joined the two fuselage halves together now but one task on the horizon is re-shaping the spine of the fuselage aft of the glass house. The kit depicts this as almost triangular yet the real Grosvenor House is more rounded. I have replicated the rounded edge to the canopy so I'll have to fill in the gap. Initial thoughts are two-pack modelling putty like GW "green stuff". Thinking ahead, if anyone has any ideas about re-creating the thin lines of the canopy framing I'd very much like to hear them. The framing is made up of at least two different thicknesses some of which is inside the canopy glazing. In this scale it is very thin Plus, it needs to be red on the outside and black on the inside..... Anyhoo, I've made a start and the canopy framing can be done later. Once the glue has set I think I'll have a look at the profile of the nose. From staring at reference photos it looks as though I might be able to tweek the shape a little to improve the look. Thanks for stopping by. More when I can. Cheers. Julien has posted up a walk-around of the Comet by Mark Mills in the Walkaround section. See it here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234954337-de-havilland-dh88-comet/