144 Dragon Rapide

[The Velociweiler]

Do you have any personal opinion over the timescale of this project John?

[Test Graham]

Funny to think we might both have been there that same day Graham! Somewhere I have a photograph of the one I flew in, if I could only lay my hands on it. What was the registration of the one you flew in?

/quote]

There was a photo in the family, but I've not seen it for decades and it's lost forever now. I did look it the possible registrations and thought I'd found it, but have no idea where my notes are now. Looking in Air Britain's book (one of two!) on the aircraft family, the one Westair had around in 1957 was G-AJKW. AN&T were also flying trips around the tower at that time but in Dragons. I'm not sure I've have been able to tell what a Dragon was in those days - but I'm sure the one I flew in was a Rapide, and I'm pretty sure that the other one was too! Westair had three other Rapides but at different times. I haven't found another Blackpool-based operator but it could of course have been a summer-season visitor or on temporary hire.

There was a Silver City Dak sitting to the left of the Rapides, and as we taxied out I saw a DH86 in one of the hangars - the book suggest this would have been G-ACZP. I gather we can't persuade John to do a Dragon and/or a DH86?

PS I guess that's two votes for the Westair transfers! The book has pictures of two of the Westair Rapides but not 'JKW and the schemes differ slightly.

Edited March 15, 2012 by Graham Boak

[chaddy]

/quote]

There was a photo in the family, but I've not seen it for decades and it's lost forever now. I did look it the possible registrations and thought I'd found it, but have no idea where my notes are now. Looking in Air Britain's book (one of two!) on the aircraft family, the one Westair had around in 1957 was G-AJKW. AN&T were also flying trips around the tower at that time but in Dragons. I'm not sure I've have been able to tell what a Dragon was in those days - but I'm sure the one I flew in was a Rapide, and I'm pretty sure that the other one was too! Westair had three other Rapides but at different times. I haven't found another Blackpool-based operator but it could of course have been a summer-season visitor or on temporary hire.

There was a Silver City Dak sitting to the left of the Rapides, and as we taxied out I saw a DH86 in one of the hangars - the book suggest this would have been G-ACZP. I gather we can't persuade John to do a Dragon and/or a DH86?

PS I guess that's two votes for the Westair transfers! The book has pictures of two of the Westair Rapides but not 'JKW and the schemes differ slightly.

Thanks Graham. Westair sounds good.

You wouldn't believe the number of time I've thought about that trip. As for the photograph, it looks like a visit to the loft for me. There's lots of family albums gathering dust up there, and I refuse to believe that photograph was binned.

Cheers

[Test Graham]

See

http://www.abpic.co.uk/search.php?q=G-AJKW&u=reg

That matches one of the other Westair schemes in the AB book, but I'm afraid makes me think that it was the other one I flew in. I don't remember the dark colour patch on the fuselage. For that matter I don't remember such on either Rapide, but I did spend time later staring at a photo of the one I did fly in, to help my memory.

Edited March 15, 2012 by Graham Boak

[tpat]

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]

[John Aero]

As a time scale, I need to get these Halifax bits out of the way. The etch could be done in a matter of a couple of weeks and the decals probably in a month, depending where I send them and how long it takes to draw them, though the background work is already done, windows, alphabet, plan etc.

As I said in an earlier post I do have some small sizes in stock, these are Combi 4 and 2 mm in single colours. Black and white are being re-printed and available in about a month. I also have some colours in 6mm.

I've been interested by the general reaction.

John

Edited March 16, 2012 by John Aero

[Heraldcoupe]

The AA were owned by Centrica but they may have asset stripped it or sold it by now .

I believe the AA and saga are owned by the same UK company (called Acromas? or something similar?)

Cheers,

Bill.

[Dave Fleming]

I'd be wanting to do both Rapide and Islanders in military markings, probably post-war FAA for the Rapide and RAF/rmy for the Islanders - converting to Turbine Islander would be easy in 1/144th!! So I don't have an opinion on any civie schemes!

[aircraftkit]

John

Your Civil registration decal lettering sheets are particularly useful, I could always do with another couple of sheets for black and for white lettering.

Will you be selling these decals directly, or will it be through Dealers ?

I believe that your website hasn't been reactivated following Peter's untimely death in March 2010 and I was wondering which (UK) Dealers were likely to carry (the black and the white) decals, once they're reprinted.

Many thanks

Don

[John Aero]

Don

My products are only sold direct from me as I no longer supply any retail shops.

John

John

Your Civil registration decal lettering sheets are particularly useful, I could always do with another couple of sheets for black and for white lettering.

Will you be selling these decals directly, or will it be through Dealers ?

I believe that your website hasn't been reactivated following Peter's untimely death in March 2010 and I was wondering which (UK) Dealers were likely to carry (the black and the white) decals, once they're reprinted.

Many thanks

Don

[Andy Young]

John,

Great to see that you are doing a good job to help 1/144 scale fans. The previous kits you did in 1/144 were all gems and I'd certainly be interested in some Islanders. Maybe there's an opportunity to do civil and military options like the Defender and I think there was even an AEW version at one time. The Red Devils parachute team used one that was all red (no surprise!), but with I believe, a Daily Express logo on the tail.

So, from me, definite interest in Islanders (and Trislanders), and I'd also go for a Rapide or two as well.

Cheers, Andy.

[Yankymodeler]

Those are absolutely fantastic! Count me in for 2 or 3 of each!

Eric aka The Yankymodeler

[marty_hopkirk]

Any chance of the AA example too John?

Yep, AA decals for me too - perhaps the most iconic livery Rapide was dressed in?

I would be in for the Rapide and Islander and would welcome a speedy re-appearance of the quarter scale Rapide too.

Marty...

[Martian]

Reading through this thread it occured to me that whateverschemes John goes for, the specialist decal companies would not be far behind in producing other options.

Incidentally John, do you do any sort of catalogue? Since the website closed down its hard to know what you have for sale these days and I for one, would like to keep buying as much detailing stuff from you as possible.

Martin

[John Aero]

I've been suprised and enjoyed just how much interest there has been in this simple little kit. It is simple and it started life as a quick experimental moulding to see if the wings would mould, what you see in the pics is what there is. The wings have only the aileron and flap outlines but no rib details on the bottom surfaces They are on the top surfaces. The wings however are very thin. Because of the one piece top wing the construction is simple but it does make finishing more difficult. Any production kit will certainly have etch struts. I used the thinnest brass Strutz with w/metal I struts when I made the prototypes some 20 odd years ago.

My problem is what was a very busy company for 3 production people, then two and now only myself, it's impossible to carry on with the same range of products. Also being at the workface more often I want to remould and in some cases re-master a number of items to meet modern expectations. I have boxes of patterns which have not seen the light of day and some I would like to complete. This is why I'm in no hurry to issue a new catalogue and certainly not a website. I can spend the most of an afternoon just answering queries. I am very grateful to the Britmodeller site for this avenue of communication. Research and assistance are my part of the hobby. There has also been a hidden factor in that the mould system which I developed out of a commercial system but relied on the parent company for spares backup and these are no longer available, so I've had to develop a new system from scratch which has taken an enormous amount of time, The fruits of which are the new Demon and Pups, encouraging but I have no idea of the fatigue life of the moulds. Many of the "bits" will continue to be made.

John

Edited March 17, 2012 by John Aero

[viscount806x]

If I remember rightly, one of these used to operate out of Squires Gate in the 50's. It did pleasure flights around Blackpool Tower. That was my first flight as a young boy. A holiday treat with my Dad.

One of those would be a nice memento. If only I knew reg...G....?

Cheers

Me too, along with my much missed Grandma. I also went up in the DH84 Dragon from there on the same deal. I think it was about 10 bob and it seemed a very short but noisy flight.

[viscount806x]

I've been suprised and enjoyed just how much interest there has been in this simple little kit. It is simple and it started life as a quick experimental moulding to see if the wings would mould, what you see in the pics is what there is. The wings have only the aileron and flap outlines but no rib details on the bottom surfaces They are on the top surfaces. The wings however are very thin. Because of the one piece top wing the construction is simple but it does make finishing more difficult. Any production kit will certainly have etch struts. I used the thinnest brass Strutz with w/metal I struts when I made the prototypes some 20 odd years ago.

My problem is what was a very busy company for 3 production people, then two and now only myself, it's impossible to carry on with the same range of products. Also being at the workface more often I want to remould and in some cases re-master a number of items to meet modern expectations. I have boxes of patterns which have not seen the light of day and some I would like to complete. This is why I'm in no hurry to issue a new catalogue and certainly not a website. I can spend the most of an afternoon just answering queries. I am very grateful to the Britmodeller site for this avenue of communication. Research and assistance are my part of the hobby. There has also been a hidden factor in that the mould system which I developed out of a commercial system but relied on the parent company for spares backup and these are no longer available, so I've had to develop a new system from scratch which has taken an enormous amount of time, The fruits of which are the new Demon and Pups, encouraging but I have no idea of the fatigue life of the moulds. Many of the "bits" will continue to be made.

John

Goos luck with it all John. There must be hundreds of us out here who miss Aeroclub and the very complete range which was offered. I had to go to the USA recently to get the 1/144 props I needed.

[stevesig]

Did someone mention a 1/144 Halton?

[chaddy]

Me too, along with my much missed Grandma. I also went up in the DH84 Dragon from there on the same deal. I think it was about 10 bob and it seemed a very short but noisy flight.

Well...I missed this! What an opportunity that would have been.

http://ukga.com/airfield/blackpool/18343

Cheers

[Test Graham]

I mentioned the Airspede Halton, which is no longer available, I believe. However, I do have the Airspede Trislander which I suspect I will never make, so if anyone is interested get in touch. (Well, I found the box, but I didn't bother looking inside! I wouldn't have kept the box without it.....)

[Marcos Borges]

Hi John.

I'm new in this forum and from Brazil. I think that it will be of great interest here because the Dragon Rapid was one of the first aircraft operated by VARIG.

I will take a couple of it for sure if you can send it to Brazil.

Cheers,

Marcos

[Work In Progress]

John,

I will definitely want some of the registration letter sheets when they are available, as well as the 1/144 Rapide if and when it comes on to the market.

[aircraftkit]

John

I hope that the various postings on this forum will encourage you to produce the 1/144 Rapide - and the Islander.

Just for old times sake I dug out some of Aeroclub's old catalogues from my "historic catalogues box" last night. Interestingly, the first one I came across was dated "Early Summer 1992". I originally got this whilst you were showing me round your workshop when I visited the UK that year, and I recall you proudly showing me the injection moulded parts that would be going into Densil's (at the time) recently completed 1/144 Saab 340.

A very busy little workshop, it even had a few white metal 00 scale steam locomotives dotted around if I remember correctly !

The funny thing is that the 1992 catalogue has a very nice picture of DH Rapide G-AGUF on the cover, although it probably relates to the your 1/48 kit. Contained in the catalogue was a list of projected 1/144 injection moulded offerings, including the Neptune, Mosquito, Rapide etc. I think virtually all of the series saw the light of day, except for the Rapide, of which I only have a solitary "test shot".

Don

[Richey]

I'd like a 1:44 Dragon Rapide.

I'm thinking of building an n-gauge model railway over the summer, and 1:144 corresponds (more or less) with the scale. A good-looking aircraft of the Dragon Rapide / Tiger Moth vintage would look great parked in the corner, but I'm having a job finding just the right kit. It's hardly the centrepiece of a model railway, so it wouldn't need to be 100% accurate in any respect, but it would add a nice touch if the trains and scenery were from the era.

[madaboutmodels]

Any news about the Rapide and Islander?