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De Havilland D.H.88 Comet racer, KP 1/72nd


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Finally completed, here is the iconic racer in its green, incredible hulk aspect.

Again congratulations to KP (Kovozávody Prostějov) for their increasing line of very appealing civil subjects, in this case a classic that deserved re-edition.

As you can see, the kit can be turned into a nice replica, if with some (normal modeling) work.

Without wanting to get into a lengthy exchange regarding this, I deem it a giant step upwards and forwards from the two very old Airfix and Novo-Frog ones. The price is convenient, and I believe you get a fair quality/price ratio. Still, I believe the SBS Comet to be the very best around, if in resin and with a larger tag price. It becomes a matter of personal choice. Many of you don't like to deal with resin or like to keep the modeling budget in check, so this is a good option.

 

As usual you may visit the WIP thread here at BM:

 

 

I am bit confused by threads that talk about a Micro-Mir DH88, and the shown digital  renders exhibiting a highly detailed model. Not sure if this is going to be in production soon, or it's some kind of echo or variation of the KP kit due to the (for me) ever-tangling, mysterious, and shifting hobby company relations in Eastern Europe (whose intricacies and history I completely ignore).

 

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Edited by Moa
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Hello again, Moa,

 

A new Comet kit in 1/72 was long overdue, but the few reviews I read on the KP kit weren't exactly glowing (particularly the shape of the canopy, as you have explained).

 

I still have the ooooold Airfix one to build (not that I'm scared about that :fraidnot:)

 

Best,
David 

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51 minutes ago, Spitfire31 said:

What is your secret of creating that mirror-like paint surface? If it's not a secret…

 

Kind regards,

 

Joachim

Hi Joachim

I am no airbrush master, nor I think I do anything special.

I have a pretty old Testors Aztek with a grey nozzle, I use common thinner from Home Depot combined with enamels (in general).

I have varied luck, even when the stars align.

The basic universal strategy is to start with a clean, smooth surface; most of the time I use Alclad primer, either white or grey, sanded very fine (wet if I can) after a few days of application.

For reasons unfathomable to human comprehension, some times Model Master enamels will give a good finish, sometimes Humbrol will, and both occasionally will render a not really satisfactory result. My pressure gauge reads a bit lower than 15psi, some times just above 10psi.

I thin the paint quite a bit, perhaps 1/3 of thinner. I have no "scientific" approach, I do not obsess about anything, never measure mixes, and hate all kinds of paying too much attention to anything. I love modeling, I hate obsessing about it. I have no secrets and that's why I post everything I do, sometimes even the boo-boos, so others may be can be spared of the same fate.

You have to have a reasonable good equipment and use good materials and tools, but a full workshop with the latest gizmos guarantees nothing, and sadly I have seen that too many times.

Passion is what makes it work, keeping at it, overcoming frustration, and, over all, doing some modeling. The more you do, the more you learn. I see a lot of modelers hindered by fear of doing something wrong. I made mistakes all the time, fear is paralyzing and unconducive.  Waiting for the perfect method, the perfect recipe, the perfect kit, the perfect tool, does not build models.

Do, do an do, and then do a little more. If there is a secret, is that. But it can't be a duty, a burden, a chore, not even something "serious", it has to be done with joy, curiosity, awe, passion. Otherwise...

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My favourite of your recent "group build" - love the shape, love the colour and love the in flight shots.

 

And your reply to Spitfire31 was some of the best advice I've ever read!

 

Thank you 

 

Jeff

Edited by pinky coffeeboat
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Not so esoteric as most of your collection Moa but you have achieved a stunning finish on this beautiful model.

 

I echo your words about do and do again - there are so many products, books and advisors saying do this and don't do that - buy this and use that. And then there are the armchair accuracy gurus. LOL! it is little wonder we ever build anything. Like in my other passion, fishing - try things, experiment and find a method that suits YOU. If you never settle on a method and practice it, you will not improve and gain confidence. Once you gain confidence, the world is your oyster.

 

Cheers

 

Malcolm

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Stunning finish you've achieved there Moa. A slightly more esoteric choice of scheme than the usual red or black/gold schemes (though I do love the Black Magic finish!). Nice to see the green one for a change though.

Now I need to go and read the WIP thread.

ATB
Rick

Edited by Spad
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5 hours ago, ptmvarsityfan said:

Now I have to decide whether to build the

SBS or KP. TBH I bought the KP for the silver decals for ACSS

which appear to more accurately represent the 1930's 

appearance of the aircraft according to an earlier thread on BM.

Cheers, Paul

That´s great, Paul, you can use the silver regs on the SBS kit and use any of the others in the kit for itself.

Such distinguished classic begs to be built!

Good luck

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  • 1 year later...
9 hours ago, Lightningboy2000 said:

Stunning work Moa, & love that racing green flawless finish!

I think to the eyes of a 1/72 sized person those font corners would look a little rounded! It looks fine to my eyes!

Indeed.

Same with airbrushed camouflage edges. Scale them down and they become so fine as to be non-existent. 

 

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