Kevin Callahan Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 I have begun to love Valom as a kitmaker. Not because their engineering is perfect - cuz it isn't - but because their type selections seem tailored specifically to me. I really think the DH-91 is one of the prettiest airliners in history. But reality set in pretty quickly. Fit is uncertain, and with a NMF coming up much tension was created. That and absolute piles of PSR dust. When I finally couldn't take it any longer, I did up the paint, which looked good enough after a couple of tries. Markings are from the box (no aftermarket here) and the windows were masked with an Avalon set. Their vinyl masks worked than those hideous label-material ones in the MikroMir kits, but I still prefer kabuki tape. Valom will continue to figure large in the 2019 programme. Next up is the B-45, then the Harrow, then the Salmon. When they all get completed is anyone's guess. This is completed aircraft #510 (8 aircraft, 1 ordnance, 2 vehicle for the year 2019), finished in March of 2019. 47 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Callahan Posted March 18, 2019 Author Share Posted March 18, 2019 Good grief. I've just noticed that the fuselage and wing registrations don't match! It's always bloody something....😡💩 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 Put some movie cameras around it and it'll be fine. It is a nice looking plane. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryanm Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 Very nice - just look at it from either the side or the top! Love the silver - what paint did you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Callahan Posted March 18, 2019 Author Share Posted March 18, 2019 I used Alclad White Aluminum. It is my go-to for a basic NMF. Given the PSR the model went through, the final color didn't turn out too bad. The quandary is whether to risk the removal of one large letter and its replacement with another. Still pondering that. If only the workmen hadn't painted the wing registrations on a Monday morning while hung over... 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 A very nice model, Kevin, of a beautiful, elegant plane. I agree with your comments on Valom, they have many appealing subjects, but their kits are heavy-handed, and the fit is far from great. They are no sticklers for accuracy either. Still, they offer, let's say, a platform. I used their kit for a F.VII conversion, the model came out nicely at the end, but I had to break the piggy bank to afford the expenses of putty, sandpaper, and primer. My wife was happy too, since I developed at the time a powerful musculature due to all that sanding. Cheers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldy Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 A nice job on a beautiful, graceful almost chic design. Nice silver finish but it should be pointed out that the airframe was largely made of wood a la the later DH masterpiece, The Mosquito so not NM. Shame about the registration error - that is the kind of thing I always do and spend days trying to put it right. Depending on what you will do with the model, you might just leave it. If like me however you take your models to shows - well I would be laughed out of town by my club members! At least you noticed it yourself unlike a friend who built a Gloster Meteor with one large intake and one small one and proudly displayed it until the error was pointed out to him! Cheers Malcolm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 A fine job there. I expect that getting a Valom kit looking that good takes quite some effort and skill. The result really shows that off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Callahan Posted March 19, 2019 Author Share Posted March 19, 2019 As it turns out, the fuselage registration was what needed to be changed. The wing one was correct. It's already done, and I'll download some photos the next time I'm lounging down near the photo booth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 19 hours ago, Kevin Callahan said: I used Alclad White Aluminum. It is my go-to for a basic NMF. Given the PSR the model went through, the final color didn't turn out too bad. The quandary is whether to risk the removal of one large letter and its replacement with another. Still pondering that. If only the workmen hadn't painted the wing registrations on a Monday morning while hung over... I was always wondering where to use white aluminum, guess it's good for a painted look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 Very nice, Kevin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldy Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 7 hours ago, Kevin Callahan said: As it turns out, the fuselage registration was what needed to be changed. The wing one was correct. It's already done, and I'll download some photos the next time I'm lounging down near the photo booth. Whew! Glad it wasn't too big a job to fix! Cheers Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Womby Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 Beautiful model of a beautiful aircraft. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Callahan Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 On 3/18/2019 at 9:24 PM, busnproplinerfan said: I was always wondering where to use white aluminum, guess it's good for a painted look. Yes, Alclad White Aluminum is good for a painted/doped look. If I was doing a true NMF, I likely would use one of the darker aluminum shades overall and then spice it up with occasional patches of other Alclad shades. I'm giving the Anigrand XB-51 some serious consideration (again) so that might make a good paint mule for experimenting with this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 49 minutes ago, Kevin Callahan said: Yes, Alclad White Aluminum is good for a painted/doped look. If I was doing a true NMF, I likely would use one of the darker aluminum shades overall and then spice it up with occasional patches of other Alclad shades. I'm giving the Anigrand XB-51 some serious consideration (again) so that might make a good paint mule for experimenting with this. Like to see it when you start that, see how the colours look.I haven't experimented much. I did take a junk truck sleeper and tried some different base colours and Alclads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Callahan Posted March 21, 2019 Author Share Posted March 21, 2019 OK, here are the replacement photos with the (correct) fuselage registrations. If I've bunged this one up to, DON'T TELL ME CUZ I AIN'T AGONNA FIX IT AGAIN! Heh heh. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 Great model of a lovely aircraft. This particular Albatross met an untimely end when it began disintegrate in mid air while landing at Shannon Airport in 1943. It was destroyed on landing but luckily the only casualty was an unfortunate goat minding his own business in a field. Four members of BOAC's board and other executives were travelling on the aircraft. The Albatrosses were grounded and replaced with Whitleys. A very unlovely aeroplane. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Callahan Posted March 22, 2019 Author Share Posted March 22, 2019 My sympathies to the goat. My luck has been known to run in those currents as well.... And the aesthetics of a DH-91 vs a Whitley? The mind boggles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew.S Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Beautiful work, well done. I love the job you have done with this kit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planebuilder62 Posted December 11, 2019 Share Posted December 11, 2019 Beautiful build Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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