Handley Page H.P.42 Heracles - Modified Contrail vacuform 1/72nd scale

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

 

The 30's.

From the Golden Age of Aviation, its four engines lazily droning in the sky, comes this luxurious lumbering giant, arguably the epitome of traveling in style to mysterious and remote lands.

Vast landscapes: arable land, coastlines, deserts, intricate cities of labyrinthine design, proud mountain ranges, all slowly slide by below, in changing colors and textures. By sunset the bright tints of the sky and the billowing clouds are reflected upon the surface of a sea. Passengers sedately recline on their ample seats, their legs comfortably extended, or are pensively sipping a cocktail in the plane's bar, or even enjoying a sophisticated full meal on a removable table, pampered by a staff of courteous attendants.

The quality of the inlaid wood paneling, the exquisitely weaved upholstery, the tasteful curtains, the porcelain, the crystals, all glows with the aura of England at its highest.

Romance, mystery, luxury, comfort, sophistication, are all just the visible flesh of a well-thought machine, that rendered an incredible number of years and miles of reliable service, with an unimpeachable safety record.

 

The construction thread can be visited here:

 

Not all, as we know, was rosy, since the "Empire" (and the other empires) were creating their own share of very serious issues.

The pinnacle of England as a world power would be challenged, and soon, unbeknownst to most of those passengers, in a few years the country would have to face the storm that will set Europe, and the world, ablaze.

Humanity has a peculiar talent for ignoring the consequences of choosing bloodshed, misery, death, hunger and suffering, over adventure, discovery, and peace.

 

But the H.P.42 is not only a symbol of luxury, it's also a symbol of peacetime, progress, romance, and ultimately of humanity's better angels, of what we would like our world to be.

 

My thanks again to John Eaton, who facilitated the acquisition of the kit, and to Arctic Decals for producing the set that greatly enhances the model and solved the issue of the window frames and the ruined decal sheet in the kit.

Thanks also to the fellow modelers that made comments and gave "emotional support" 😉 during the long build, and last but not least to the Hidden Ones that maintain this place of encounter and sharing: BM.

 

I hope this model operates a bit like a time machine, and takes you to an era of shimmering glamour -the Golden Age of Aviation- that has so much to offer, so much to say, so much beauty to share, so much charm to explore.

Not in vain it's called "Golden".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Quid100]

Fantastic modelling, fantastic photography, luv it. 

Matt 

[Lightpainter]

Incredible really!

 

I went to a modelling show totday and there was a partly completed Contrail HP42 but it nowhere came close to your model!

[Heather Kay]

Sublime! Awesome! Spectacular! Flawless! 

 

(Enough flattery? I doubt it.  )

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

44 minutes ago, Quid100 said:

Fantastic modelling, fantastic photography, luv it. 

Matt 

Thanks Matt!

35 minutes ago, Lightpainter said:

Incredible really!

 

I went to a modelling show totday and there was a partly completed Contrail HP42 but it nowhere came close to your model!

You are very kind, thanks!

29 minutes ago, Heather Kay said:

Sublime! Awesome! Spectacular! Flawless! 

 

(Enough flattery? I doubt it.  )

You made me laugh 🤣

Thanks Heather, flawless surely it is not, but I am glad I built it.

Now BM should send me to a nice Spa to recover, all expenses paid.

Cheers

[Martian]

Beautiful! How are you going to follow this?

 

Demanding of Mars 👽

[Baldy]

Simply beautiful Moa. What a graceful and iconic symbol of early trans-continental air travel - and your model has captured it beautifully. I looked in on your WIP a few times in awe and I still cannot believe that a stunning model like this can be built from a Vac-Form! Well done!

 

Now get yourself booked into that spa - the cheque is in the post (Not!) LOL

Cheers

 

Malcolm

 

[Roger Holden]

Like the poetic intro, which sounds like something straight from a 1930s travel brochure.  Although, to be a trifle pedantic, Heracles and sister Horatius seldom (never?) ventured to anywhere more exotic than Paris.

Whatever, a spectacular result from that rough old kit, with photography to match.  You've captured the essence of the lumbering giant better than the others I've seen to date.....

[Turbofan]

Hi Moa,

I've been following your progress over the past few months and have been in awe of your seemingly endless talents!

Congratulations on finally finishing it, it has been so worth it. I hope you can find somewhere fitting to display it where as many people as possible can see, admire and appreciate it.

I have one question, where is the flag pole with the ensign flying from it? It would be the icing on the cake for me!

 

The best civil model on BM this year without a doubt!!

 

Cheers,

Ian

[Greg Law]

Wow Moa that is spectacular.  

[Patrik]

Magnificent, Your Magnificence.

Patrik

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

14 minutes ago, Turbofan said:

Hi Moa,

I've been following your progress over the past few months and have been in awe of your seemingly endless talents!

Congratulations on finally finishing it, it has been so worth it. I hope you can find somewhere fitting to display it where as many people as possible can see, admire and appreciate it.

I have one question, where is the flag pole with the ensign flying from it? It would be the icing on the cake for me!

 

The best civil model on BM this year without a doubt!!

 

Cheers,

Ian

Hi Ian

Thanks!

If you look closely you will see that the hole for the flag pole has been covered. I made one, but the flag looked unreal, stiff and childish, even when made to drop more or less naturally.

It contaminated the model with puerility, so I discarded it. Figures and "soft" elements (fabrics, etc.), when not good, look rigid and ruin the effect.

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

27 minutes ago, Martian Hale said:

Beautiful! How are you going to follow this?

 

Demanding of Mars 👽

The next one (a few more decals to be applied) is the Argentinian Junkers airliner.

After that, dear extraterrestrial, modeling vacations it is for me. My eyes are tired and my hands stiff.

(Watch out for a guy named David Vincent, he was asking about you the other days)

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

22 minutes ago, Roger Holden said:

Like the poetic intro, which sounds like something straight from a 1930s travel brochure.  Although, to be a trifle pedantic, Heracles and sister Horatius seldom (never?) ventured to anywhere more exotic than Paris.

Whatever, a spectacular result from that rough old kit, with photography to match.  You've captured the essence of the lumbering giant better than the others I've seen to date.....

Thanks Roger

I read so much written material during the research that surely some content made it here.

I have a photo of Heracles at Schiphol, and another most likely in Switzerland.

Too much work to go looking for it now among the pile of references, but at one point I think Heracles had to cover for another HP42 and do the stretch to Near East for a little while.

Cheers

 

[Space Ranger]

 

We are not worthy to even view the images of such excellent examples of scale modelling engineering, construction, and art, not to mention the sublime descriptive prose, on our computers. I shall now take up crochet as a hobby.

 

 

[Dave Spencer]

Vac form - nah, not for me.

1930s- nah, not for me.

Airliner - nah, not for me.

Silver - nah, not for me.

 

All these things aside, this is a truly stunning looking build. And this is the first time I have commented on a build in a while. Well done mate, this is an amazing looking aircraft.

[bbudde]

Perfect rendition!

Cheers

[RMCS]

Brilliant 

[Max Headroom]

Stunning. Simply stunning.

 

Trevor

[JohnHaa]

Moa,

 

I'm impressed with your skills, it is a complicated and difficult model and you managed to look it so beautiful. My compliments !

 

Also your wip was very usefull ! Thanks.

 

Cheers

 

JohnHaa

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lord Riot]

Well that's rather splendid, you've brought an old aeroplane to life with this, the modelling and photos are that good. 

[jeaton01]

I'm lost in a storm of speechlessness!  A dream come true to see that kit built in such stupendous fashion. Many vacform kits are weeping with envy as they still remain in my stash.  I shall have to print one of those photos, frame it and put it on the wall.

[Horatio Gruntfuttock]

Oh my sainted aunt! That is just wonderful Moa, you are a true modelling giant! I built this kit a decade or so ago and was lucky enough to score 'best in show' at the ScaleACT competition in Canberra in 2009 but yours is light years better than my attempt. I'm in awe.

As an aside I knew an English engineer who has left us now but who lived near Croydon airport in the 1930s and he would tell of seeing these beasts flying onto the grass strips, engines barely ticking over and softly drifting in like giant moths, an image that has stayed with me.

Edited September 16, 2019 by Horatio Gruntfuttock
spelling error

[dogsbody]

Moa, you have gasted this old Canuck's flabber! Truly a most excellent build. 

 

 

 

Chris

[chrisbob12]

Wow! It was an epic build leading to a superb result. Thank you so much for sharing this, I enjoyed the whole thing.