1:72 S.B.S Model de Havilland DH.88 Comet

[Martian]

The news that you are going to be OK is the best I have heard in a long time. Congratulations from Mars.

 

Martian 👽

[Ex-FAAWAFU]

Great to hear that you’re well, Bill, & looking forward to seeing this come together.  The Airfix version was one of first kits - possibly even THE first - I ever built, over 50 years ago.  Sigh.

[Hamden]

 

Great to hear the news of your biopsey and also your grandchild number 5.

Looking forward to your Comet advancement 

 

           Roger

[CedB]

Good news on the biopsy and Grandchild Bill, very good news!  

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Congrats on the good news and the biopsy

[Marklo]

Good to hear the biopsy went the right way. And congratulations on the next Grandchild.

 

 

[bigbadbadge]

Hi Bill 

Congratulations on both the results and your Daughters pregnancy to.  I am very  chuffed for you fella.  

Chris 

 

[billn53]

I bought this kit a couple months ago, based on Moa’s recommendations, as my first foray into resin kits.  I unfortunately haven’t been able to start it yet as I’m in the middle of moving to a new house.  I’ll follow along if you don’t mind.

[Navy Bird]

On 06/09/2020 at 20:04, Martian said:

The news that you are going to be OK is the best I have heard in a long time. Congratulations from Mars.

 

Martian 👽

 

Thanks Martin. I sure wasn't looking forward to the treatment if it had gone the other way - surgery, chemo and/or radiation. Since I'm immunodeficient, I'm not surprised that it turned out to be some kind of infection. It's a big relief for my family too. I think they were more worried than I was.

 

On 07/09/2020 at 09:31, billn53 said:

I bought this kit a couple months ago, based on Moa’s recommendations, as my first foray into resin kits.  I unfortunately haven’t been able to start it yet as I’m in the middle of moving to a new house.  I’ll follow along if you don’t mind.

 

Pull up a chair. You'll have plenty of time to move into that house as I'm a notoriously slow builder. @Moa cranks 'em out like an assembly line and still manages to produce masterpieces. I kinda plod along and deliver mediocrity.

 

 

Today I'm working on those silly little practice bombs for the Mauler. I'll get back to the Comet soon.  

 

Cheers,

Bill

[general melchett]

Great to hear the biopsy was clear Bill, big weight off yours and the families minds, also good news about your recent addition to the Navy Bird clan...

No excuse not to get this one done then...look forward to rapid(ish) progress. 

Quote

I kinda plod along and deliver mediocrity.

That maybe your view Bill but I and many others would strongly disagree with that comment..

[Brandy]

Excellent news Bill. Looking forward to a nice relaxed build here now.

 

Ian

[Navy Bird]

On 09/09/2020 at 08:57, general melchett said:

That maybe your view Bill but I and many others would strongly disagree with that comment..

 

Ah, silly me. I guess I didn't word my comment correctly. I often denigrate myself, but I was referring here to my mediocre quantity of output, especially compared to others on the forum such as Moa. Oops.   

 

And thanks so much for the kind words about my health. I know you have worked in the medical profession, so you've probably seen lots of cases like mine. I've been through chemo (main treatment and maintenance treatment) twice now (2002 and 2014) and I wasn't looking forward to doing it again. But you do what you have to do, so I was prepared for bad news. That makes the good news extra special. Kind of like when the model you're building goes together without swearing.   

 

*****

Which brings me back to the Comet. I've been removing the parts from their casting blocks, and cleaning things up. The fuselage halves have pegs and alignment holes, but I have a slight problem when I put them together. El Banana.

 

 

 

This one might show it better...

 

 

The problem is not due to warping, which you occasionally see with resin kits and is easily fixed, but the fact that the port fuselage half is slightly longer than starboard. Consequently, when the alignment pegs are in their corresponding holes, the fuselage is bending. I'll have to remove some of the pegs and see if I can make up for the different fuselage lengths. It's not that much of a difference, maybe a millimetre or so.

 

It's hard to see in the photos, but it appears that the fuselage halves are not the same resin formulation as they are different colours. The difference is slight, one grey being "warmer" than the other, but it's noticeable. Maybe that's what caused the issue?

 

Anyway, back to plodding along at my mediocre rate...

 

Cheers,

Bill

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

4 minutes ago, Navy Bird said:

 

The problem is not due to warping, which you occasionally see with resin kits and is easily fixed, but the fact that the port fuselage half is slightly longer than starboard. Consequently, when the alignment pegs are in their corresponding holes, the fuselage is bending. I'll have to remove some of the pegs and see if I can make up for the different fuselage lengths. It's not that much of a difference, maybe a millimetre or so.

 

It's hard to see in the photos, but it appears that the fuselage halves are not the same resin formulation as they are different colours. The difference is slight, one grey being "warmer" than the other, but it's noticeable. Maybe that's what caused the issue?

 

 

Bill, I would suggest you write to SBS, let them know of your issue, and request a new fuselage casting, or if you are in good terms with the seller from whom you acquire it, let that person know.

SBS's website gives this contact info:

[email protected]

I have bought 3 of those , and no such problem was encountered. This appears to me as a quality control oversight, which should entitle you to a parts' replacement.

Do not start on a flawed casting that may force you to compromise.

Cheers

[Navy Bird]

42 minutes ago, Moa said:

Bill, I would suggest you write to SBS, let them know of your issue, and request a new fuselage casting, or if you are in good terms with the seller from whom you acquire it, let that person know.

 

Good idea, I may just do that. I'd contact the seller, but I'm old and don't remember who I bought it from!   

 

Cheers,

Bill

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

7 minutes ago, Navy Bird said:

 

Good idea, I may just do that. I'd contact the seller, but I'm old and don't remember who I bought it from!   

 

Cheers,

Bill

Write to SBS directly to the address they provide, link the mail to your thread.

I am sure they will be up to it.

Cheers

[general melchett]

Quote

Ah, silly me. I guess I didn't word my comment correctly.

Thanks for clearing that up Bill, now makes much more sense. 

Quote

I know you have worked in the medical profession, so you've probably seen lots of cases like mine. I've been through chemo (main treatment and maintenance treatment) twice now (2002 and 2014) and I wasn't looking forward to doing it again. But you do what you have to do, so I was prepared for bad news. That makes the good news extra special. Kind of like when the model you're building goes together without swearing.    

Yes, many, many cases my friend, what struck me is the impact on not only the patient but also the immediate family and close friends, a tough ride for everyone concerned. It certainly made me count my blessings for every day of good health and without wanting to sound cliche, never to take anything for granted. On that note, the memsahib's best friend (also, like her, a former nurse specialist) has just been given the all clear, following a full course of chemo and radiotherapy which, during this lockdown business, hasn't been easy. Her positive outlook and sense of humour has been truly inspirational to all of us. 

'model goes together without swearing'......haven't had too many of those!

 

As for the issue with the fuselage, I agree with Moa, go straight to SBS for a replacement, I'm sure they'll be able to help you out.

[corsaircorp]

Hello Bill !

What's going on ?? It's comet season ??

That make me more eager to receive mine (In the other proper scale)

Waow great new on the medical field !! Glad that you get free of all this mess.

And now a Navy Bird baby #5 !!

You just miss some rocket fuel bottles now !!

I'll follow on...

 

Now that I saw @general melchett green lantern comet, I start to hesitate... Red or green... Green or red ???

I did'nt have to cross this

 

By any Chance, did His Generalship remember the references of the green used on his Comet ??

Sincerely.

CC

[Dave Swindell]

1 hour ago, corsaircorp said:

start to hesitate... Red or green... Green or red ???

 

[Marklo]

On 9/9/2020 at 1:57 PM, general melchett said:

I kinda plod along and deliver mediocrity.

Wow if that’s mediocrity then I aspire one day to get up to that level.

Seriously your builds are to a very high standard and enjoyable to watch plus usually quirky subjects which I do appreciate.

 

As for quantity it a hobby so it’s entirely up to you how quickly you build, there are more than enough things to stress you in life without making modelling one of them.

 

On the Comets; I did read De Havilland and Hatfield by John Clifford last year ( a bit disappointing as I was hoping for more if the early history of the aircraft, it’s much more a social history of the factory during the interwar period) but weren’t there only about 6 Comets made but a number of them were repainted several times. I’d love one now. But I’m torn as to what scale; 1/32 like my other racers, but it would be enormous; 1/48 as my default scale, but still big or a nice manageable 1/72.

 

And of course my overall memory of a Comet is as a kid rummaging through the Airfix kits; seeing Comet and being disappointed that it wasn’t a Messerschmitt 163( apologies to @Moa)  so I’ve never actually built one.

Edited September 15, 2020 by Marklo

[Orso]

I've read that the race numbers were stipulated to be painted on a white background which Black Magic failed to do. 

[Navy Bird]

18 hours ago, Moa said:

Write to SBS directly to the address they provide, link the mail to your thread.

I am sure they will be up to it.

 

Wow - I sent them an email and literally within a few hours I had a reply from Csaba. New fuselage parts are being sent FedEx. Everyone, all salute S.B.S! Excellent customer service - go buy some of their kits. Like that new Piaggio PC 7, that's definitely "way cool."    👍

 

5 hours ago, general melchett said:

Yes, many, many cases my friend, what struck me is the impact on not only the patient but also the immediate family and close friends, a tough ride for everyone concerned. It certainly made me count my blessings for every day of good health and without wanting to sound cliche, never to take anything for granted. On that note, the memsahib's best friend (also, like her, a former nurse specialist) has just been given the all clear, following a full course of chemo and radiotherapy which, during this lockdown business, hasn't been easy. Her positive outlook and sense of humour has been truly inspirational to all of us. 

'model goes together without swearing'......haven't had too many of those!

 

You've hit that one right on the head - the impact on the caregiver (family, friends) is often worse than on the patient. My wife can have anxiety over simple things, and waiting for these biopsy results was difficult for her. However, with my initial diagnosis in 2002, and my relapse in 2014, once we knew what we were dealing with she took charge of taking care of me - I couldn't have done it without her. I think I'll keep her.

 

I once had a model that went together without swearing, but I can't remember her name...

 

3 hours ago, corsaircorp said:

What's going on ?? It's comet season ??

That make me more eager to receive mine (In the other proper scale)

Waow great new on the medical field !! Glad that you get free of all this mess.

And now a Navy Bird baby #5 !!

You just miss some rocket fuel bottles now !!

I'll follow on...

 

Now that I saw @general melchett green lantern comet, I start to hesitate... Red or green... Green or red ???

I did'nt have to cross this

 

There does seem to be several Comet threads going at present. That's a good thing, right? I'm leaning towards green at the present time, because it has the Union Jack on the tail and it reminds me of Jimmy Clark and Graham Hill. Although I think the colour is Brunswick Green, not British Racing Green. But it's close enough! Besides, Green Hornet (not Lantern) was my go-to comic book when I was but a wee lad. I always wanted to be Kato.  

 

Thanks for the well wishes. Now, about that bridge - European or African swallow?

 

1 hour ago, Marklo said:

 But I’m torn as to what scale; 1/32 like my other racers, but it would be enormous; 1/48 as my default scale, but still big or a nice manageable 1/72.

 

Thanks for the nice compliments. As for scale, 1:72 is obviously my choice, but that's just me. If your other racers are 1:32, then it makes sense to build a Comet to match - someone offers a kit, Marsh Models I think? In 1:48, the MikroMir kit looks particularly nice.

 

Cheers,

Bill

[general melchett]

Quote

 I couldn't have done it without her. I think I'll keep her.

I think that's what I said to the midwife just after my daughter was born...

 

Quote

I'm leaning towards green at the present time, because it has the Union Jack on the tail and it reminds me of Jimmy Clark and Graham Hill. Although I think the colour is Brunswick Green, not British Racing Green.

My thoughts exactly (our senior class was chosen to represent local schools at Graham's funeral at St Albans Abbey in 1975, a sad day). The colour is Brunswick Green, Bill. I used something I rarely touch any more, a Humbrol enamel, it sprayed beautifully, using Colourcoats thinner.

 

Totally agree about the Pc-7....there's even a trestle available for it. The Macchi Mc-72 looks rather tempting too.

 

SBS Models

 

 

 

 

 

[Navy Bird]

OK, Brunswick Green it is.

 

Now, my favourite site for paint chips is https://www.e-paint.co.uk/. They list three different Brunswick Greens: "Light," "Mid," and "Deep." However, these are BS381C colours, so probably not what was used on the Comet. I don't have any Brunswick Green in the stash, so I will have to go shopping yet again! Thank God I'm going to win the Powerball lottery this week.  

 

Cheers,

Bill

[keefr22]

7 hours ago, Navy Bird said:

British Racing Green.

 

Being pedantic Bill, there isn't really such a colour (despite all the car manufacturers wanting one in their range!), any green painted on a British racing car becomes BRG...! So by extension as the Comet is a British racing aircraft, Brunswick Green will presumably be British Racing Green too...

 

Glad to hear of your all clear, and congratulations on the next Grandkiddie!

 

Looking forward to seeing this one progress.

 

Keith

 

 

[Navy Bird]

3 hours ago, keefr22 said:

Being pedantic Bill, there isn't really such a colour (despite all the car manufacturers wanting one in their range!), any green painted on a British racing car becomes BRG...! So by extension as the Comet is a British racing aircraft, Brunswick Green will presumably be British Racing Green too...

 

Sure, next you'll tell me there is no Ferrari Red...     

 

Yup. no "official" BRG. But it does have its own Wikipedia page. With some colour mixing formulas, even. In any event, I was referencing whatever paint was used on the Lotus 33 and 43 cars - hence the comment about Clark and Hill.

 

Cheers,

Bill