1/48 - de Havilland DH.115 Vampire Trainer T.11/J28C by Pilot Replicas - released

[flarpen]

And what about the nose gear?
doesn't that look "fishy" to?

[tony.t]

Oh dear, it just gets worse. If it were 1:32 I'd fight it all the way to the finishing line, but I build 1:48 for pleasure. 

 

Dommage. 

 

 

 

 

[general melchett]

Quote

And what about the nose gear?
doesn't that look "fishy" to?

 

Yep......leg is angled, it should be vertical, the hub seems oversized (with incorrect detail) and the forward door appears too long. I'm sure someone will comes along with suitable aftermarket but it seems a basic mistake with so many real examples to pull on..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due to the flatness of the upper nose, the forward fuselage loses that classic egg shape.

 

 

Edited February 28, 2024 by general melchett

[TEXANTOMCAT]

I agree, the nose gear door is wrong, the gear leg looks like the downlocks havent engaged, I wonder if they copied a museum airframe...always difficult as oftentimes the oleos arent pumped up either... or, a-la Airfix they have downlock collars fitted and no-one notices...

 

TT

[Ad-4N]

I am really wondering what plans they used for the kit, if any.  Should have used the information Airfix employed to created their 1/72 version.  

[Red Dot]

And where would they get that from? Airfix? I can't really see that happening, can you?

 

If you don't like the kit, don't buy it, but please stop moaning before you have even seen it. It's depressing.

 

At least they made an effort and you could always use the add-on parts in the awful Classic Airframes kit (yes, I have built one).

 

Andy

[Julien]

That whole nose is just wrong

[Julien]

1 hour ago, Red Dot said:

And where would they get that from? Airfix? I can't really see that happening, can you?

 

If you don't like the kit, don't buy it, but please stop moaning before you have even seen it. It's depressing.

 

At least they made an effort and you could always use the add-on parts in the awful Classic Airframes kit (yes, I have built one).

 

Andy

While I agree with the comments on getting the info from Airfix, I just see informed criticism of the kit here, not moaning, or anything of the like. Well reasoned points with kit photos and real photos. 

 

I would go as far as to say yours is the only real moan here?

[Ad-4N]

25 minutes ago, Red Dot said:

And where would they get that from? Airfix? I can't really see that happening, can you?

 

If you don't like the kit, don't buy it, but please stop moaning before you have even seen it. It's depressing.

 

At least they made an effort and you could always use the add-on parts in the awful Classic Airframes kit (yes, I have built one).

 

Andy

 

 

Ok guys, I am out.  Enjoy your 1/48 "Vampire Trainer."  

[Red Dot]

6 minutes ago, Julien said:

While I agree with the comments on getting the info from Airfix, I just seem informed criticism of the kit here, not moaning, or anything of the like. Well reasoned points with kit photos and real photos. 

 

I would go as far as to say yours is the only real moan here?

You are right about the informed criticism Julien, and yes it is well reasoned.

 

I just feel sorry for all manufacturers who do their best, spending  lots of their time and money, then all they get are complaints.

 

I know they could do better, but sometimes it doesn't happen. 

 

How about some positivity for a change?

 

The decal sheet could be good, the add-ons could be good and so on.

 

Andy

[tony.t]

On 2/28/2024 at 8:24 PM, Red Dot said:

You are right about the informed criticism Julien, and yes it is well reasoned.

 

I just feel sorry for all manufacturers who do their best, spending  lots of their time and money, then all they get are complaints.

 

I know they could do better, but sometimes it doesn't happen. 

 

How about some positivity for a change?

 

The decal sheet could be good, the add-ons could be good and so on.

 

Andy

 

It may need part re-tooling to redeem Pilot Replica's hitherto good reputation. It's a real shame but it still has potential. I find it all a bit tragic, as it's a subject many of us want. We need to be solution-focused at this stage.

 

Tony  

 

 

.

Edited March 2, 2024 by tony.t
condensed

[Red Dot]

Thats the spirit!

 

Andy

[Julien]

13 hours ago, Red Dot said:

You are right about the informed criticism Julien, and yes it is well reasoned.

 

I just feel sorry for all manufacturers who do their best, spending  lots of their time and money, then all they get are complaints.

 

I know they could do better, but sometimes it doesn't happen. 

 

How about some positivity for a change?

 

The decal sheet could be good, the add-ons could be good and so on.

 

Andy

So we should accept substandard product in the hope that they do better next time or accept a sub par kit for the sake of a good decal sheet? I really dont think so. There are areas of kits which can be tweaked and made better with aftermarket, but here there are major shape errors. This im sorry to say on my part is not acceptable.

[petetasker]

Still going to get one. It might just take a bit more work than I’d hoped. Dare I say it, I’m actually looking forward to it!

[dragonlanceHR]

There is some positivity, Red Dot, this thread saved me 50+ euros.

[flarpen]

Well, these small detail errors don't bother me very much, most are not that hard to fix if one wants to.
I'm going to get more then one and be happy building them.

[wellsprop]

13 hours ago, Julien said:

There are areas of kits which can be tweaked and made better with aftermarket, but here there are major shape errors. This im sorry to say on my part is not acceptable.

 

I have to agree here, the criticism has been justified and based on the finished model.

 

Having CAD modelled a Vampire T11 myself (I was working on a conversion for the Airfix kit, but stopped when PR announced this). What I find very confusing is there are a couple (not many) Vampire T11 plans online that, whilst not perfect, would have avoided some of these errors - the equation that describes the profile of the aerofoil is available online.

 

I really want to see these small manufacturers succeed, I know how hard it is just doing the CAD and 3D printed conversions that I've produced. Unfortunately it's hard to ignore shape issues, especially at that price

[Viggen]

I don't understand why they don't print a test model to verify the shape and general appearance in these times????

It's a hobby but creating a model and QC and process control should be a profession. It's a shame that Pilot Replicas put their fine reputation at risk.

Sorry, I have build Airfix lovely 1:72 kit, now I'm hoping they do it in 1:48 as well.

[wellsprop]

1 hour ago, Viggen said:

I don't understand why they don't print a test model to verify the shape and general appearance in these times????

It's a hobby but creating a model and QC and process control should be a profession. It's a shame that Pilot Replicas put their fine reputation at risk.

Sorry, I have build Airfix lovely 1:72 kit, now I'm hoping they do it in 1:48 as well.

 

They did a 3D print and teased a photo of it with one of their other models (albeit the Vampire was in the background and blurred).

 

It appears they didn't have access to a Vampire expert or reliable/accurate plans - the accuracy of a final product will only be as good as the data that's gathered a the initial stage. Unfortunately, sourcing accurate plans is hard and can be expensive, the same goes for specialist knowledge. I understand PR have full time jobs alongside making kits, so it's quite understandable that they don't have unlimited resources to do this.

 

The Saab SK60, J29 and J21 models they produced look absolutely stunning and appear (to my limited knowledge) to be accurate - perhaps they simply have more knowledge of Saabs (being Swedish) than they do Vampires?

 

I'm looking forward to seeing a full build review though!

[dragonlanceHR]

4 hours ago, flarpen said:

Well, these small detail errors don't bother me very much, most are not that hard to fix if one wants to.
I'm going to get more then one and be happy building them.

Except the errors are neither small or concerning details.

[71chally]

I was going to say this could be a job for @wellsprop!  Hopefully your trainer conversion will come to fruition, and the NF.10.

 

[flarpen]

1 hour ago, dragonlanceHR said:

Except the errors are neither small or concerning details.

I can live with it.

[flarpen]

2 hours ago, wellsprop said:

The Saab SK60, J29 and J21 models they produced look absolutely stunning and appear (to my limited knowledge) to be accurate - perhaps they simply have more knowledge of Saabs (being Swedish) than they do Vampires?

 

I'm looking forward to seeing a full build review though!

It all comes down to knowing the subject, that's probably why the Vampire gets such a trashing on this forum.

Sk 60 and J 21 have a lot of small irritating omissions, faults and simplifications, but we usually see beyond that or just fix it.

[Piotr Mikolajski]

 

4 hours ago, Viggen said:

It's a hobby but creating a model and QC and process control should be a profession.

 

Modellers have huge demands on manufacturers, but they do not realise how much kits would cost if companies actually carried out the entire production process with such high requirements as aircraft manufacturers have to do.

 

There are no perfect manufacturers, there are no perfect kits. Mistakes have happened, are happening and will continue to happen. Sometimes big, sometimes small, sometimes obvious, sometimes ones that were unnoticeable during the whole design process and only come out in the plastic.

 

[SleeperService]

On 2/28/2024 at 7:00 PM, Ad-4N said:

I am really wondering what plans they used for the kit, if any.  Should have used the information Airfix employed to created their 1/72 version.  

 

23 hours ago, Red Dot said:

And where would they get that from? Airfix? I can't really see that happening, can you?

 

If you don't like the kit, don't buy it, but please stop moaning before you have even seen it. It's depressing.

 

At least they made an effort and you could always use the add-on parts in the awful Classic Airframes kit (yes, I have built one).

 

Andy

 

Simple answer is buy the Airfix kit to check shapes. As for information then @John Aero would be a good place to start.

 

I'm saddened by this so far, probably more users than any other Vampire mark, and it may be the downfall of a small company like Pilot Replicas who haven't got the range to carry a perceived dud