ianwau Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 A bit of modelling of 1960's civilian general aviation... The Piper PA24 Comanche has it seems been ignored by kit manufacturers - but was (is) a far more svelte machine than the PA28 Comanche (which has seen a number of kit options). Rather than wait for another decade or two - I thought I'd tempt fate by pushing ahead with a scratchbuild. But had TWO equally tasty schemes to choose from - both Australian. One was a PA24-180 (VH-RSX) operated by RAC NSW in the early 1960's (and flown/enjoyed by my father) and another PA24-250 (VH-SME) operated by the Snowy Mountains Authority in the mid 1960's for comms & VIP duties. So to avoid procrastinating, I decided to make twin Comanches! (Pssst. VH-SME isn't 100% finished - I have some tip-tank decals to print/apply, thence nav lights, and some white VH-SME markings needed on the fuse side. But I'm calling it done anyway in the interests of having twin Comanches!) The build started in Dec 2021 and has had slow and steady progress since. Here is the link to the work-in-progress thread if you wanted to back track on the methods employed: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235103075-piper-pa24-comanche-148-scratchbuild/ Below is one of my fathers pix of VH-RSX at Canberra (Australia) circa 1961 on an 'outing' And here's a Greg Banfield shot (via Ed Coates collection) of VH-SME in 1963 http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austmz/VH-SME2.jpg http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austmz/VH-SME.html 46 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 Proper old-school model engineering skills produced a pair of real beauties! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesa Jussila Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 Good to see these general aviation planes built and really nice modelling. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 You've done beautiful work there! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacW Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 What a refreshing gasp of fresh modellers' air after all those 109s, thundersomethings and F's! Beautiful and inspiring. Keep on making civilians, there are so many beauties among them! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastcat Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 Hard to believe these are scratch-built. Fine work and a great result. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangseat Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 This is top work. I totally concur the Comanche is a fine looking aircraft (if a bit squat on its tiny undercarriage!) I've been recently working on a digital model of the PA24, so I've become very familiar with the details. Might you add the nosewheel door that hinges on the stb side? My version - still on its way to reality... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 Gorgeous pair of PA-24s. Excellent result for scratch builds. Love them! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maginot Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 Very good-looking models, the result of fine craftsmanship. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 Congratulations! A great result. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwau Posted May 22, 2022 Author Share Posted May 22, 2022 6 hours ago, Bangseat said: I've been recently working on a digital model of the PA24, so I've become very familiar with the details. Might you add the nosewheel door that hinges on the stb side? That nosedoor WAS there - but seems to have had an inflight incident whilst taking the photos. Luckily had a spare so that's fixed. There are a couple of omissions here and there in the detail department but my eyesight and mojo only go so far. Also checked out your https://vfrmodels.co.uk/shop/ website - great range! I'd like a few of those in 1/48! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 I am super impressed! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tallyho Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 Fantastic work and some true modelling skills in action!! Inspirational 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 Beautiful sir ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyinoz Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 very very nice, good to see these old civil types. in my wish list are Cessna 182, 206 and 402. the bravest conversion / part scratch I ever attempted was a 1/48 bonanza into a baron 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epeeman Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 Amazing that these excellent models are scratch built - wonderful! Regards Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 Things of beauty, they look great. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsprop Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 These are stunning - what craftsmanship! I'd love to do the same for the Pa28 (by no means an exceptional aeroplane, but the one in which I learnt to fly) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 Great job. The Comanche was always an attractive aeroplane. You've done them justice. I remember a few years ago a flock of them flew flew into my local airport from the UK. A grand tour of some sort. They were accompanied by two interloper SF260s. Another attractive type. The same couldn't be said for the boxy Aussie GA8 Airvan I was flying at the time. Nice one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 Impressive modellin! And many thanks for that very clear and pedagogic WIP – lots of clever pointers there! Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pantherhawk27263 Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 Very impressive scratch building. I couldn't even begin to try such a project. Excellent work on a pair of beauties. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horatio Gruntfuttock Posted May 24, 2022 Share Posted May 24, 2022 Great work Ian and I can't wait to see them 'in the flesh' - perhaps they will show up at our June meeting? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwau Posted May 24, 2022 Author Share Posted May 24, 2022 16 hours ago, wellsprop said: I'd love to do the same for the Pa28 (by no means an exceptional aeroplane, but the one in which I learnt to fly) Keep an eye out for the 1/36 Marui kit of the PA28-140 Cherokee. Not a bad build (I did a resto on a paintblobbed kit last year). 19 hours ago, wallyinoz said: the bravest conversion / part scratch I ever attempted was a 1/48 bonanza into a baron There's probably as much work in the Bonanza to Baron conversion as in an outright scratchbuild? A bit like house renovations - sometimes easier to start with a blank sheet - vs having to work around the inconveniences posed by existing structure. Did you finish it - I have a vague memory of seeing something like that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted May 24, 2022 Share Posted May 24, 2022 Lovely aircraft and great models. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted May 25, 2022 Share Posted May 25, 2022 Bravo Ian, more outstanding work - they're gorgeous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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