alzictorini Posted June 9, 2022 Share Posted June 9, 2022 Afternoon BMs I was tasked early last year to build a Handley Page Hampden Bomber Instrument Panel for the RAF Coningsby Heritage Centre. It was the anniversary of the first aircraft to have flown out of the base when it began operations in 1941. Here's pictures of the final build: It's made from MDF (panel), clear plastic sheet (gauge glass), PLA (all gauges, switches, instruments, covers and info plates) for the 3D printed items. Nuts bolts and screws. It is scale 1:1, full size. It took approx 6 months to research, design, print, paint and assemble. The boxed Panel was unveiled by Lancaster Navigator, Arthur Spencer DFC who served at RAF Coningsby in WWII. RAF Con Facebook Page 49 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janneman36 Posted June 9, 2022 Share Posted June 9, 2022 Another fabulous piece of art… cheers, Jan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alzictorini Posted June 9, 2022 Author Share Posted June 9, 2022 I was fortunate to be able to obtain help for the build from the RAF Museum who provided me some plans for an early panel and to have access to the Hampden Bomber at East Kirkby airfield to take accurate measurement. Likewise I had a good look at the restored panel at RAF Cosford on the superb reconstructed remains of the Hampden from a Russian crash site. My panel was all designed in fusion 360 (outstanding software). I made casts for many of the prints for future reproduction. The construction was straight forward thanks to good plans, drawings and the real items I visited. The final results look cool in my eye Enjoy 20 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PWJ Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 Superb modelling Sir. Why has AIRFIX not done a 1/48 kit of this aircraft? Cheers PWJ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toryu Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 Wow - a different level of modelling! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyOD Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 That's wonderful. Very special. You'd think there would be a market for kits of i/p's from famous aircraft for framing after assembly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgeusa Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 This is absolutely amazing. I am in awe of all the creative uses of computer design programs and how they can be applied to current modeling. I am a dinosaur in regards to this aspect of modeling and truly respect those that understand how to use the available programs to create a masterpiece such as this one. Again, I am in awe of this instrument panel. Thank you for sharing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_W Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 Amazing build. Interesting little mechanical interlock on the port side, looks to be something to do with the undercarriage? Neat solution to making sure two things aren't turned on at once. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnl42 Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 O.M.G.! Bravo! That is truly outstanding work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ththtttu7 Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 Hi alzictorini, Having personally restored or created several original aircraft instrument panels in aluminium/tuffnel including: Vampire FB.5 and T.11; Meteor F.4 and NF.11; Hornet F.1; Sea Hornet PR.22; and Tempest II, I can say that you have done a superb job on this Hampden. It's indistinguishable from the original. Amazing work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fittedkitchens Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 This is incredible! The 3D printed items look really smooth, with none of that line-effect often seen. Kudos! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janneman36 Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 9 hours ago, PWJ said: Superb modelling Sir. Why has AIRFIX not done a 1/48 kit of this aircraft? Cheers PWJ If I am correct it was all about the fact that there is no complete and finished aircraft available for measurements……at the moment so this can change! This was recently asked at Airfix and this was their answer! cheers, Jan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Juliet Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 (edited) Absolutely fantastic! I can see Flightsimmers the movie industry beating a path to your door! (Sorely tempted myself!) Maximum respect Janneman! Edited June 10, 2022 by Alpha Juliet addition 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 Excellent 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alzictorini Posted June 11, 2022 Author Share Posted June 11, 2022 Morning BMs Thanks for the support and comments, much appreciated and hopefully this will inspire someone to build their own panel. As I’ve described in a few threads now, panels can be made from card, plastic all the way to metal if required. Eduard do a small range of 1/4 size panels which frame beautifully. I will post one other build of a BF109 panel from card and paper only next. As for the Hampden bomber, it is so ugly it is a beautiful. The Hampden at RAF Cosford is to be displayed in segments so as to see inside. I hope Airfix can build a kit from this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HL-10 Posted June 11, 2022 Share Posted June 11, 2022 WOW! Absolutely amazing! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted June 11, 2022 Share Posted June 11, 2022 Outstanding work. I'd love an instrument panel for my wall. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael51 Posted June 11, 2022 Share Posted June 11, 2022 1 hour ago, Eric Mc said: Outstanding work. I'd love an instrument panel for my wall. and I would like one fitted in my car! Wonderful work, Michael 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 Absolutely amazing!👏 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 On 11/06/2022 at 10:15, Michael51 said: and I would like one fitted in my car! Wonderful work, Michael You would have to careful with the undercarriage selection switch. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alzictorini Posted June 13, 2022 Author Share Posted June 13, 2022 Yes, I've seen gold finger as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maginot Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 Exquisite! What is the red and green disc with pointers on the upper left of the RAF Cosford reconstructed panel? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alzictorini Posted June 13, 2022 Author Share Posted June 13, 2022 (edited) It's the calculator for the torpedo release, drift, speed, windage. The hampden then lit a light in the lower windscreen which the pilot would steer to. Clever bit of clock mechanical kit. The Cosford Hampden as well as the East Kirky bomber were rigged for torpedo attacks (Hampden T1s). Both planes came from 144 Sqn and came down on the way over to Russia. Edited June 13, 2022 by alzictorini Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazza l Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 That's mighty impressive and something completely different. gazza l 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dric Posted June 14, 2022 Share Posted June 14, 2022 Splendid for sure 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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