1/72 - Douglas Dolphin 3D printed kit by Hobartville Hobbies - released

[Homebee]

 

Hobartville Hobbies has just released a limited edition 1/72nd Douglas Dolphin 3D printed kit - ref. HHK-72008

Source: https://www.hobartvillehobbies.com.au/?item=24#2

 

Quote

1/72 scale Douglas Dolphin in RAAF service. Over 50 3D-printed parts, vacformed windows and brass undercarriage legs. Three decal options included.

 

 

 

 

 

V.P.

 

Edited December 12, 2023 by Homebee

[Ed Russell]

I speak with some bias as I helped with the research on this kit, initially with Dekno then SBS Models. Neither of them developed it but Hobartville Hobbies has made a great little kit. The main parts fit together very well and the detail looks to be really high quality. The parts are very cleanly printed with locating pegs and they are of sufficient rigidity that the assembly should be easy. The only previous Dolphin kits were vacforms by Esoteric and O'Neill. I have seen the former built to a pretty good standard - once!

The Dolphin had a fairly undistinguished career in the RAAF being mainly used for training. They were camouflaged in standard RAAF form, like the Walrus and Seagull amphibians they served along side. Patriotically. I will do mine as a RAAF example but the main user was the US Coast Guard. If enough people were interested I am sure a special USCG release would be possible.

Link to USCG Dolphin

https://travelforaircraft.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/douglas-rd-dolphin-write/

 

 

[28ZComeback]

Looks gorgeous!! Nice detail. I sure wish we had one in 1/48, in Pearl Harbor colors. 

[Cammer625]

That looks very nice! He’s doing an awesome job with his little business and Red Roo with their support for all things Aussie. 

[Ed Russell]

2 hours ago, 28ZComeback said:

I sure wish we had one in 1/48, in Pearl Harbor colors. 

1/48 is not impossible. Do you have pictures of one at Pearl Harbor?

[Hub Plott]

If they do it in 1/48 I'd be interested as Dr. Colgate W. Darden, III owned the only survivor and flew it here in South Carolina before donating it to the NMUSN.

[JWM]

Beautiful gem! @Ed Russell - many thanks for your part in this release.  The RAAF schemes are very tempting and looks interesting ,they are very well documented on many photos available in NET. The 1942 USCG scheme in two grey is in Wiki. however without unit details

 

Here are details of US military use http://www.microworks.net/pacific/aviation/rd_transports.htm. From published data it looks that some differences in shapes between variants should exists. 

Some additional data here https://generalaviationnews.com/2022/11/16/the-douglas-dolphin/ including very interesting photo of Dolphin rescuing people from torpedoed vessel in 1943 - so the last year of operation is US Navy

Here is photo taken in Philippines https://www.flickr.com/photos/johntewell/4496367862 but nothing is seen in fact here...

Regards

J0W

 

 

 

 

 

[28ZComeback]

http://www.microworks.net/pacific/aviation/rd_transports.htm

[bjohns5]

I'm good for one in 1/48 if they decide to release it in my scale.

[JWM]

Interesting, if it will be distributed by any European model shop or one have to pay whole cost of individual overseas import (by the way - how much it can be compare to 105 Australian dollars for kit itself?)

To be frank - does no matter, I will go for one anyway