1:32 Comet 1 trial

[tnuag]

We have just printed a 1:32 Comet 1 nose with full cockpit detail (the interior slides out for viewing). It is a sizable model and the possible detail is amazing!

 

I am wondering if we should do a complete aircraft, or just the nose - comments/suggestions anyone?

[Sabrejet]

Would love to see some photos, but for me a nose might be manageable.

[Malc2]

What he said ^!

M.

[tnuag]

I agree that a nose is manageable, we are doing a stand for this reason, still with undercarriage down. The idea came from the old Esci cockpits for the F-16 and F-104.

 

It takes a long time to detail the cockpit, even down to the Morse key on the Radio Officer's table......

 

In summary, the Comet had five fuselage variations, two engines and three wings - not bad, plus Redux bonding.

[TheyJammedKenny!]

The complete aircraft would be too huge for most modelers to handle outside the U.S. exurbs.  I would appreciate a corrective set of wings/engines for the 1/72 Mach 2 Comet IVC kit, or perhaps a whole airframe in 1/72.

[tnuag]

The comment about a Comet being huge reminded me of the time when my father and I drove home from the airport after work with a 1:24 Concorde on the roof rack of the car. It did turn a few heads.

Regarding corrective parts - a complete airframe is a better bet, I have had a soft spot for the aircraft ever since BOAC gave me a ride to Jo'berg and back in G-APDD. Such a pity that the Comet 4 at Duxford is in incorrect marking, while the Comet 1 at Cosford is even worse.

[TheyJammedKenny!]

On 6/18/2024 at 6:49 PM, tnuag said:

a complete airframe is a better bet

A Comet 4 it is, then!  1/72, please?

 

Oh, and a 748?

[tnuag]

I rather like the Comet 1, but with CAD and 3D printing we can do any version we chose in any scale.

The 748 would seem a possible in due course, but there is the 747, and many others.......

It is all down to time available.

 

 

[71chally]

The cockpit only sounds like a great project Neil, a decently accurate 1:72nd Comet would surely be a great release subject?

[tnuag]

Here are some screen shots of a Comet 1 cockpit - it hasn't reached the photography stage yet. These are in 1:72 scale, but still a lot to do. Luckily we have good source data.

 

 

 

[Silver Seraph]

Goodness!!! Whatever scale you intend to bring this, I'll buy it!!! And if a complete kit, even better. Oh boy how good it is to be single, living in a big apartment, with no kids.

[GrahamS]

On 6/18/2024 at 4:49 PM, tnuag said:

The comment about a Comet being huge reminded me of the time when my father and I drove home from the airport after work with a 1:24 Concorde on the roof rack of the car. It did turn a few heads.

Regarding corrective parts - a complete airframe is a better bet, I have had a soft spot for the aircraft ever since BOAC gave me a ride to Jo'berg and back in G-APDD. Such a pity that the Comet 4 at Duxford is in incorrect marking, while the Comet 1 at Cosford is even worse.

Ooooo 1/24th Concorde - now there’s a good idea!🤪

 

Graham

[GrahamS]

I really like the idea of big scale (1/6th, 1/12th, 1/24th) cockpits both for civil and military aircraft - especially for my favourites, Concorde, Vulcan, Victor and TSR2.

 

Graham

[tnuag]

My preferences for cockpits would be Comet, B-52, 747 classic and Beverley. Probably 1:32 to suit current 3D printers.

 

The idea would be to have the interior slide out for inspection.

 

On TSR-2 - I visited Weybridge just after it was cancelled in 1965 - they said "you can go and look at it, it is cancelled". Very sad.

[tnuag]

On 6/26/2024 at 9:25 PM, GrahamS said:

I really like the idea of big scale (1/6th, 1/12th, 1/24th) cockpits both for civil and military aircraft - especially for my favourites, Concorde, Vulcan, Victor and TSR2.

 

Graham

I got a phone call last night to tell me that a 1/18 Jet provost tow bar is being built/printed. This is the most detailed tow bar we have done to date. i should see it next week.

 

The Vulcan and Victor cockpits idea was also well received, but I would add the Valiant to make the trio.

[tnuag]

I received the 1/18 JP tow bar yesterday - master was 1;72 and scaled by 400% and everything has turned out as expected. I'll probably give it to a friend at Hannants.

I am currently working on a  Land Rover as used by the British South Africa Police in Rhodesia in 1:72 of course.

[Mike]

How about shrink it to 1:48, and print the whole thing? I doubt that many people would buy it because of the size and cost, but it would be awesome

 

Actually, a 1:72 print would possibly sell quite well.  I had a vacformed one some years back, and it was large, but not unduly so

[tnuag]

I am looking at a range of 1:72 Comets - we did vacform kits of the 4, 4B and 4C with panel detail, but I wasn't happy with the panel detail. With CAD all the panel lines are .25mm wide and .125mm deep, consistently. I doubt it would be possible to achieve this consistency with traditional scribing.

 

The next phase is to finish the galley, then offer a 1:32 Comet 1 cockpit via Hannants.

[TheyJammedKenny!]

3 hours ago, tnuag said:

I am looking at a range of 1:72 Comets - we did vacform kits of the 4, 4B and 4C

Oh, yes, please!  Any of these would be welcome.  Aerolinas Argentinas, BEA, BOAC, Mexicana, Dan Air.  So many possibilities!  

 

Yes also to the land rover.  I assume it's a Series II?  There's lots of uses for one in this scale besides the two you mentioned.

[tnuag]

I would need to do the standard roof for general usage - the BSAP vehicles had a higher fibreglass roof, with a luggage rack capable of carrying a body box. I did my Police driving test on one of these - happy days.

[Admiral Puff]

A good, accurate Comet in 1:72 would be really appreciated. There was a resin Mk 1 some years ago which was so-so, and the less said about the Mach 2 offering the better ... If you could do the whole range, that would be even better!

[tnuag]

Time permitting, the intention is to produce a 1:32 Comet 1 flight deck initially, followed by 1:72 full kits.

Because CAD is so efficient, and because 3D printing means no additional tooling costs, it is practical to do multiple versions.

In addition, a friend who was a de Havilland apprentice when Comet 1 was being built is also taking an interest in our project.

 

There were five fuselage lengths (excluding Comet 3), two engine configurations (Ghost and Avon), and three wing confiurations (1 and 2, 4 and 4B)

So these are the planned variants:
-     Comet 1 prototype (large single main wheel landing gear)
-     Comet 1 production aircraft (with different window pattern and bogie main landing gear)
-     Comet C Mk 2
-     Comet 4 (with pinion fuel tanks)
-     Comet 4B (longer fuselage, cropped wing tips and no pinion tanks)
-     Comet 4C (Comet 4 wing with Comet 4B fuselage)

 

I will not give any estimated delivery dates because too many delays can occur, so please do not ask.

 

Before I get to the Comets, I intend to get the Rhodesian series finished, I have just finished the BSAP Land Rover, and just have the Kudu to wrap up. The Rhodesian 1:72 series consists of:

-     Pookie land mine detection vehicle

-     Aermacci AL60B2 Trojan
-     Eland 60 Rhodaf armoured car
-     Eland 90 Rhodesian army armoured car
-     BSAP long wheelbase Land Rover
-     Kudu MPV (Mine Protected Vehicle)
-     Forward airfield revetments.

 

Everything is 3D printed and distributed through Hannants.

 

Edited July 12, 2024 by tnuag
Additional content

[TheyJammedKenny!]

6 hours ago, Admiral Puff said:

A good, accurate Comet in 1:72 would be really appreciated.

I strongly endorse this sentiment and second the motion.  My only concern with a 3-D printing of this size is with its durability and brittleness.  I can easily envision the wings snapping at the "build" lines.  Not that it shouldn't be tried, of course, but perhaps you should build a prototype and drop it on your workbench, just to see what happens...

[tnuag]

It depends on how thick you make the walls, plus the design of structural members.

 

We always build a prototype, first we see how easy it is to remove the supports, then we build and photograph the model for the Hannants website - THEN we start production.

 

Equally MSLA does not give excessive build lines with suitable layer thickness.

 

 

[Head in the clouds.]

I agree with @Admiral Puff and I wish you well with your project, this could potentially be an account draining opportunity for myself, I have no 1/72 Comet kit.