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De Havilland D.H. 88 Comet Racer (G-ACSP "Black Magic")


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This is a three fold build.

#1 One of my entries for ARC A/H GB.

#2 Will complete my collection of the MacRobertson Comet Racers.

#3 Is a "quickie" build prior to starting on the 1/32 Aerotech version.

Heres the scheme I am proposing to build

Black_Magic-1.png

and heres the kit contents and the aftermarket cockpit (Whirlybirds #WBA72004) ...

Airfix_DH88_002_004.jpg

and the decals (Whirlybird #WB72004). I tried to get a good picture to show the gold but the camera doesn't seem to be able to catch it.

Airfix_DH88_002_003.jpg

Edited by Andy Mullen
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Andy

I remember those gaps and seams well. The great thing about this kit is the fact it turns out to be a gem of a build once done!

My little red Comet has won 2 WASMEx competition medals (golds) simply because once built and painted the model looks fantastic. Also, my comet did not get the Whirleybirds resin details you are adding. I got that resin set after I built my 1st Comet, so yours will go several steps better!

Note "first" Comet!

:cheers:

MikeJ

Edited by madmike
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Finally happy with the filling of the wing to fuselage joints.

Airfix_DH88_002_012.jpg

Airfix_DH88_002_013.jpg

A slight modification needed to be added to the tail. The slot for right hand tailplane was mismoulded, so I scrapped the bottom of the slot until inline with the left hand side. Then I inserted some small strips of plasti card to the top of the slot, let dry then tweaked it to allow for the insertion of the tailplane.

Airfix_DH88_002_014.jpg

Edited by Andy Mullen
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Andy

Are these decal sheets still available?

:redx:

MikeJ

I have just checked with >> Linden Hill << and the >> Heritage Aviation << sites, and it now looks as if Whirlybird has stopped the Comet decals (or run out), and the same with the Heritage Resin additions.

I shall be checking out HA Stall at the UK Nats to check this out >> HA Future releases <<

IT'S TIME TO LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG........OUR NEW RELEASES ARE

1:24 LANCASTER BOMBER.....HUGE MULTIMEDIA KIT

1:24 MOSQUITO FB1V, AGAIN MULTIMEDIA, OTHER MARKS TO FOLLOW......

HOW WOULD YOU FANCY A 1:24 TSR 2 ? IT'S A DEFINITE LIKELY FOR NEXT YEAR......ALSO IN MY THOUGHTS FOR NEXT YEAR FOR 1:24

HALIFAX, WELLINGTON, HUNTER, LIGHTNING, BUCCANEER

Edited by Andy Mullen
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Major assembly work done. Mr Surfacer 1200 was then sprayed as a primer, and then Humbrol Gloss Black #21 sprayed in mutiple light coats.

After giving a few days to fully cure I will give it coat of Klear before attempting the decals.

Airfix_DH88_002_015.jpg

Edited by Andy Mullen
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Last night I applied all the decals. When I came in this morning, this is what I found.

Airfix_DH88_002_017.jpg

Airfix_DH88_002_018.jpg

Airfix_DH88_002_019.jpg

To keep the GACSP and the Black Magic decals in their correct spacing I had given them a coat of Microscale Liquid Decal Film on the sheet. Unfortunately the whole sheet has the nastiest glue I have ever encountered, and this was trapped beneath the LDF. The other decals I have attempted to clean up but I have already damaged the C on the top wing code, so unless I can find more decals, this build has now been put on hold.

Airfix_DH88_002_016.jpg

Edited by Andy Mullen
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Oh dear Andy. That is a very sad sight. I have got three of them waiting in the loft and was following this build closely. Don't you just hate it when you have got this far and it all goes so wrong.

If you need a scan of the decals let me know.

cheers

Grant

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Thanks guys, the kit is now back on the shelf, for now.

I have a few options for this.

#1 Check with Whirlybird to see if they have any of these decals left, during the week.

#2 Try to recreate them using gold foil printing, just got dig through my web links to find the stuff I had seen previously.

#3 Strip it back to the primer, and redo as >> K5084 <<

Grant: Thanks for the offer, but I already have scans of all the sheets. I scan them in when I get them, just in case this situation happens.

B)

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  • 1 month later...

Just got back from Telford and have got some new decals for the kit, so I shall take it off the shelf and see if I can remove the original attempt, next week.

@ Mike:- They are still producing these decals, and even have them silk-screened now

Whirlybird contact details;-

Tel:- +44(0)1226 203784

email: rgevans AT compuserve.com (apparently the other email has been experiencing problems)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Last one for the Airfix GB for this year. (I have just cracked open an Airfix Clipper for the Splash GB though)

#00013 1/72 DH88 Comet Racer - Black Magic.

Aftermarket added were Whirlybird decals, resin cockpit and vacuform canopy. Also added the noselight from plastic packaging, the wing pitot from brass wire and tube, and the mass balances on the rudder and rear stabs were from copper wire and blobs of superglue.

Airfix_DH88_002_023.jpg

Airfix_DH88_002_024.jpg

Airfix_DH88_002_025.jpg

Airfix_DH88_002_026.jpg

and a shot the 1934 MacRobertson Comet Racers

Airfix_DH88_002_027.jpg

Edited by Andy Mullen
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