FROG 1/72 de Havilland DH 60 g Gypsy Moth
- Thread starter yak face
- Start date
Excellent scratch work to drag this geriatric up to standard.
Brilliant work so far Tony, with a wide array of techniques and materials used to drag it up to standard.
Belts have been added to the seat and its now been fitted . The engine cylinders have been been glued in and the exhaust manifold made from a piece of solder bent to shape , sanded and drilled . After giving the engine a coat of paint the fuselage was glued together and a bit of filler was needed on the underside .
Fuselage now together and seams sanded , just a couple of sink marks to sort yet . The lower wings fasten to the fuselage with a couple of tiny pins - not a strong fixing at all , plus they need to have a slight dihedral to match the upper wing so the interplane struts meet . I decided to drill all the way through with the rear hole and will insert a brass rod . The corresponding pin on the wing has been cut off and drilled out . Once the wings are slid onto the rod it will be a much stronger joint and with a little careful bending I can get the dihedral to match the upper wing . The standing figure of Amy has had a base coat of white primer and doesnt look half bad . 
Better and better. Amy does indeed look OK.
Nice overhaul Tony, figure looks good indeed, keep it coming, cheers
Got the wings on this morning, once slid over the brass rod and superglued they were gently bent up to the correct angle . Ive also got the undercarriage glued , the axle being replaced with brass tubing for a bit more strength , wheels to go on last off . The tailplane and rudder were fitted and the bracing rods also replaced with brass as the kit ones were a bit poor.
The front cockpit has had the fairing fitted , wine foil being used for this .
The front cockpit has had the fairing fitted , wine foil being used for this .
Looks very sturdy with all the brass reinforcements, very nice work so far, cheers
After looking at loads of period pics of Amy and the aircraft I decided the figure , good as it is , was missing something . Theres a great picture of Amy sat on the cockpit edge in full flying gear at the time of the record attempt ( not sure if it was at the start or finish ) and like a lot of photos it shows a large furry collar on the flying jacket . Taking inspiration from @Neil Merryweather and his amazing figure builds I thought a bit of squadron green stuff putty would be ideal and I have some thinned down a bit with cellulose ( the old stuff , not the rubbish ‘safe’ new stuff)
Rather than ruin the kit figure if it didnt work out I experimented first on a random figure out of the spares box ( dont know where I got him but he looks like Blakey from ‘on the buses ‘ !
) It came out ok so the Amy figure was done and has now got a fur collar. 
Rather than ruin the kit figure if it didnt work out I experimented first on a random figure out of the spares box ( dont know where I got him but he looks like Blakey from ‘on the buses ‘ !
) It came out ok so the Amy figure was done and has now got a fur collar.
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Great work Tony, fantastic detail as ever. The spare propellor got me thinking. If it failed on the ground, ok. If it fails in the air ??
Everything is coming together nicely Tony. Nice enhancements and strengthening work on the Moth. Blakey and Amy both look good with their fur collars.
Jean Batten smashed a propeller in a Gipsy Moth trying to break Amy Johnson's solo England to Australia record in 1933 en-route from Iran to Karachi. Batten had run into a sandstorm, which damaged the blades. She was forced to source a new one, delaying the flight by 48 hours. All in vain as she later had engine problems and flipped the Moth trying to force land. Flying in that period was truly adventurous and full of peril.
Cheers Joe. I was imagining a total failure, but as you point out, a partial failure is enough to cause trouble.
After masking off the engine and cockpit its now had a coat of primer , it will be painted up as is with the top wing going on last off . Ive yet to find a green ( in my paint stock )that matches the photos of the actual aircraft in the science museum so may have to mix something
Started painting yesterday . After looking at the colour of the actual aircraft , I had to mix up something . A few tries and to my eye it looks about right . I decided to brush paint , its only a tiny thing and it will save a tricky masking job , plus thats probably how the aircraft was done in 1920 odd ( whenever it was made - Amy Johnson bought it second hand in the late 20s )
Its had one thin coat and will be getting another , then the wings and tail will be painted a pale silver colour.
Its had one thin coat and will be getting another , then the wings and tail will be painted a pale silver colour.
Yep I think you nailed the color Tony. Coming along very nicely.
Just caught up on this one Tony, some outstanding work, and like Steve said the colour looks spot on.
Before the airframe got the second coat I remembered I had to drill out the channels for the elevator cables and make and fit the rudder actuators on the fuselage sides . I also drilled the rudder and elevators so I could fit the control horns . The aileron actuating cable and horn were added to the underside of the lower wing . All these additions will require rigging after painting and decalling has finished . The wings and tail have now had their paint applied , a mix of white and silver . 
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