discussion DH88 Comet..... Airfix 1/72

[PaulTRose]

Bought this in Lidl recently..... Knew it was a bad kit but I got it simply cos it's one I've never done

It's got slated recently online cos it's so poor..... New tool in 1958 and passed it's use by date decades ago.... Airfix are not doing themselves any favours punting out this old tat

A bit of history for those who don't know.... Designed as a race plane, especially for the London to Melbourne race in 1934...came 1st and 4th with Amy Johnson's breaking down half way

Only built 5.....two went to France where they were used as mail planes, didn't survive the war.... Of the other 3 one is being restored and this one, the race winner, is restored and flying....... Interesting thing is it was 'evaluated' by the RAF in the late 30s then given back to de Havilland to look after which is probably why it survived the war

It's such a bad kit I never planned on doing it as the box shows...... Perfect whiff subject so watch this space lol

 

[Neil]

That's, er, terrific? terrifying? I guess, if you were a small boy, you could buy it, the plastic is the right colour and add some decals - bingo - there's your kit? Good luck!

 

[Jim R]

Oh brave, brave man. The colour of the plastic is off putting before you start.

 

[pjgtech]

Cool, will follow along matey.... I kept looking in my local Lidl for these kits over the last couple of weeks, but none have appeared? Just my luck...

 

[papa 695]

Just pulled up my chair. Looking forward to seeing what you do with this one.

 

[PaulTRose]

Oh brave, brave man. The colour of the plastic is off putting before you start.

First job I did was spray the sprues with grey primer so I didn't have to look at the red

 

[Over_scaled]

I remember my late Father buying this kit, sitting patiently watching it all go together, then mounted on the clear plastic stand, and finally being put on the mantlepiece next to the pride of place clock... And I sat there in the living room gazing in wonder at this bright red model, got up and blew on the propellers to make them turn, picked up the model and started to spin with it to make the propellers turn, when Crash!!! into the wall, wing came off, canopy ejected, propeller sailed onto the carpet - disaster, Dads pride and joy... When the dust had settled and one thick ear later I was presented with a brand new tube of Airfix glue, sat at the dining room table and told to glue it back together... Do you realise you can use up a whole tube of glue on just one model.... Been making models ever since....

 

[yak face]

Its a shocker isnt it paul ? Back when a couple of moulded on pilots heads was a perfectly acceptable level of detail! Its just such a beautiful looking aircraft though , shame its not been given better treatment from the major kit makers ( Nearest thing to a modern mainstream kit is the KP kit , and I think that might be a rebox too )
I did this kit in the black magic boxing a few years back , had to scratch a complete cockpit and crash mould a new canopy but it was worth it .

 

[PaulTRose]

I do still reserve the right to file it under 'bin' if it doesn't play nicely

 

[scottie3158]

I'm sure you have the skills to turn this into a great build.

 

[Neil Merryweather]

I did this for the vintage Airfix kit GB last year and I hated it...
Tried to find the thread to post a link but it's disappeared
Oh well, good riddance to it