discussion DH106 Comet 4C

[Miko]

This is my first venture into 1/144 for sometime, I wanted a Comet for my collection but 1/72 would be too large, so, thanks to Dave Ward who told me about this Amodel kit I can add this to my research and development aircraft out of RAE Bedford, Farnborough, Boscombe Down etc.

Amodel has a reputation for not being the best in terms of molding quality and surface detail, I'm not too concerned with super accuracy and never measure my kits to see if it's a millimetre out, that's just asking for disappointment!
This one is pretty much what I expected, some lovely flash to clean up to begin with, typical of short run kits there are no locating pins or tabs and slots to assist in assembly, it's mostly pretty fine recessed panels lines with a few 'anomalies' showing this mold has had a busy life!

Lovely box art, although mine will be more like this

As can be seen, there aren't too many steps and few parts, shouldn't be too long to put this one together

The decal for the cheat line is red in one option, this will be a super time saver for me!

Probably the greatest challenge will be on my eyesight with those teeny tiny little landing gear wheels!

Miko (this one is a test to see if I can cope with 1/144)

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Having built a few AModel kits, the biggest problem I've found is a complete absence of locating pins and points. Be very careful with how the undercarriage will attach, is my advice.
At least the fuselage is in two halves. I did their Canberra, which was six pieces, and all butt joints, rather than steps, so alignment was 'fun'

 

[Miko]

Thanks Steve

Having built a few AModel kits, the biggest problem I've found is a complete absence of locating pins and points.

Yep, mentioned above

Be very careful with how the undercarriage will attach, is my advice.

I'll probably pin it with super thin brass rod along with the tail assembly that's lacking locating tabs and slots

At least the fuselage is in two halves. I did their Canberra, which was six pieces, and all butt joints, rather than steps, so alignment was 'fun'

WoW!! Six pieces!

I really like the old Airfix Canberra B(i)6, know it's really old with a dodgy nose profile (bit like me! Ha!) but most of the research and trials Canberras have nose modifications anyway

I'm guessing the Amodel Canberra is 1/144?

Miko (studying instructions with a nice cup of tea and a few biscuits)

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

I'm guessing the Amodel Canberra is 1/144?

It is indeed. And done in Soviet markings for when it pretended to be a Beagle for 'Billion Dolkar Brain.' It's on here in the completed section

Now. Are you mad enough to put seats in?

 

[Miko]

Now. Are you mad enough to put seats in?

Ha! Noooooo, I'm not much of a detailer, besides, the only windows are for the cockpit, and I'm considering painting the windscreen windows similar to the decals for the windows along the fuselage side, not much point in adding interior detail as it would never be seen

Technical problem number 1, the sprue gates aren't sympathetically placed to assist the modeller, the opposite in fact, in that they aren't confined to the mating or detail surfaces but both! there's some mold wear flash too that needs cleaning to allow a good fuselage join

The solution comes from my old vacuforming days! A granite/marble cutting slab with a sheet of 800 grit 'wet 'n dry' tacked on

The join looks pretty good, even the cockpit glazing seems to be a good fit, I need to assemble the parts to for the nose gear bay and fix it into the fuselage before using a capillary action glue whilst taped together in proper position.

Miko (not looking forward to painting the hubs of ten tiny little landing gear wheels!)

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Told you. Amodel kits are NOT user friendly, but you've got a handle on it

 

[yak face]

Nice one Miko , a real workout of the modelling skills ! The Amodel kits are - shall we say - not for the beginner ! They take a lot of care and fettling but can usually turn out well and most of the time they are the only game in town for a certain subject ( my own experiences being Yak 28 p and Yak 25 rv )
Looks like you know what to expect and it will be a great looking model in the raspberry ripple colours , cheers tony

 

[Guest]

Miko, I shall follow from the viewing gallery please .Looks like you've got to grips with the sanding method .

 

[Miko]

Real life is interfering with progress on this one, however, filing with superglue and accelerator and a smidge of Mr White Putty R, checking for blemishes with Mr Surfacer 1000,

and to paraphrase Capt. Titus Oates, 'I'm just going outside, I maybe some time!'

Miko (progressing . . . . .eventually!)

 

[Lee Drennen]

Nice Miko.