Swiss DH-100 Mk I
This is all Thomas´ fault! His build of Special Hobbys De Havilland DH-100 in swedish livery (J 28B - De Havilland Vampire - Special Hobby | Album by Mimoid (1:72)) prompted me to act against my serious intention not to start another "in-betweeen-project" until finishing some of the already started ones.
So, here I am. Let´s see how I got there...
So, here I am. Let´s see how I got there...
Special Hobbys DH-100 are nice kits, but they do not fall together like the Mystere did. The classic layout of two wing halves (upper and lower) results in rather thick trailing edges. So I thinned them. Same I did with vertical and horizontal stabilizers.
I refrained from aftermarket sets for the cockpit as not much will be seen with the canopy closed. The build is straightforward. Instrument decal is ok - but not more than that.
I tripple checked the seat as it looked pretty bleak but the early versions delivered to Switzerland had no ejection seat. I only added some seat belts from my spares.
It took quite a lot of tweaking, sanding and dryfitting before I was satisfied with the fit and applied glue.
I read Thomas´ build log too late again and missed his advise on tailsittingprevention. Yes, I had added weight (all of the nose cone is filled with lead) but that was way too little. So I had to improvise. White glue was poured into the center of the wing root and lead granules were pushed into it. I stuffed in as much as I could - double checking, that nothing could be seen through the air intakes.
Hurray. No tail sitter anymore (even with the booms added 😉 )
The air intakes are rather demanding pieces to clean up - and about the only ones with considerable flash and mold lines. One is done, the other due.
attaching the wings required some careful scraping and dry fitting too. This way I could achieve a fit good enough to leave no gap on the top sides. At the downside the left gap could be filled with superglue and at the right wingroot I added some styrene too..
The air intakes were a small challenge but finally I managed.
The Nose cone required some filling and sanding too to achieve a flush fit.
Special Hobby provides clear wing tips to ease masking of the position lights. This is a nice feature but unfortunately not correct - at least not for the Swiss version. Here only the light bulbs were colored and the clear parts were - well - clear.
I cut out the position lights to drill a hole for the bulb. But those pieces were too fiddely to handle for me. So I took pieces from clear plastic sheets, sanded the connecting areas, drilled the holes for the bulbs and colored them.
I cut out the position lights to drill a hole for the bulb. But those pieces were too fiddely to handle for me. So I took pieces from clear plastic sheets, sanded the connecting areas, drilled the holes for the bulbs and colored them.
I used Ammo of Mig Ultra Glue to attach the pieces but this glue did not hold nothing. So I broke the shaped pieces off again and used regular superglue to fix them. Now I could sand them to shape.
I am happy with the result.
I messed it. In an attempt to improve the exhaust section I did not pay attention when sawing off the exhaust and got off track.
After rebuilding it with sheet I now ruined it again while sanding. Grrr.
Repair attempt with sprue-gue.
Now with the (shortened) Pavla exhaust in place. That is the way I wanted it to look like.
Looking for, and finding, and fixing blemishes
Holy Moly! I knew NMF to be demanding, but this demanding?!
Will have to redo.
Will have to redo.
Better, but still not there yet.
I toned down the shine of the aluminum and varied the color a bit.
Clear coat and decals next.
Decals are done.
I was considering to paint the red parts but then decided against it. The decals worked without issues. The big ones settled down nicely with Micro Set and Sol.
Some fading and weathering will follow a clear coat. Taking shape.
a plain wash with diluted enamals did not lead to the desired effect, so I took a heart and did my first attempt with the oil rendering technique.
My girlfriend complaines that it looks too dirty now, but I quite like it (Memo to self: clean and new plane for girlfriend)
If I still like it in a few days I will seal it and finish the build by replacing the canopy and adding the missing details.
I stick with it and thus sealed it.
Removed the temporary canopy. The correct one is just loosly fitted.
Added the landing gear. Kits struts with resin wheels as I lost the front wheel of the kit.
Particularly the front wheel seems to be on the bigger side and required adjustments of the strut.
I used gloss varnish out of habbit but a matt one is probably better.
Now only the canopy needs to be polished, its frame painted and the two conterbalance weights at the stabilizer added. Unfortunately I lost one, so will have to scratch the second one as the spare box did not provide something useful.
A little base should complete the build.
At last I started a little display.
Finally some progress here. Only the static gras remains to be applied at the base.
As this plane was stationed in Dübendorf I was looking for a picture with the characteristic Hangar of this airfield. It is printed out on photopaper and glued to a wooden sheet.
The two parts are connected via magnets
Trying to get a close color match for the transition to the background.
Quite close, I'd say.
...but to the invisible part of the background. Grrrrrr.
Anyway. But not too bad.
I finally call the base done.
Anyway. But not too bad.
I finally call the base done.
Finished.
The grass received some matt varnish as it´s sheen was a bit unnatural
The last two details had to be build as I lost them or cut them.
The pitot tube was an easy fix at the tail part of the left boom and was fashioned from slide to fit-aluminium tubes.
the counter weights of the horizontal stabilizer proofed to be a real headache and delayed final assembly considerably. But now they too are done and attached.
Photography still needs some improvements. Depth of field and lighting are not perfect yet.
But these will be measures for models to come.
But these will be measures for models to come.
And a few more pictures with the nice Dübendorf Hangar in the background.
Not a quick build as I hoped despite being a newer Special Hobby release. A notorious tail sitter too.
But I am happy with the end result and able to overlook the flaws.
Comments
116 24 February 2022, 13:45
Robert PodkońskiWatching too! (and I am also inspired by Thomas' built, but planning the Airfix T version in Swedish livery... 😉 )
24 February 2022, 15:11
Michael KohlHi mates. Welcome. Nice to have you around.
I wanted a NMF with my Vampire, so the canadian or swiss version were my favorites.
My first Swede will probably be a Viggen, as with the Draken I lean towards the Austrian livery.
24 February 2022, 15:58
Thomas Bischoffyou know that the Swiss had only 4 Mk1 and the first two were delivered in RAF colours. I assume you will build either J-1003 or J-1004?
24 February 2022, 16:03
Michael KohlYep, and the first one crashed after only a few days. That they were delivered in RAF colors I did not know. I only knew they were painted. And, yes, it is the J-1003 I am going for.
24 February 2022, 16:12
Andy BallGreat subject - those days of beautiful jet planes- I'm gonna watch this baby!
3 March 2022, 08:30
Michael Kohl@Thomas: 😳 seriously? I took it for granted that it is all metal.
Crosschecking with Wikipedia confirms your info: front fuselage plywood, rear aluminum.
I will study my references and modify the paint job accordingly.
Thanks for the hint.
8 June 2022, 10:35
Thomas BischoffHave seen a Stripped down Vampire in Altenrhein - it's definitely plywood 👍🏻
I even think that the metal parts were overpainted.
8 June 2022, 11:03
David R. MeizosoAccording to pictures it looks like the whole fuselage was covered in aluminium, despite the material of the structure underneath.
8 June 2022, 11:07
Thomas BischoffI checked the instructions from Matterhorn Circle Decalsheet and this suggests that the (later bought) Vampires were painted Silver. I assume this also applied to the first Mk 1s
8 June 2022, 11:10
David R. Meizoso@Thomas Bischoff: seems you're right, the front fuselage was covered in cloth and painted. Here is where I found the info:
airvectors.net/avvamp_1.html#m1
I couldn't tell the difference between silver paint and aluminium sheet in any of the real thing pics.
8 June 2022, 11:19
Michael KohlI heeded Thomas' advice, checked the references and toned down the shine. As David I couldn't tell the difference between silver paint and aluminium sheet in any of the real thing pics. This makes sense in the light of Thomas' info, that all parts - irrespective of the material - were painted silver. I was looking for any kind of wear to give the paint away, but could not find any. Anyway, for the sake of some more visual interest, I decided to alter the paints shade a bit.
9 July 2022, 09:32
Michael KohlThanx Thomas and Robert for the thumbs up and to you mates for the likes. Much appreciated.
9 July 2022, 23:50
Mid FranconianI really like the idea to use the decals for the Swiss crosses. Time saving! And it turned out well. What kind of colors and top coat did you use for the NMF Michael?
14 July 2022, 16:44
Michael KohlHi Mid Franconian, after a gloss black base (Mr. Color gloss black) I sprayed Alclad ll Airframe Aluminum. This is high gloss and very finely pigmented. Unfortunately for this plane, much too gloss. So I dulled everything with Alclad ll Aluminum and then used various Aluminum shades from Alclad ll for variations. When done I sealed it with Mr. Hobby Gloss varnish diluted with Mr. Hobby leveling primer. Then washes and OPR. Then another sealant as before. Tip: it is mandatory that you apply only thin layers of the various Alclad colors, as heavier coats re-dissolve the lower layers and ruin your paint job (guess how I know.).
Hope this helps.
14 July 2022, 23:20
Michael KohlOil paint rendering. Michael Rinaldi advocated it for example at his dozer build. In a nutshell: you put diluted oils at the wanted aerea, let it dry a bit and then blend it in with a dry or faintly moist brush. Like this you can achieve some color variations. A bit like a filter but with a more localized and a bit stronger effect.
Grüße aus Mittelfranken. 🙂
15 July 2022, 19:54
Mid FranconianDanke Michael, Grüße zurück! Freu mich drauf wenns jetzt in drn Endspurt geht!
17 July 2022, 20:13
Simon Nagorsnik👍👍
Really like your metal finish Michael!
One of my next projects is a F-100, also in metal finish.
This one is good to get some inspiration!
12 August 2022, 19:34
Michael KohlThanx a lot guys for your positive feedback.
@Simon: good luck with your F-100. I am anxious how you handle the NMF. For me it was a first and I really learned a lot - some of it the hard way. You already know which color range you are to use?
13 August 2022, 22:01
Simon NagorsnikThanks Michael.
I still have no idea what I'm going to take.
Also my fist try and my 3rd plane so far🙂
First i`ve to finish two actually projects start will then be in about two weeks.
I'm already a bit excited...
13 August 2022, 22:10
Michael KohlThanx Sadek,
I just aquired two swedish planes, a Saab J-21a and a Safir. So Sweden is on the list. 🙂
18 August 2022, 08:21
Sadek Khalidiglad to hear. Safir was based on Klemm so its Geman / Swedish in a background.
Professor Klemm was cooperating with SAAB. Nice plane! Yellow one is put on stand besides motorway by Linköping a few kilometers from here. They let propeller rotare free so now its wind driven ...
When you drive by Linköping they made a litte airplane museum on concrete stands- first Tunnan and Lansen, Later sk 105 and Safir , One 2- engine SAAB communication plane and later Drakken and Viggen...
18 August 2022, 09:39
Łukasz GlińskiGruezi! Very nice Vamp, looks slightly weathered to me and it's a nice finish 👍
18 August 2022, 10:54
Oleg SmilykMichael, you built a very good vampire model, I want to highlight the detailing and paintwork 👍
18 August 2022, 18:18
Michael KohlThank you mates for all your nice and encouraging comments and likes.
Those two swiss Vampires were stationed at the airfield of Dübendorf, close to Zurich. Dübendorf has a very distinctive hangar I wanted to use as background. After a long search I finally found an appropriate picture. So a little vignette is still to come.
11 November 2022, 08:24
Michael KohlThanks Bernd and welcome and thanks for all the likes. The vignette is finally started, so that I should be able to finish it soon.
12 January 2023, 12:17
Michael KohlDanke dir, Neuling.
Thanks fellows for the likes.
Only the pitot tube and the counterweight at the stabilizer are missing bevor I can call it done.
14 February 2023, 08:48
Michael KohlThanks Villiers. With the base done, there are only two small details at the Vampire left to do.
4 March 2023, 15:42
bughunterReally nice outcome! You seem to be very productive at the moment 👍
Pic 29 is awesome!
4 March 2023, 21:24
Michael KohlJep, yesterday was a good modelling day after a hiatus of about two weeks due to holiday and other distractions. 🙂
Thanks folks for further likes.
5 March 2023, 17:34
Dean HarpsterFantastic job! I love the looks of the Vampire, and the Swiss markings really make it stand out!
7 April 2023, 04:12
Michael KohlAfter I finally managed to build the lost counter balance weights of the horizontal stab (after a few futile attempts), I could really call it done. Thanks folks for your company and interest along the way and for your encouraging feedback.
@Dean: yeah, some national markings really enhance the beauty of a plane. I share your opinion on the swiss livery. 🙂
11 April 2023, 07:09
