Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: KiwiZac on December 04, 2019, 05:11:42 AM

Title: 1/72 Tasman Empire Airways DH Comet
Post by: KiwiZac on December 04, 2019, 05:11:42 AM
Hi all,
Like the previously-posted Canadair CL-215, for years I’ve had a soft spot for the DH.106 Comet jetliner but never found a colour scheme that appealed. Then I saw OldModels Decals’ (https://oldmodelsdecals.com/) sheet for the Lockheed L.188 Electra in the colours of Tasman Empire Airways Limited (http://[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TEAL), New Zealand’s international airline the 1930s to 1965. So...

(https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/49165254951_4b5ea6c149_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hUyMpv)
Generated from my Apple iPhone using tools.sportscard.trade (http://tools.sportscard.trade)
(https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/49164776633_c38cecd3b5_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hUwkdD)
Generated from my Apple iPhone using tools.sportscard.trade (http://tools.sportscard.trade)
(https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/49165489837_ac99b4cc6d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hUzZeg)
Generated from my Apple iPhone using tools.sportscard.trade (http://tools.sportscard.trade)
(https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/49165254961_7675f4b850_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hUyMpF)
Generated from my Apple iPhone using tools.sportscard.trade (http://tools.sportscard.trade)

Airfix’s really-needs-retirement DH Comet 4B, the aforementioned OldModels Decals sheet, and two random drop tanks grafted onto the wing leading edges to create a 4C (the fairing-in of which is why this kit purchase from three or more years ago was finished yesterday), and a custom mix of Tamiya acrylics to make the TEAL teal:
(https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/49164827273_b36a4d185d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hUwAgK)
Generated from my Apple iPhone using tools.sportscard.trade (http://tools.sportscard.trade)
Title: Re: 1/72 Tasman Empire Airways DH Comet
Post by: elmayerle on December 04, 2019, 06:29:01 AM
That's a real beauty, Zac.  My compliments on a very nice job.
Title: Re: 1/72 Tasman Empire Airways DH Comet
Post by: apophenia on December 04, 2019, 10:10:28 AM
Oh, that is lovely  :-*  Excellent choice of schemes 'Zac  :smiley:
Title: Re: 1/72 Tasman Empire Airways DH Comet
Post by: finsrin on December 04, 2019, 10:12:02 AM
Thatz it, don't change a thing.  Comet shows extra well in that nicely finished scheme.  :icon_surprised:
Title: Re: 1/72 Tasman Empire Airways DH Comet
Post by: FAAMAN on December 04, 2019, 02:18:04 PM
Excellent work, great idea  8) 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: 1/72 Tasman Empire Airways DH Comet
Post by: KiwiZac on December 04, 2019, 07:01:50 PM
Thank you gents, you're very kind! I'm pleased to have finally finished this one, and to have had it turn out so well.

A friend told me today TEAL did, in fact, consider the Comet but was forced to take the Lockheed. Apparently the joke of the day was that TEAL actually stood for "Take Electras And Like it"!  ;D
Title: Re: 1/72 Tasman Empire Airways DH Comet
Post by: The Big Gimper on December 04, 2019, 07:02:33 PM
Great job Zac. The Comet looks faster in these markings.
Title: Re: 1/72 Tasman Empire Airways DH Comet
Post by: arctic warrior on December 05, 2019, 04:17:40 AM
That Comet looks so good  :smiley:
Title: Re: 1/72 Tasman Empire Airways DH Comet
Post by: Camthalion on December 05, 2019, 05:03:13 AM
very nice
Title: Re: 1/72 Tasman Empire Airways DH Comet
Post by: Brian da Basher on December 06, 2019, 06:20:42 AM
Not a "what if" but a "should've been".

Most excellent, Zac!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: 1/72 Tasman Empire Airways DH Comet
Post by: KiwiZac on December 06, 2019, 03:37:20 PM
Thank you gents  :-[ You’re all very kind.

Not a "what if" but a "should've been".
I totally agree!
Title: Re: 1/72 Tasman Empire Airways DH Comet
Post by: Old Wombat on December 06, 2019, 11:11:37 PM
The tragedy is knowing that if Boeing had gotten their 707 in the air first, or Douglas their DC-8 (not that either was ever likely to have happened), or if the fatigue issues had been learned during development & testing, the Comet would have had oval windows from the initial production run & the British aviation industry would have had a much better post-war start.

There's an interesting hypothetical: What if... Boeing, Douglas & Lockheed had all beaten the British to get the first jet airliners into the air within a year of each other but all had suffered the same fate as the Comet... Where would modern civil aviation be now? ???