Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on February 11, 2013, 02:35:50 AM
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During the Great Depression, many companies were forced to take relatives on the payroll. DeHavilland's was no different. Sir Geoffrey hired his three half-brothers, Devon, Delton and Derwin, the DeHavilland triplets.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DevonDeltonandDerwinDeHavilland_zps12ec2487.jpg)
At first they were given minor jobs, such as remodeling the employee restrooms. Despite the DeHavilland triplets' penchant for doing things in threes, their work seemed up to Standard.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/threeurinals_zps8835fe93.jpg)
However, as the project progressed, trouble loomed.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/tripletoiletstall_zps0beba88a.jpg)
Fortunately for the staff at DeHavilland's things were eventually put right.
So it was with some trepidation that Sir Geoffrey assigned Devon, Delton and Derwin the job of designing DeHavilland's entry in the 1936 international air race.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/1936AlbertatoAlma-AtaAirRace_zpsee165274.jpg)
After winning the 1934 race, expectations ran high. The triplets knew that a tri-motor would offer both the safety and range necessary. Their design was indeed ground-breaking.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_007_zps42cd6441.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_008_zps5ac8bd40.jpg)
Thus the DeHavilland Tripteroid was born. It soon received an air-worthiness certificate and a civil registration.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_top_zps8270f36f.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_001_zps41228bc1.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_002_zpsfb342e2f.jpg)
DeHavilland's was not mollified by reassurances from the Air Board that the CRAP in G-CRAP was short for Custom Racing Aero Plane.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_003_zpsa27dbf0b.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_004_zpscb2e721c.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_005_zps575f6505.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_006_zps32a571e0.jpg)
The incredibly innovative design caused great excitement. It was featured in newspapers and newsreels of the day touted as being the cutting-edge in aeronautics.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_0010_zpse36a369a.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_0011_zps7bb95150.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_0012_zps19bef222.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_0013_zps886f376a.jpg)
The DeHavilland triplets were hailed as geniuses.
Oh and the air race? The DeHavilland entry finished third, of course.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_009_zpsb9f5c1fd.jpg)
Brian da Basher
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BWAAAAAAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!! ;D
Ya did it again dude. Don't ever stop!!!
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There's just something about the old classics. While these kits don't just fall together right out of the box, with a little patience, they build up just fine. This is probably the third or fourth 1/72 Airfix Mosquito I've built since I was a lad. Even today, that wonderful Airfix box art still excites:
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/AirfixDHMosquitoboxtop_zps0f3c6474.jpg)
However, mine was in no way going to look anything like that by the time I was done. I started off by grafting a spare engine on to the nose.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/Tripteroid_prog_006_zps97f6fbf4.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/Tripteroid_prog_008_zps45258c10.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/Tripteroid_prog_007_zps23651299.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/Tripteroid_prog_005_zps537fe490.jpg)
One thing that always bothered me about the Mosquito was that clunky canopy. It seemed to me that those wonderful sleek lines deserve something a bit more aerodynamic. Fortunately, the ventral tray from a 1/144 RB-47 and a cut down Boeing 707 canopy in the same scale came to the rescue.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/Tripteroid_prog_004_zps31a66f0b.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/Tripteroid_prog_002_zps754457fd.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/Tripteroid_prog_001_zps94972c9f.jpg)
Next it was time for paint. The entire model was painted German Feldgrau. I used a 1/144 Boeing 707 outline decal for the cockpit windows which were painted in by hand. That wonderful G-CRAP registration was done by cutting up some spare DH-88 Comet racer decals which also provided the large 3 on the tail.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_0015_zps52c4d27b.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_0016_zpsad997845.jpg)
I had a lot of fun on this model which took me about 10 days from start to finish. I hope it shows that a lot can still be done with these old kits.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_head-on_01_zps6b1868cb.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Tripteroid/DH_Tripteroid_head-on_02_zps645f66a1.jpg)
Brian da Basher
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WOT! No spats?
Maybe it has tricycle landing gear? With that third engine up front it would be a good argument for it.
The canopy looks much nicer in the image than I had imagined from your description given in our last communication.
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Brilliant!!!
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;D They keep getting better and better Brian !!!!!!!!
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Hey look. I found an early design sketch (must be number 2 ;)) before they settled on the more aerodynamic canopy...
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/More%20Creations/3Mmossie.jpg)
;)
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Beautiful!! As to the registration, it was supposed to be "G-CARP" but that sounded fishy to the painters who changed it; it was easier to change the paperwork than the paint.
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Wonderful! Congratulations! :-*
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Wonderful work mate! The colour scheme is especially nice, and I love the reg.!
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Snappy! I have yet to start on my ( as yet ) lone airfix Mossie...I'm torn between the my love for
really big guns on planes ( Tse-tse, please! ) and realizing that, reversed, the fuselage of the
Mosquito is very space-shippy....
Love the back story, Brian!
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Wow really nice work!! I love the story and the props are wonderfully arrayed :)
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What all the rest said :-*
And,,, it could be an urgent parts delivery plane for our local auto parts store - Cut Rate Auto Parts - CRAP
And,,, is a perfect complement to go with the four engine Mosquito posted here somewhere.
And,,, thanks for researching/presenting essentially unknown DeHavilland history.
:-*
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Brilliant! Superb work. The Mosquito really lends itself to such exercises, and this really looks plausible-
it could have made a great heavy bomber . . .
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Another lovely job, Bri! I'm quite fond of the Mosquito - especially after getting to see the real thing fly twice in three months - and this is a very clever idea plausibly executed. Well done!
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I continually admire your ability to make slipping into insanity both fun and effortess. You amaze me, Mr. da Basher!