forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Completed models => Topic started by: Early Bird Fan on January 11, 2022, 04:59:51 PM

Title: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: Early Bird Fan on January 11, 2022, 04:59:51 PM
Here is my finally finished rendition of the vintage Airfix DH4 1/72 as flown by Egbert Cadbury & Robert Leckie.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51812347293_62bc5cf481.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWtPJD)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51812587044_15565657b4.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWv41h)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51811283967_e9bee93e3f.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWonDr)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51812347228_524667a53e.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWtPHw)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51812969940_13e7b48a49.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWx1PW)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51811283877_a530ae8853.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWonBT)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51812242081_ca44b0fb98.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWthsD)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51812347168_35b1144d11.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWtPGu)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51811283822_af3c39222b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWonAW)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51812586869_1fde405de9.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWv3Xg)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51812969855_288bf30c87.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mWx1Nt)
Title: Re: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: DaveB on January 11, 2022, 07:04:49 PM
What superb work on an Airfix vintage kit - wonderfully rigged too.

Regards

Dave
Title: Re: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: DaddyO on January 11, 2022, 07:05:27 PM
Congrats on pushing through on ths one till the end.  :D
Great to see this old bird looking smart and encouraging to see how good an Airfix kit I remember as a child can look. I missed most of the build so have just read through the whole thing and was very encouraged to see how you progressed.

Another one for the cabinet . . .

Paul
Title: Re: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: kensar on January 11, 2022, 10:44:27 PM
I'm glad to see you finish this one.  And a superb job you have done here!  Nice painting.
I wish there was a 1/32 kit of this plane.
Title: Re: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: Stuart Malone on January 12, 2022, 12:41:57 AM
What a master modeler can do with an old Airfix kit!  Beautiful.

Stuart
Title: Re: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: macsporran on January 12, 2022, 01:27:00 AM
A wee gem
Sandy
Title: Re: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: lone modeller on January 12, 2022, 04:43:26 AM
It is difficult to believe that this is the old Airfix offering. You have turned a reasonable kit into a cracking good model. Excellent example of how an old and by today's standard, basic kit, can be turned into a display model.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: KiwiZac on January 12, 2022, 04:48:17 AM
It is difficult to believe that this is the old Airfix offering. You have turned a reasonable kit into a cracking good model. Excellent example of how an old and by today's standard, basic kit, can be turned into a display model.

Stephen.
^ what he said. A beautiful build of a classic kit that does justice to the machine it represents. Congratulations EBF, she is gorgeous!
Title: Re: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: Rob Hart on January 12, 2022, 12:03:31 PM
Excellent DH4! Is the machine the model represents notable for downing a Zeppelin or Gotha?
Title: Re: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: Alexis on January 12, 2022, 01:54:58 PM
Fantastic build !


Alexis
Title: Re: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: Rip Van Winkle on January 12, 2022, 02:18:23 PM
Wonderful job on this kit. I have a few of these in the stash but it has been over 50 years since I built one.  It brings back memories for me.  Great job!
Title: Re: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: PrzemoL on January 12, 2022, 06:38:05 PM
Looks like a fine work on a fine vintage model.

But, please, do your model a justice and take better photos - simple cropping and brightening in free IrfanView gave this:

(https://i.ibb.co/v4Rd0QS/dh4.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/YTGTCD9/dh4-2.jpg)

And if you had done it when taking photos adjusting the field and exposure it would be even better. ;)
Title: Re: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: KiwiZac on January 13, 2022, 03:31:32 AM
Excellent DH4! Is the machine the model represents notable for downing a Zeppelin or Gotha?
If I may: yes! Here's what Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egbert_Cadbury) has to say:

On the evening of 5 August 1918, Cadbury again engaged Zeppelins. Earlier that afternoon, the L.70 took off from Friedrichshafen with four other airships. They headed for the east coast of England, timing their flight to arrive off the coast just after dark. The commander of L.70 was Fregattenkapitän Peter Strasser, the Führer der Luftschiffe ("Leader of Airships", the commander of all Naval airships). However, the airship squadron was spotted out at sea by the Lenman Tail lightship, which signalled their course and position to the Admiralty. Cadbury was attending a charity concert at which his wife was performing when an RAF orderly found him. Cadbury drove back to the airfield, where he was informed that three Zeppelins had been reported about 50 miles (80 km) to the north-east, and knowing there was only one aircraft available, an Airco DH.4, he grabbed his flying kit and ran for it, beating a rival pilot to the cockpit by a split-second. With Captain Robert Leckie in the rear gunner's seat, Cadbury climbed up to over 16,000 feet (4,900 m) by jettisoning his reserve fuel and some small bombs, where he saw three Zeppelins ahead and above him. He later recounted:
Quote
At 22.20 we had climbed to 16,400 feet and I attacked the Zeppelin ahead slightly to the port so as to clear any obstruction that might be suspended from the airship. It was a most fascinating sight – awe inspiring – to see this enormous Zeppelin blotting the whole sky above one. The tracers ignited the escaping gas, the flames spreading rapidly and turning the airship into a fireball in less than a minute. The L.70 dived headlong into the clouds. It was one of the most terrifying sights I have ever seen to see this huge machine hurtling down with all those crew on board.
Cadbury and Leckie and another pilot, Lieutenant Ralph Edmund Keys, then attacked and damaged another Zeppelin, which promptly turned and headed for home. The Commodore of Lowestoft recommended Cadbury for a Victoria Cross for attacking two airships 30 to 40 miles (48 to 64 km) out to sea in a landplane in such bad weather. All three instead received the Distinguished Flying Cross. Cadbury wrote to his father the next day: "You will have heard probably before this reaches you that my lucky star has again been in the ascendant, and that another Zeppelin has gone to destruction, sent there by a perfectly peaceful live-and-let-live citizen, who has no lust for blood or fearful war spirit in his veins."
Title: Re: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: WD on January 13, 2022, 09:43:33 AM
Beautiful result and build on such a vintage kit!

WD
Title: Re: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: RAGIII on January 15, 2022, 06:08:56 AM
I really enjoyed following along with your build. You have made a Gem out of this Old KIt!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: gbrivio on January 15, 2022, 04:12:48 PM
She came beautiful, looking a larger scale and very well done.
Ciao
Giuseppe
Title: Re: Airfix 1/72 Airco DH4
Post by: pepperman42 on January 15, 2022, 10:54:51 PM
Nice results starting with a sows ear and getting that silk purse.


Steve