forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Completed models => Topic started by: lone modeller on May 24, 2014, 07:20:13 AM
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Evening All,
Here are some more pictures of the conversion from the Airfix DH 4: the build thread is in the scratch build section.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4214/35598410906_5b128c05e1_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WeHakh)
When G. de Haviland left the Royal Aircraft Factory in 1914 to join the Aircraft Manufacturing Company as chief designer he had been working on the FE 1 and BE 2 designs. His first design for his new employer was a two seat tractor biplane, but the War Office wanted a pusher design similar to the FE 2. Consequently de Haviland produced a pusher design, the prototype of which was powered by a 70 hp Renault V8 engine. This first flew in January 1915 and an order for 49 machines followed. Called the DH 1 this machine took a long time to get into production, (like all other British aircraft at this time), and it was not adopted by the RFC because the FE 2b had already been ordered in large numbers and had a better overall performance.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4092/35598415176_ba486e679c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WeHbAU)
The DH 1A was an attempt to improve the performance of the original design by installing a 120 hp Beardmore engine, (the same as powered the FE 2b), with a radiator behind the pilot and a gravity tank under the port upper wing. It was armed with a single Lewis machine gun on a mounting in front of the observer, and one behind: the observer sat in the front cockpit. About 23 machines were built and delivered to the RFC of which 6 were sent to Palestine to no 14 Sqdn who operated it alongside other types. It was used mainly for escort duties but at least one enemy aircraft was shot down - a Rumpler two-seater. The machine represented by my model is one of the Palestinian machines. The reason why it is on a grass base is because I do not have a sandy one, so these photos were taken on the Turkish ex-governor's lawn after it had been occupied by British forces!
The remainder of the DH 1 and 1A's were sent to home defence squadrons in Britain or to training squadrons where the survivors were finally withdrawn from service in the autumn of 1918.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4263/34796553584_f3708da724_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/V1Rr63)
The DH 1A is one of the less well known types from the First World War, partly because so few were built and partly because they were deployed on front line duties on what was regarded at the time as a secondary campaign. It was not at all unusual for pusher types to be used in training squadrons between 1915 and 1918 as there were few aircraft available that had been designed specifically for training purposes, and there was a general shortage of machines for this vital role.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4025/34828838133_4945cc5f40_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/V4GUac)
For anyone who is thinking about a pusher model I can only say that in reality they are not much more difficult than any other biplane. There is more rigging than on some other biplanes but if you can manage a DH2 kit you could manage one of these conversions.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4088/34828841873_b5bdb3a301_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/V4GVgF)
Thanks for looking.
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Lovely! A fine model out of plastic waste! Congratulations, lone!
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Clever work, here - and the result looks great.
Regards
Dave
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An outstanding build from start to finish! As I said on the build thread,WOW and then some....!
RAGIII
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Absolutely stunning, LM! This project has inspired me to try my hand at this in 1/48 scale. Today, I received in the mail "De Havilland Aircraft of World War I, Volume 1". Now if I can just clear all these other builds from my bench.
Cheers,
Bud
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Fantastic work, LM.
One of your best!
Ian
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Love your stuff LM. ;D. Way to go! She looks the part. Outstanding modeling!
Cheers,
Bob
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LM,
One of a kind and very nicely done. The detail and rigging are excellent, all the more so for being 1:72. Keep them coming!! ;)
Cheers,
Lance
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Thanks everyone for the compliments. I am extremely flattered by them. Until I started posting my builds I had no idea that others would be so interested. It has given me the incentive to continue and to try out new ideas and techniques, many of which I am learning from this forum. It is people like you that make our hobby so much more enjoyable.
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Thumbs up LM. Always enjoy the potted history you provide as well.
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Wow you have made a very great model in this scale. Gratulation!
Martin
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Fantastic work LM, and very impressive build!
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Thanks Bo, Martin and Justin for your kind comments. I hope that my next build will be as interesting.
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Amazing work, especially in such a small scale. I enjoy seeing anything out of the ordinary and am a fan of pushers too. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do next.
Tom
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LM, you really have outdone yourself with the Airco. Very interesting
and jaw-dropping build log...don't know how you do it in such a small format.
I appreciate the historical information as well. Beautiful job, my friend.
Cheers,
Ernie :)
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Excellent work, Sir!
Congratulations are in order, both for the finished item, and for the selection of a subject. The Middle East campaigns proved much more important than many thought at the time....
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HEllo OM:
Outstanding work on this conversion/scratchbuilt DH1. I like your history facts that you include with your models. It adds interest and explains why you built it.
Thanks for sharing this.
Best
Mark
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Thanks again gentlemen for the kind remarks, which I value very highly. It is a privilege to receive such complements from such a fine group of modellers who regularly post on this forum.
Tom1981: I am seriously considering attempting my hand at a kit next - the Pegasus 1/72 Etrich Taube. I have a vacuform one too but as I have never tackled a vacuform before I do not like the idea of starting on one of these, so it will probably be the Pegasus kit, warts and all. A German tractor monoplane should provide a good change of focus.
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Thanks for sharing your models with us. They are always a joy to behold.
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Please excuse my late reply but I am so glad I popped in to look at this model. You have done a superb job recreating this very important aeroplane, your build was a joy to follow and now looking at the completed model has proven that you are an excellent modeler. The finish on your model is extremely well done and the rigging is great, congratulations and well done LM.
Des.
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Thank you Rob and Des for the very kind remarks which are greatly appreciated.
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A Taube would be very nice, one of my favourites.
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Not subject which comes up at all and you have pulled it off wonderful :)
Terri