Libramodels DH 5, 1/72 vac

[Danh4]

Here's the Libramodels vac kit of the DH 5 that I just finished.  I added the rounded fuselage sides just aft of the cowl from scored plastic sheet, and the cowl reinforcing ribs to represent a production machine. 





The interplane struts are made from bamboo from a chopstick.  It's a lot of work to cut and sand it down to size but it's worth it because it is 100x stiffer than plastic of the same thickness. These struts are the same thickness as an X-acto blade and have no flex at all.  I "stained" these with a mix of Vallejo sepia wash, Future and water to get a color I liked.





I made an attempt at showing the ribs and structure under the translucent clear doped linen undersides.  The lighter color was sprayed overall, then the ribs were masked and Tamiya Smoke was sprayed lightly.  It adds a lot of interest I think.



I used my usual Nitinol wire for the main rigging but tried some Uschi rigging thread for the first time for the rudder and elevator cables, it worked really well for that.

-Dan

[Des]

This is a very attractive model Dan, the modifications you did to the fuselage really turned out well. Bamboo makes excellent wing struts and as you say, are extremely strong, overall you have produced a very nice model, well done.

Des.

[GAJouette]

 Dan,
Fantastic project my friend. All your extra work and additions payed off in spades. Well Done! I'm glad to read that there's a use for Chop Sticks other than sticking myself in the eye or face. Hope to see more Vacuform kits from your talented bench.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

[Jamo]

Beautiful work in my favourite scale. Thanks for sharing Dan
Cheers
James

[xan]

very nice job, congratilations!

[rhallinger]

Beautiful model of an unusual subject Dan, and a vac kit, no less!  Very well done.

Regards,

Bob

[WarrenD]

Dan,
As usual, another great WWI vac done to a very high standard. A friend on the WWI Modeling List informed me of the bamboo skewer struts years back, and I bought some bamboo skewers and placed them in the drawer for "someday". Thanks for bringing it back to my attention sir!
Question: how did you produce the reinforcing ribs on the cowling? The sprue gates on my Eduard Nieuport are right next to the ribs on my cowling, and sanding the gates down has taken them away and I need to replicate them. Haven't decided the best method yet.

Warren

[RAGIII]

Dan,
As usual, another great WWI vac done to a very high standard. A friend on the WWI Modeling List informed me of the bamboo skewer struts years back, and I bought some bamboo skewers and placed them in the drawer for "someday". Thanks for bringing it back to my attention sir!
Question: how did you produce the reinforcing ribs on the cowling? The sprue gates on my Eduard Nieuport are right next to the ribs on my cowling, and sanding the gates down has taken them away and I need to replicate them. Haven't decided the best method yet.

Warren

I have to echo Warrens comments... including the List and having a bag of them waiting to be used someday 
RAGIII

[IanB]

Very nicely done, Dan! I do like those struts....

Ian

[lone modeller]

Lovely model in the correct scale too. The under shading of the wings is most convincing - the struts also look the part. Great modelling all round.

[coyotemagic]

Simply gorgeous, Dan!  The DH5 is such an interesting lookinng aircraft and you've done a brilliant job on her.
Cheers,
Bud

[Epeeman]

Excellent, Dan -

What a great result!

Regards

Dave

[Danh4]

Thank you all!  I was happy to have something to share here again.

-Dan

[ALBATROS1234]

really nice work, looking at the photos it looks much larger scale.

[PrzemoL]

Very nice! Thanks for posting it.