HpH de Havilland Hornet – Sea Hornet F Mk22 TT202

[airscale]

Hello all,
 
So, day one of my next build on LSP. I had so much fun doing my first WIP on my Sea Fury (which will be finished!) I thought I would do this one here too.
 
I picked up the HpH Hornet kit at Telford this weekend and what a beauty it is. It will be my first resin kit and I am looking forward to learning a new discipline. More of the kit later..
 
The subject I have picked is Sea Hornet F Mk22 TT202. I chose this one as there are a series of colour pictures taken on an air-to-air sortie on the South Coast with de Havilland test pilot Pat Fillingham at the controls. I like the simplicity of the scheme and the fact that the surface finish even on an all silver aircraft has many hues and tones.
 
Here she is...
 

 
 

 
..a stunningly beautiful aeroplane and full credit to HpH for kitting it. I have been speaking with David Collins who runs the Hornet Project – he is literally a world authority on the aircraft and has been assembling what little remains of the real aircraft into a full cockpit section rebuild. Over time I am looking forward to learning more and more about it.
 
So onto the kit – here are some shots of what's in the box..
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
..major components..
 
 

 
 
..nice surface detail...
 

 
 
..lots of bits & bobs...
 
 

 
 

 
..nice PE..
 

 
..more in a moment...

[airscale]

..so, while I was waiting for Telford and not painting the Sea Fury, I got started on the Merlin engine – the kit does not have separate engines so I got hold of the sprues for a Merlin from a Tamiya Mustang.

 

The 130 series Merlin in a Hornet differs in that the air intake at the rear takes air from the top, not the bottom, and there is a big gearbox on the front to allow the props to rotate in different directions countering asymmetrical torque.

 

..visible here..

 

 

 

 

 

..the tamiya parts..

 

 

 

..first up was to build the rear air intake structure...

 

 

 

..and modify the kit parts..

 

 

 

 

 

...detailed the carburettors..

 

 

 

 

 

[SinuheH]

Nice detail work on that engine...... the kit looks great as well - look forward to seeing more.

 

[airscale]

 

 

..with a bit of paint..

 

 

 

..modified the coolant pump to the bigger bore Hornet unit...

 

 

..starting on the gearbox – I made a brass template by reducing a parts manual image to 1/32 scale...

 

 

..starting on the gearbox structure..

 

 

...and the nearly finished unit..

 

 

..and this is where I am at so far..

 

 

..having fun and hope you enjoy following along..

 

TTFN

Peter

[scimitarf1]

This is absolutely fantastic work. What did you use for the coolant pump housing to get such a complex shape?

 

Will

[Guest Peterpools]

Peter

OMG - this is going to be another incredible build. Why would I expect anything different.

Terrific start on the Merlin

Keep 'em coming

:popcorn:

[Kagemusha]

Jeez - you're not even waiting for the starter's gun!

 

I also picked up the kit, the most elegant model I saw at the show. I was flicking through the Hornet/Sea Hornet book this morning and seeing a photo of an aircraft with the cowl removed, thought about doing similar if they produce a Sea Hornet NF.21, but just one engine, needless to say, best of luck and I'll be following with great interest!!

[Av8fan]

Thank you for posting this.  I will be following with great interest.

[Wurzacher]

Only some parts done on the engine and you already made my chin hit the keyboard!

 

Fascinating work here, Peter! Wonder what you used to depict those tiny screws on the gearbox structure?

[Out2gtcha]

Nice! I will be picking this one up.......and the 410 too if I can manage......once I get some more fundage flowing.  following along w/interest!

[LSP_Kevin]

Great choice for a build thread Peter! I'll be following along for sure. Glad to see you're not waiting around.

 

Kev

[scvrobeson]

Wow, this is a great start so far!  As exceptional as your Sea Fury, and this is one beautiful plane.

 

 

 

Matt 

[sean1968]

Here he goes again, making the rest of us feel inadequate lol. Funning aside, start of another fantastic build.  

[airscale]

thanks for the warm welcome guys - I am really looking forward to this build..

 

the kit is beautiful - I just need to learn some new techniques for dealing with resin - like how do you get parts off the resin wafer they come on - sand the backing away or cut & file?

 

converting the kit into a Sea Hornet should be fairly straightforward - add an arrestor hook and the PR camera window in the fuselage - I am  not folding the wings so only have to add the surface & panel detail differences. chopping it up to add an engine will likely be a bit fraught, but hey thats what it is all about - pushing boundaries and learning new stuff..

 

 

 

What did you use for the coolant pump housing to get such a complex shape?

 

Will

 

Hi Will - I just heated a bit of plastic rod and bent it around a needle file handle of the right diameter - no black magic at all!

 

Wonder what you used to depict those tiny screws on the gearbox structure?

 

Hi Thomas - I have a selection of brass nuts, bolts & washers from Scale Hardware - $10 for 25 so not cheap, but there is nothing else that represents them so well

 

..back soon with another update, but i fear it may be a little while before I actually touch the kit! - lots more to do on the Tamiya merlin

 

TTFN
Peter

[Guest Nigelr32]

Hi Peter,

 

May I first start by saying it was a pleasure to meet you and your wife at the show.

 

Secondly, your Sea Fury on the 32sig stand looks awesome!!

 

Thirdly, OMG!!!! This is some of the best work I have ever seen. I can only dream of achieving that level of skill in my lifetime.

 

As a sideline, i bought the Cat, you bought the Hornet, so we are very lucky boys... I spoke to a guy on Sunday afternoon who bought the Cat, Hornet, 410, Walrus, Arado and launch!!! He's a very lucky boy!!