A sentimental favourite de Havilland - the Mk35 Vampire

[Uncle Les]

Many moons ago a younger Uncle Les wore a blue uniform and performed feats of technical interest on Bous, Macchis and more importantly, on this aircraft:

 

This is the view from the instrument section window above the flight line.  I decided I wanted to build a model of this very aircraft ( as I tend to do with others I've taken a screwdriver to..) and to this end I made a 1/72 resin conversion set, 1/48 resin fuselage replacement and more recently, a 1/32 one-off.  Here's a bit of the story of the 1/32 example in a brief photographic essay:

I decided I wanted to build an RNZAF Venom alongside the Mk35 using a Matchbox Sea Venom as a base - I also obtained a Tigger models Vampire but this proved to be rather expensive and disappointing - it ended up being an expensive canopy and mismatched parts that needed a LOT of work.  Eventually I knocked up the sections I needed with plasticard and resin using scaled up plans from various sources.

My take on the Goblin was using the Matchbox Ghost, casting up new cans and making a few mods here and there...

These pics will show which bits of the kit I used and which bits were cast up - I made up one boom to suit and cast up multiples to cater for this and the Venom.

 

I then whipped up a nose shape and vac-formed some nosey bits to cater for both the underside and the bonnet.

Edited November 8, 2014 by Uncle Les

[Uncle Les]

 

 

The vacform nose is seen here before the ribs were added

 

 

 

A little more detailing work

[Uncle Les]

I spent a lot of time "under the hood" so I have a least a little knowledge of the plumbing !

 

 

 

[Uncle Les]

Moving forward - I tend to build fairly fast and didn't photograph some of the intervening steps so here we are magically with some markings applied

 

 The wing tip lights were made by inking a small vacform "bulb" was was encased in clear epoxy and then sanded to shape.

Bang seats using some Mk3s I had laying around (thanks Eric Sujecki collection..)

 and we're pretty much there

 

 

Edited November 8, 2014 by Uncle Les

[Uncle Les]

 

 

 

 

and finally here's my take

on an aircraft I enjoyed immensely as mere queer trader.

 

 

 

Edited November 8, 2014 by Uncle Les

[LSP_Kevin]

Awesome stuff Les! Good to see how this one came to fruition. Good inspiration too for when I finally tackle Tigger's Tunnan.

 

Kev

[SinuheH]

Amazing stuff - thanks for sharing the origin and journey!

 

[Whitey]

Incredible Les. Well played.

[Hardcore]

Amazing you get such even, smooth, surface at the end.