Dragon Rapide alternatives?

[clockworks]

I used to build 1/43 resin car kits. Recently I switched to 1/32 German armour. I've not built a plane kit since I was a kid.

I've got the urge to build a "golden age" biplane in a reasonably large scale. My first thought was a DH Dragon Rapide (beautiful aircraft!), but I was surprised to find out that it wasn't a popular subject. All I can find is a 1/72 Airfix/Heller plastic kit, a 1/24 card kit, and a 1/48 vacform/resin kit from Isracast. The last one sounds OK, but the price is a bit steep - £50+

Is there another plane kit with similar lines out there in 1/48 or 1/32 at a reasonable price?

[dr_gn]

clockworks said:

I used to build 1/43 resin car kits. Recently I switched to 1/32 German armour. I've not built a plane kit since I was a kid.

I've got the urge to build a "golden age" biplane in a reasonably large scale. My first thought was a DH Dragon Rapide (beautiful aircraft!), but I was surprised to find out that it wasn't a popular subject. All I can find is a 1/72 Airfix/Heller plastic kit, a 1/24 card kit, and a 1/48 vacform/resin kit from Isracast. The last one sounds OK, but the price is a bit steep - £50+

Is there another plane kit with similar lines out there in 1/48 or 1/32 at a reasonable price?

I can think of two possibilities for decent biplane kits in 1:32 scale, although neither will get you anything much like a Dragon Rapide.

First off, have you seen Wingnut Wings range of kits? Probably at the top of the list of quality plastic kit manufacturers currently out there:

http://wingnutwings.com/ww/

Second, Matchbox did 1:32 Tiger Moth which can make a great model. Revell re-issued it:



ETA Of course you could built a larger balsa R/C model and detail it yourelf as a static model. I built a Guillows Stearman and left it uncovered to show the structure - it looks fantastic. Here's the kind of thing I'm on about:

http://www.sussex-model-centre.co.uk/shopexd.asp?i...

Edited by dr_gn on Wednesday 17th October 22:09

[Eric Mc]

If I was making a return to plastic model aircraft building - I wouldn't start with a biplane.

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

If I was making a return to plastic model aircraft building - I wouldn't start with a biplane.

From his profile (clockmaker), modelling experience (small scale resin cars and 1:35 armour), and the aircraft kits he's contemplating (resin/vac-form) I don't see any problem at all, especially with a Wingnut Wings kit which would go together superbly. Decent model building is after all pretty much a matter of eyesight, patience and an uncompromising attitude.

[Eric Mc]

I was thinking of coping with rigging.

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

I was thinking of coping with rigging.

That's the fun bit!

Personally, the painting and weathering stages of a kit are the most tricky to get right, the assembly/rigging bits I find quite relaxing.

[Eric Mc]

Ive really got to get to grips with rigging biplanes. In "the old days" I used the stretched sprue technique but I really want to have a go with the more modern "thread based" techniques. I've a few cheap and cheerful biplane kits in the stash set aside as "learning tools".

[clockworks]

I looked at building an RC Rapide a couple of years ago, with the intention of flying it. Building that one as a static model wouldn't be a problem, but it'd have to hang from the ceiling - too big to sit in/on a cabinet. The props would need scratch building, as RC props just don't look right.

I think the biggest challenge for me with this type of plane will be achieving a realistic natural metal paint finish. I've not worked with Alclad paints before.

Are the Heller and Airfix kits from the same tooling?

[dr_gn]

clockworks said:

I looked at building an RC Rapide a couple of years ago, with the intention of flying it. Building that one as a static model wouldn't be a problem, but it'd have to hang from the ceiling - too big to sit in/on a cabinet. The props would need scratch building, as RC props just don't look right.

I think the biggest challenge for me with this type of plane will be achieving a realistic natural metal paint finish. I've not worked with Alclad paints before.

Are the Heller and Airfix kits from the same tooling?

Yes, the Airfix and Heller kits are the same mouldings.

Alclad II is not so bad to use - here's my recent 1:72 F-84:

http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Having said that, you're not looking for a natural metal finish on a Rapide - it's doped/painted fabric or wood.

ETA, here's the Guillows Stearman I built:

Edited by dr_gn on Thursday 18th October 09:42

[Eric Mc]

They are one and the same. Between 1986 and 2006, both Heller and Airfix were owned by Humbrol - and a fair amount of mould and box swapping went on.

Since 2006 Airfix are part of the Hornby group and Heller are independent again. However, some of the kits seem to have transferred between the two companies and swaps may still happen from time to time.

The Heller kit originally came out around 1978/79 and it was considered a nice litle kit at the time. I think it still is.

Heller kits produced between about 1975 and 1980 are little gems - in my opnion. They are old fashioned in that they tend to feature raised panel lines rather than the more modern engraved lines. However, they are still nice little models.

Edited by Eric Mc on Thursday 18th October 09:44

[clockworks]

After I posted about metal finishes, I did wonder about the skin of the Rapide. I saw a documentary a while ago that featured one of these aircraft.

I've just googled to try and find what that documentary was - no joy. Having seen more images, it's possible the plane in that programme was actually blue.
I'm pretty sure it was low-budget show on BBC3/4, or maybe Discovery HD. Any ideas?

I think I'll have a go at the Airfix/Heller kit first.

[Eric Mc]

It might have been the "Classic British Aircraft" series - narrated by Harry Enfield.

Dragon Rapdes were finished in a myriad of colours. Before WW2 they were built as airliners so they tended to be white or aluminium painted with airline stripes, logos, crests etc.
During the war they were built in large numbers as the Dominie navigational trainer and these also carried very varied schemes, depending on who was operating them (Royal Air Force, Royal Navy etc). Initially some were in a doped aluminium scheme but later they were camouflaged with dark earth/dark green or ocean grey/dark green (RAF) upper colours and often yellow undersides (standard lower surface colourrs for RAF trainers).
Navy aircraft would often have the dark sea grey/dark slate grey upper surface camouflage scheme.

Post war, many of the WW2 survivors went back into airline use (including with BEA) and some ended up with flying clubs or parachute clubs.

Edited by Eric Mc on Thursday 18th October 12:35

[dr_gn]

clockworks said:

After I posted about metal finishes, I did wonder about the skin of the Rapide. I saw a documentary a while ago that featured one of these aircraft.

I've just googled to try and find what that documentary was - no joy. Having seen more images, it's possible the plane in that programme was actually blue.
I'm pretty sure it was low-budget show on BBC3/4, or maybe Discovery HD. Any ideas?

I think I'll have a go at the Airfix/Heller kit first.

I called in at my LHS this lunchtime and they have an old Airfix Dragon Rapide (c. £13) - it does look to be a very nice moulding considering it's age. I think it would be a good candidate for you, especially if you used stretched sprue for the rigging.

The aircraft has a wooden fuselage covered in fabric, and fabric covered wings. If I were building one in silver, I would use Alclad II becasue of its very fine grain size. There are myriad colours in the range, and if you select an 'aluminium' colour and combine it with a clear matt overcoat I think it would look extremely good. Here is a topical photo:



Personally, I've always liked the King's Flight colours of red and blue. IIRC they were the colours of the King's army regiment or something:

[clockworks]

Hadn't noticed that series, as I only tend to watch HD channels. Looks like it's being repeated next week - thanks for the heads up!
I've got a feeling that the programme that I saw was more about design/style, or maybe it was about London's original airport at Croydon.

I've just discovered that Rapides were flown to the Scillies from Lands End. Local to me, so I may try and build one of those.

Interesting shot of the fuel fire!

[perdu]

Although I am in a self build phase at the moment I'd suggest that the £50 resin might not be an excessive price in today's market, for a niche project.

If a 1/48 scale Westland Wessex of reasonable quality in injection moulding can cost around £25 (my local shop's price before I get started working on him) A decent size resin model of de Havilland's beauty seems par for the course.



Or of course build one from plans, it is very easy these days to have plans resized to suit one's taste.

And I admire your taste immensely. Beautiful, the Rapide. I'd have one in the old BEA livery, really charming.

[Marshdweller]

I would heartily recommend a balsa model such as the Dumas kit http://www.dumasproducts.com/product_info.php?cPat...

I haven't built it myself, but I have recently got into 'stick and tissue' models and I find their construction more fun than plastic models because the ease with which parts can be replaced and repaired makes for a more fearless modeller (in my case anyway). It might also give it a more realistic look as the construction method is similar to the real thing.

[clockworks]

The Dumas kit looks very nice, but it's a bit big to sit on the sideboard or in a display cabinet. I'd have to hang it from the ceiling.

[Marshdweller]

If you were willing to work from plans alone, scaled to the appropriate size, then these might be of use to you:

http://www.outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=169...

[dr_gn]

I don't think the o/p will do much better than the 1:72 Heller/Airfix version TBH - at least for starters. There's a hell of a lot of extra detail that could be added to make it an absolute stunner, or just build it OOB (with a bit of rigging) and it would still make a great display model.

[Eric Mc]

I read recently that Whirlykits have produced an etched brass cockpit interior for the Airfix Heller Dragon Rapide.
They also produce a decal sheet for an all yellow AA operated l aircraft.