Postman H.
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/7/3/2/1213732-73194-49-720.jpg)
The magnificent, reliable and slow H.P. 42.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/5/5/0/1213550-73194-46-720.jpg)
The moulds are from 1965, but the fit is really good so far. However, the corrugated metal (duralumin?) texture on the fuselage is a bit thick, so I wondered if I could somehow reproduce it in scale. Luckily I found a couple screws in the toolbox that had aproximately the right amount of turns per mm. The idea is to slide aluminium sheet between the screws. This pic shows first attempt, squeezing the screws together with copper wire and pulling the foil by hand. Wavy but promising!
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/5/4/8/1213548-73194-12-720.jpg)
These spaghettis have to go.
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This Lego jig allows a controlled pull of the sheet while sandwiched between the screws. Now the pattern is straight and it looks good, so I can go on.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/5/5/1/1213551-73194-48-720.jpg)
Fuselage skinning done. I opened the luggage compartment door under the starbord wing and another door in the tail section.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/5/5/3/1213553-73194-76-720.jpg)
Wall thickness is too much, windows seem to be in a medieval castle.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/5/5/2/1213552-73194-81-720.jpg)
Thinned walls
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/5/5/5/1213555-73194-62-720.jpg)
Test fit, looking good. This is the lower wing.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/5/5/4/1213554-73194-47-720.jpg)
Plastic pins to support the cabin floor.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/5/5/6/1213556-73194-83-720.jpg)
Cabin floor made from a SIM card holder found on the street.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/5/5/7/1213557-73194-17-720.jpg)
This seat will be the master, 18 copies needed.
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Master ready. Now I'll test the copying method with some dummy before trying it on the seat.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/0/0/0/1223000-73194-17-720.jpg)
It felt like a perfect time to learn how to solder wire, thus improving the look of the undercarriage. This first attempt highlighted how many factors have to be considered and dealt with when soldering, alignment being only one of them. Still pondering if the result is worth it, but it looks promising, and it's so much fun!
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/9/9/8/1222998-73194-83-720.jpg)
Looks good in frontal view.
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/9/9/9/1222999-73194-44-720.jpg)
There are two struts with airfoil section, which I'll reproduce squeezing brass tubes around a small brass rod (which is the soldered part). Must try with different brass tubes, the upper one seems too thick.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/0/0/1/1223001-73194-11-720.jpg)
Two seats copied, I'm very happy with the result! Only 15 more to go... sigh.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/1/8/2/1236182-73194-75-720.jpg)
Cockpit walls and passenger cabin door ready. The metal embossing technique is working great so far.
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/1/8/4/1236184-73194-12-720.jpg)
Instrument panel and steering wheels
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/1/8/3/1236183-73194-71-720.jpg)
Quick dry fit
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/1/8/5/1236185-73194-39-720.jpg)
Some structural details added, plus the luggage shelf support running above the seats
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/1/8/6/1236186-73194-88-720.jpg)
Overall look. Luggage compartment is also cladded with corrugated metal (an educated guess...)
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/1/5/2/1261152-73194-38-720.jpg)
Front view
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/1/5/3/1261153-73194-12-720.jpg)
The entrance and radio equipment
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/1/5/4/1261154-73194-73-720.jpg)
All components of the cockpit painted and in place
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/5/2/9/1263529-73194-46-720.jpg)
Two tones of acrylic brown paintbrushed over Tamiya deck tan (same as seen here on the floor) and this bulkhead is ready. It was a first class cabin!
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/5/3/0/1263530-73194-63-720.jpg)
All seats pinted at last!
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/6/8/6/1263686-73194-33-720.jpg)
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/6/8/7/1263687-73194-43-720.jpg)
You can all now have a proper seat!
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/6/8/8/1263688-73194-84-720.jpg)
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/9/5/0/1267950-73194-28-720.jpg)
Covid crash workbench 😄
Yorumlar
56 28 April 2022, 14:38
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That home made corrugated aluminium looks amazing.
About duplicating parts, I have just started to use blue staff to make reusable moulds, works like a charm
28 April 2022, 18:53
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I have been so happy to see her re-released. And I bought her at once, of course 😉 I will watch your build report with utmost interest and pleasure!
28 April 2022, 19:00
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sittin in....this is in the stash....very interested to see your work...
28 April 2022, 19:48
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Welcome aboard everyone!
Thanks for the tip, Spanjaard. Looks like something worth checking out!
28 April 2022, 21:40
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Spanjaard: I used 2 component silicone for the moulds (Feroca Silastic 3483) and a resin from Smooth On (Smooth-Cast 300) that I found at a FX store nearby. They're not cheap, but the result turned out great!
10 May 2022, 13:19
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I like your approach(es). Lokking interesting and entertaining. I am in.
10 May 2022, 15:10
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Not my scale, but nice build 👍
Soldering is a very important technique for me (as I soldered the Eduard Stripdown kit 😉 ). If possible fix the parts somehow, so that the can't move during the cool down phase. The rest is training and timing.
The aluminium embossing technique is great!
12 May 2022, 18:58
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Thank you, Michael, Alec and Bughunter!
Bughunter: yes, I found fixing the pieces to be very tricky, given the small diameter of the wire used. For my trials I managed to get a decent result somehow with balsa wood "bed" (I cut out a hole under the welding point to let the tin flow) masking tape and blue tac. Main issue for me by now is getting used to the behaviour of the tin, sometimes it flows ok, but not always. So still a long way to go! I really appreciate your advice btw.
12 May 2022, 21:38
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Great work! I really like the embossing technique. I have been wondering how best to tackle this kit too 🙂
17 May 2022, 11:08
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Thanks, F_IV! I'm currently working on the interior, but have some trouble copying the seats. The first two came out perfect, but all the following ones have bubbles or aren't properly cured...
17 May 2022, 15:53
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Inceredible project! The alu hint is great - I tried similar thing some time ago, but never thought of using screws, thx 👍
18 May 2022, 11:14
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Projet intéressant! et le début est très prometteur, avec plein d'essai! Je suis.
3 June 2022, 06:54
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That's going to be a masterpiece! Interior looks fantastic already!
3 June 2022, 07:50
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Thanks, guys. Doing my best here, it's my first 1/144. I'll also replace the kit's wing struts with wooden ones following Bughunter's path. Since they're really big on the real thing I think it can be done in this scale. Got one done already and it looks great, I just wish there were not so many.
3 June 2022, 08:32
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Corrugated skin and detailing in the cockpit & interior in 1:144! Top work. A front seat please!
23 June 2022, 10:52
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Thanks, Alec and Bernhard! All the 19 passenger seats are ready for paint at last.
23 June 2022, 13:10
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I wish some Ryanair CEO watching this may reconsider their comfort standards.
14 July 2022, 10:17
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😉 I am sure they do - as soon as we as passengers consider paying a similar share of our income for a ticket as the passengers of those days had to.
14 July 2022, 10:33
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Ben: OK, I see your point. Somehow I don't feel bad about those 30's travellers who could afford the tickets, but I do about companies trying to squeeze as many people as possible on modern planes.
14 July 2022, 22:28
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Thank you, friends! Due to Covid, I can't use proper workbench this week, so I started some easier projects on my bedside table. Less is more!
23 July 2022, 09:00
![](/profiles/img/76342-836-s.jpg)
Impressive project with maximum effort. Outstanding result, David! 👍 I'll Take a seat.
10 November 2022, 15:39
Album info
I recently run into this kit by chance, and was immediatly seduced by its wonderful and inspiring box art. My idea is to scratch build the interior, so hopefully I'll learn how to make silicone moulds and resin casting to deal with all the seats. Let's see how it goes!