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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 1, 2007 12:46:55 GMT 12
I have just recieved the 1/48th scale de Havilland DH89 Dragon Rapide kitset from Kiwi Resins.
The first word that comes to mind to describe it is OUTSTANDING.
The kit has lots of parts, ans I mean LOTS! By my count, 77 parts!
The moulding is lovely and sharp. There is some great detail such as the option to have the cowlings on or off the engines.
The cockpit glazing is very nicely vacuum formed too.
I am certain this kit will make up into a fantastic model, of an important aircraft in both New Zealand's civil and military history. Now all I need to do is make a decision on what colour scheme it's going into, and whether to make a lovely Cook Strait Airways prewar one... or a postwar NAC example ... or one of the Rapides that served with Unit 20 in Fiji (the RNZAF's first operational deployment of aircraft in the Pacific war zone) ... or a later war DH89b of No. 42 Squadron... oh the choices...
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Post by agalbraith on Sept 1, 2007 18:17:13 GMT 12
Hi Dave
Any chance of some photo's? I have 2 Aeroclub ones which are very nice. I have been thinking seriously about getting one. But at the price it is(which I am sure it is more than worth it) I have been asking myself if I really need one and cant make do with the Aeroclub ones I already have.
I also want to support Dave and the excellent job he is doing producing kits of NZ subjects in 48th we may possibly never have seen otherwise.
Cheers
Anthony
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 1, 2007 19:55:28 GMT 12
Hi Anthony,
I will sort out some photos in the next few days when I borrow Mum's digital camera. I have not seen the Aeroclub kit but my understanding is this one is more correct and more detailed. I look forward to seeing what you say when you compare the photos.
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Post by kiwichappers on Sept 2, 2007 0:59:53 GMT 12
Hi Dave,
Like Anthony I have a couple of John Adams Aeroclub kits stashed away and think they are very good but am also keen to encourage Dave so am looking forward to the pictures.
Unlike Anthony I have already got one of mine committed to a post war NAC scheme. It will be to my mothers memory and reperesent the first plane she flew in when on her honeymoon. The current favourite for the second one is a pre war Cook Strait Airways scheme as it is so elegant and just suits the aircraft in my books
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 2, 2007 23:44:34 GMT 12
I have to admit I too am really considering the prewar Cook Strait Airways scheme, it's just so attractive. Here's Dragon Rapide ZK-AEC "Mercury" scanned from an old NZ Wings magazine.  I am wondering, when these four airliners were impressed into RNZAF service in 1939, were they immediately painted silver overall, or did they perhaps continue to fly in the blue and silver airline scheme with roundels added for a while? Does anyone know? I've been looking into the various RNZAF colour schemes. I know for sure that the colours worn in Fiji by the Rapides was silver overall, and I think before that at the AO and AG School, Ohakea, they wore overall silver too. Although probably the most interesting roles of NZ Rapides as they were operational as reconnaissance bombers both in NZ and in Fiji, but the schemes are a bit dull. I know the later Dominies that came from RAF stocks wore silver overall in Fiji but with the later berred operational roundels. Six of the No. 42 Squadron Dominies wore camouflage schemes, but I don't know for sure if they were RAF Dark Brown and RAF Dark Green (or equivalent), or if the paint was the Pacific Blue and NZ Green worn on many NZ based aircraft. Does anyone have a reference for the colours worn? Were they delivered from Britain already in camo? I cannot find any reference to the colours worn by David Gray's Ardmore-based Rapide. It looks lovely in its blue and white colours, but I have not found any historical photos of RNZAF Rapides in those colours. Was this a postwar scheme? It kind of looks like the VIP Devon etc scheme. Any photos or references to RNZAF colours on Rapides or Dominies would be welcome. Decisions, decisions... |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 5, 2007 16:54:06 GMT 12
OK, some really quick photos as I'm in a ruich but hopefully these will whet the appetites of a few modellers...   Everything you get - lots of parts for a limited run kit  a few details  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 5, 2007 16:54:55 GMT 12
Oh and you also get some nice drawings that are actually exactly the same size as the kit - a nice touch.
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Post by smithy on Sept 5, 2007 20:42:13 GMT 12
Looks superb Dave. I could be tempted, it's such a pretty aircraft the Dragon Rapide.
I'll be watching your build.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 7, 2007 14:13:01 GMT 12
It may be some time.... I'm a notoriously slow modeller. But this kit has fired my enthusiasm though so maybe sooner than later. I'm working on another project right now.
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Post by kiwichappers on Sept 9, 2007 9:15:24 GMT 12
Hmmmmmm! thanks for the pictures Dave this kits has definitely rattled the hip pocket nerve. The kit looks great and I can feel the migration of some of the Queens shillings to Kiwi Resins coffers coming on.
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Post by agalbraith on Sept 12, 2007 20:32:46 GMT 12
Yes it does look really nice dosent it!!!!
Oh dear, I can hear my wallet (or is that my wife)groaning.
I may have to think more seriously about this one now.
Thanks for posting the photos Dave
Anthony
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