Handley Page HP-42 in 1/72

[TomZ]

First time I'm trying to do a full build report here. Don't expect to see this finished anytime soon though. It will be at least spring next year before I can use my airbrush again as my spraying booth is in the shed and it's much too cold and damp at the moment.

I got this one from ebay here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handley-Page-HP-42W-3D-fabricated-1-72-kit-Free-shipping/114449581563?hash=item1aa5ba05fb:g:qPwAAOSwWzddGgOd after someone posted an item about the Saro Princess they also do in 1/72.
They also do a HP-42 in 1/48 but this one is large enough for me  .

I've always thought the HP-42 was a fascinating aircraft and built the 1/144 Airfix one years ago. This one is completely 3D printed in what looks to be polystyrene and the parts look good. A lot of fine detail, some flash here and there. Some clean-up is required here and there.



The larger parts are free from any spruces and the smaller ones or printed on some kind of sheet which holds them together. I started on the cabin interior and that all went together nicely.



I did some tests with my usual Humbrol and Revell enamal paints and it looks like the parts can be painted without any priming, unlike the 3D printed stuff you get from Shapeways.

The windows are provided as sheet plastic and I'm rather dreading how that will go. The markings are vinyl stickers and I'm not sure if that will go down well on that corrugated fuselage.

To be continued...

TomZ

[Dizzyfugu]

That's looking very good for a 3D print!

IIRC, there is a whiffy option in literature of a lost H.P. 42 in two "Yoko Tsuno" comics; not flashy, though:



At least for the side windows, Humbrol's ClearFix could be an alternative, even though the openings could already be a little too large for the stuff.

[zenrat]

Interesting.

Can you glue the parts with normal model glue?

[PR19_Kit]

Goodness gracious, what a MONSTER that's going to be!

Most impressive and I'll be watching with great interest.

[loupgarou]

Interesting.

Can you glue the parts with normal model glue?

In some other ebay ads, the seller specifies it's ABS, so normal plastic glue won't give a strong enough bond. I hope Tom has some specific glue for it.

[TomZ]

I've put the cabin interior together using CA glue. That works OK it seems.
Will do a test with normal polystyrene glue.

TomZ

[NARSES2]

That's looking very good for a 3D print!

It is indeed Dizzy.

I've always had a bit of a thing for the HP 42. I think it's because all of the photos and posters I've seen of it standing in front of the old Croydon airport building.

[TomZ]

Just did a test with normal glue on two pieces of scrap.
Looks like it works quite well.

TomZ

[The Rat]

I've always had a bit of a thing for the HP 42.

As have I. What always does it for me is that forward fuselage, so streamlined and 'modern' for its time, anachronistic against the rest of the maze of struts and wires. Ditto for the Curtis Condor.

[stevehed]

Looking forward to this one. Should be one big bird. Years ago I wondered about using the Airfix 1/144 as the basis for a whif bomber but could never get one. Silly money springs to mind.

[Leading Observer]

I shallfollow this with interest. had a quick squint at his ebay shop and spotted this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saunders-Roe-Princess-airliner-ver-3D-fabricated-1-72-ABS-kit-Free-shipping/114473164799?hash=item1aa721dfff:g:NWYAAOSw8jlcmNP-
- that would be huge, but not as big as the 1/48th version!https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saunders-Roe-Princess-prototype-ver-3D-fabricated-1-48-ABSkit-Free-shipping/113908763442?hash=item1a857dcb32:g:LIwAAOSwxmNdcbby

[PR19_Kit]

 1/48 Princess? 

That'd be about 4.5 FEET wingspan!

[chrisonord]

I was very tempted with an Andover  kit until I saw where it was coming from.  The import tax  will be a bit nasty  on one i dare say. What was the tax mand cut like on your  HP 42 Tom?

[TomZ]

I was very tempted with an Andover  kit until I saw where it was coming from.  The import tax  will be a bit nasty  on one i dare say. What was the tax mand cut like on your  HP 42 Tom?

I was lucky and the package went through without being intercepted.
In Holland they tend to focus on some larger well-known web shops and this kind of "private" packages tend to slip through.
My purchases from Hobby Link Japan ALWAYS got caught and I stopped buying from them but my eBay purchases mostly get through.

TomZ

[chrisonord]

Hmm, interesting.  I wonder if I could be so lucky with our blood sucking customs in the UK. I am very tempted with the Andover though.  Although I  am  also tempted to  get an IL -14 and put some  western engines on it  and an RAF  disguise. Decisions decisions.
Chris