A-Model DH 106 Comet 4B 1:144 – build guide

Feature Article with Tim Haynes
Kit Ref: 1448
Just before we get started, here’s a look at how it all turned out…

Background

Having seen Geoff’s build of the Airfix 1:144 scale Airfix BAC 1-11 back in July 2024, I got a bit of a bee in my bonnet so to speak about doing an airliner. This was something new to me, which is a bit odd as I worked for Airbus Operations for the best part of 20 years, and they make hundreds of 1/1 scale versions!

The key for me was to do a classic British aircraft, which pulled me towards the de-Havilland Comet, and in particular the DH106 Comet 4B, with what to me are the most elegant proportions. The next thing was that I really wanted to do an early BEA scheme as they are iconic, (at least to me).

With that in mind I started looking at the old Airfix boxings, but they were all beyond what I wanted to pay. So, after some searching I eventually settled on the A-Model kit which has the correct scheme, and being a newer moulding I thought would have a better level of fit and accuracy! Oh, dear oh dear, but more of that later.

The Plan

Even before I received the kit, I had decided that I wanted to build it in flight to make the best of those sleek lines. Also, as a complete cheat, it meant that I did not have to faff around with tiny undercarriage parts, (total respect to those of you who specialise in this scale).

While waiting for the kit to arrive I did some belated research on previous builds, which set a few alarm bells going in my head that this would not be the walk in the park I had hoped for. Also, at this time I thought “in for a penny, in for a pound” and bought the X-Scale version of the Hawker Siddeley Trident (also in a BEA scheme) to keep the Comet company. This is the subject of a parallel review, which follows on from this one.

Read on…