BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Well, after about 5 years in development on and off I finally decided to start work on my DH88 De Havilland Comet racer. I hope to turn this into a build thread but really don’t know how long it will take. I received the laser cutting for the fuselage and tail last week and hopefully in the next few weeks/months I will start on the build. The wing and nacelles are still on the drawing board due to decisions on the gas engines as well as finalization of the retract gear design.

I drew these plans up from 3D drawings and info I received from the director of the Shuttleworth Collection in the UK where the Grosvenor House G-ACESS is housed as well as David Ogilvy’s book on the Comet racer. I had the change to see the Comet replica built by Bill Turner's Repeat Aircraft in the hangar in CA a few years back with its engines removed and was able to take several photos of her. I really fell in love with this model when I was a kid and finally am at the point in life I need to get started so I can finish. I want to make a good scale of the Comet so much of the construction on the fuselage is very close to the original. I’m not into finite scale details but really want to finish her up as close as I see feasible without going over board!

Anyway you can’t finish until you get started so here goes!!

Specs on model:

Wingspan: 166 inches
Length: 110
Construction: Plywood and Balsa and foam.
Target AUW : 50 to 60lbs

Bob Harris

BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Here are the fuselage and tail plans with corresponding laser parts. Fuselage is standard build techniques but built around a 1-1/4 aluminum pole to stay true. Fuselage has light plywood sides with additional sheeting in 1/8 balsa. Same as tail but sheeted in 3/32 balsa. One item I have concern on is balance. I conversed with Steve Holland in the UK who build a ½ scale version several years ago and I think is still flying it over there. He had to add quite a bit of lead in the nose for balance so I am careful to keep an eye out on the tail section weight.

Bob Harris

cobi.p

hello bob

first let me congratulated you with good luck and a happy build .

here is my way off doing the flap's on my DH-88 build .

this is a simple cradle that carry the servo and 2 arm's to work the flap's

cobi.p

2 more

BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Great look unit! It appears you parts have been laser cut. Is this your design? Is this local kit available ? I have not found too much in the way of plans or kits in my search.

Thanks,

Bob Harris

cobi.p

hello bob

the plan's are from the net by " Joe Colletti " , a friend of mine cut me some parts on his home laser but , after i started the build i find out thet the fuselage is far from scale and i'm stuck now , i am traing to rebuild it and fix the error's .

if you want send me by PM your e-mail and i will send you the plan's in PDF file .

cheers - cobi

BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Yes, I saw that plan on a free plan website. You are correct the fuselage is not to scale. A good looking model though!! I basically drew mine up from partial plans from De Havilland and Bill Turner's plans. I am using the RAF 34 airfoil as per the original but added 3 degrees of washout in the tips to help with the slow speed tip stall issues. I have the scale landing gear drawn up and am experimenting with aluminum and chrome molly tubing to construct. I'm also playing with some electric screw jacks to operate the gear.

I'm far enough along to build the fuselage and tail sections. I plan to build up the center section of the wing just past the nacelles with foam sheeted plug in wings after that. still working on the simulated ribs for the trailing edge. Having fun though!!!

Bob Harris

JeffH

My Feedback: (43)

This is probably the sexiest airplane ever built. It ranks right up there with D type Jaguars!!!

nemo_uk

Hi Guys,

I found this thread via google, I photographed the last remaining airworthy example at the weekend, might be of interest ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/telms/s...7625003219949/ The staff at the [link=http://www.shuttleworth.org/]Shuttleworth collection[/link] very kindly let me go around the barrier and even opened up the cockpit.

There is another walkaround here ... http://skyraider3d.military-meshes.c...ounds/dh88.htm

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

Oooh! Does this mean there will be a RealFlight G5 model coming?

Avaiojet

Bob,

Great project!

The Racers are of great interest to me, so I'll be keeping tabs on this build for sure.

I always ask this question. How did you come by a span of 166"?

BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Well, I really don't know why the 166 wing span. I think because I could use 8 inch tires for scale and the fuselage stringers were 5/16 close to scale!! I also wanted to use gas engines instead of glow. I started this project over 5 years ago and hope to get on it soon. I've been down with some surgery and such so I hope to start the build this fall. I got the laser cutting in for the fuselage and tail. Still working out the bugs in the wing with the center section being built up and the wings from the nacelles out will be foam covered balsa or light ply. I need to lengthen my building table to 9 feet so I can start the fuselage. Will post some pics when I get started!!

I've put the Comet on the back burner here lately as I've been playing with Quickie 500 racing. But its getting cold down here the prime time to build!!!

Bob Harris

JeffH

My Feedback: (43)

Any updates on this?

BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Jeff unfortunately nothing yet. Had a few health issues that popped up and put it on the back burner for now. Hopefully next year I can start on the project. Got to get a 9 ft building table build to layout the fuselage!!

Bob Harris

WhoDaMan

My Feedback: (164)

I was there when mister Turner finished building the only US Model of the plane, He took off his shoes and walked all the way out on the wingtip and he was 6' 5"What a beautiful plane I have had one on the building table for 8 years that I got from David Greene in England it has a 10 foot wing span

Dave