Wings of Intent: Comper Swift - 1/72nd Arctic Decals/Dekno resin and 3D-printed kit

The elusive dream of an everyman's plane partially materialized in a few successful designs, being the Comper Swift one of them. Absolutely beautiful, and produced in significant numbers, the variety of liveries in which this little plane can be represented is a field day for civil modelers and Golden Age lovers.

Aeroclub and Dujin both released 1/72nd kits, as a vac and resin respectively, now long OOP.

It was high time we had a state-of-the-art, top-notch kit of this extremely appealing light plane. This joint-venture between Arctic Decals and Dekno has created a little wonder, with very good casting and needless to say exceptional decals. This time it comes with the traditional Pobjoy, although Swifts also came with Scorpions, Salmsons and Gipsy Majors, the latter greatly changing the lines of the plane. Several boxings of this variant have been released:

(Boxings on the Arctic Decals website)

https://www.arcticdecals.com/products.html?id=45671/1140360

https://www.arcticdecals.com/products.html?id=45671/1140362

https://www.arcticdecals.com/products.html?id=45671/1140359

I got the black G-ABUS, that comes with various decal options depending on the time period during its life.

A NACA circular on the type -as a PDF- can be found here:

https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc279493/m2/1/high_res_d/19930090387.pdf

G-ABUS taking off during the King's Cup newsreel:

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/kings-cup-air-race-5

Modified Swift with canopy newsreel:

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/our-most-coveted-air-trophy-1

A Scorpion-powered Swift, female pilot and two storage areas for luggage:

https://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675068046_woman-flies-biplane_woman-pulls-biplane_throws-baggage_aircraft-takes-off

For the Aussies:

http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/comperswift/comperswift.html

The kit:

Now we are talking! the same high-definition 3D-printed parts as seen on Dekno's BFW M.18d, greatly detailed. Now, this is how 3D-printing should be, not the sub-par kits cranked out by other manufacturers with little regard for finesse or quality.

As with the BFW M.18, where the engine was among the nicer parts, here we have a minute yet perfectly detailed Pobjoy, a little jewel on itself. Most kit parts come as 3D-printed items, and only six main parts (wing, fuselage and tail) are traditionally cast in resin but nicely so. No warps or defects in my sample.

I mentioned the decals, and these are of course superb, coming from a manufacturer that is now synonym of good research and excellent printing. Good instructions in full color complete the package, with wise advice that should be read and followed.

What a beautiful little thing, and right for the Holidays!

3D-printed parts in high def, unlike some other manufacturers that produce sub-par renditions:

Excellent decal set:

Color instructions:

The minute Pobjoy is rendered with precision:

To give you an idea of the size:

The build:

I like to separate and clean all the parts before starting the assembly, but if you do that, be careful, as you risk losing them. Keep them in a safe (lidded) container. Most of these parts are really small, but fortunately their cradles are well-thought and the resin is relatively strong (within limits, of course) so separation is easy. The printing is so good that cleaning is minimal, but, nonetheless, always be careful.

Special care should be taken while separating the prop, that has scale super-thin blades, and the struts, that have pillars holding them that should be removed with utmost care.

Beware that you may paint a few of these 3D-printed parts while still in their supports.

Just look at this 3D-printed seat, with the slots for the belts:

Since there is a seat for the stab (there was a membrane in the middle where you were supposed to glue the halves, but I removed it for the sake of simplicity, alignment and strength), thus I decided I will glue the halves together:

This particular plane had small fairings at the anchoring fitting of the wing struts. They are easily replicated:

This plane also had a headrest, two are made to chose the best:

The rudder is given its control horn from a P.E. set:

The stab halves are glued (departing from the instructions) and the elevators are also given their control horns:

And what could be more fan than to cross the Andes from Mendoza, Argentina, to Valparaíso, Chile?

An Article from Le Document Aéronautique, Gallica Archives::

Photos show a blue/green/grey hue for the interior. The inst. pan. as per instructions is painted white, to serve as the background for the dials in the decal. The engine on the photo is not the kit's but a Salmson by Matías Hagen I am preparing for another kit:

Dry-fitting the strut fairings needed for this version. The painted engine:

The inst. pan. decal is fitted on the corresponding part:

Interior in place:

The fuselage is closed. The fit was good, after the -seemingly unavoidable- sanding of the cabin floor and instrument panel, something modelers have to do in 99.99% of kits.

Compared with photos, the apex at the cross section immediately after the cockpit is a bit pointy, and should have been a tad more round:

The headrest and struts fairings are glued:

The tail feathers are added. The headrest's cushion will be added after painting:

A coat of primer to better spot the blemishes:

The smaller parts should be treated very carefully, they are sturdy, but a bit brittle, so take your time here:

The wing and landing gear are on:

Wing and stab struts will be added after painting.

The prop lacks a stem, it sort of butts into the engine. This is truly inconvenient for actual modelers, and gives me the clue that the 3D-designer is not a modeler, or not an experienced one at any rate. I drilled a hole to insert a toothpick to be able to deal with basic color painting, the "metal edges", and the yellow tips comfortably:

The headrest cushion is made from the sanded tip of a rod of semicircular section. It will be cut at its base and added after painting:

Painting session:

The control cables are added for rudder and elevator, then the stab struts. And after that decaling has just commenced (first the decals underneath the wing, then the struts, do not forget!):

The decals, being Arctic Decals, are superb and behave truly amicably. These have a common carrier, so each subject has to be cut and trimmed individually:

The fuselage side decals need careful handling. Some modelers may consider cut them and apply them in sections (registrations and the fore and aft parts of the "lightning bolt", for example):