”Out Of Africa” DH 60 – Gipsy Moth
”Out Of Africa” DH 60 – Gipsy Moth
That Little Yellow Plane
The Oscar-winning movie Out of Africa conjures images of the quintessential African setting: breathtaking savannah plains, bountiful wildlife and glimpses of Kenya’s rich tribal cultures. At the centre of all of this, who can forget the yellow biplane soaring high above dramatic landscapes, flown by Denys Finch Hatton (Robert Redford) as he showed Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) his deep love of Africa? This heart-stopping performance captured filmgoers the world over. And don’t even let us get started on the soundtrack.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrnC7QzfFwQ)
The real life biplane’s registration, G-AAMY, honours record-setting English aviatrix Amy Johnson, who was tragically shot down in 1941 by an over-vigilant British anti-aircraft battery after being unable to correctly radio in the day’s code words.
For the film, its registration was slightly altered to G-AAMT.
The kit
There aren’t many options if one wants to build this plane, so I had to go with the old A-Models kit. Plastic is soft, details are… as good as the fit :-/ Yes, it’s a terrible kit.
As usual, I like to work with much references as possible and I learned a lot about this specific plane (G-AAMY). One of the most visible differences is the exhaust position: usually on the port, you’ll find it on starboard on G-AAMY. Didn’t know why, but as the plane is still flying today with a new engine, one can imagine who many interventions she had.
So I had to change the engine cowling, the exhaust pipe and so on.
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- 1. engine transformation process
As seen on the movie, I opted to build her with the passengers’ door open and had some other details as commented in some pictures.
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- 1. Open door
Some points add to be heavily worked, like the wings attachment points that I had to drill and enforce with some tailor pins. At first I failed to do that with some catastrophic result.
At some point near the end, I must confess I was so tired that I just wanted to finish…
PAINTING
With so much cutting, the model had a lot of putty so I had to prime it, which I did in white.
Then painted the yellow (a mixture of 1 drop of red xf-7 to 20 drops of yellow xf-3) and after that the black (Mr.Hobby).
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- 1. home printed decals
As there were any decals available, I had to print my own.
The registration on the wings were, being so big, masked and painted.
Here are some pictures of the journey and the final result after rigging her with some 0,02 line.
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- 1. cargo compartment out of stretched sprue
[2020Feb18 UPDATE] this build received some kind and beautiful words here in “iModeler at the Movies”:
Cheers,
Manuel
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- 1. the real one and the film version
1 additional image. Click to enlarge.
Juan Ravizzoli said on September 28, 2019
What a good model! These planes always seemed to me the hardest thing to assemble. Really beautiful.
Manuel Magrinho said on September 28, 2019
Thanks Juan!
Phil Steele said on September 28, 2019
Beautiful build !!
Manuel Magrinho said on September 28, 2019
Thanks Phil!
Pedro L. Rocha said on September 28, 2019
Extraordinary work Manuel! I trust your word about the kit being terrible, but you know what? No one would tell, your model is just admirable. Parabéns!
Manuel Magrinho said on September 28, 2019
thanks Pedro, you’re too kind! It’s a beautiful plane, the more I look at her, the more I love her 🙂
It’s an eye catcher, so it was easy 😉
Obrigado!
Craig Abrahamson said on September 28, 2019
Very impressive build and presentation, sir….nice work indeed!
Manuel Magrinho said on September 28, 2019
thanks Craig! As always, you’re too kind!
Tom Cleaver said on September 28, 2019
Terrible kit but great model. The difference between the two is talent.
Manuel Magrinho said on September 29, 2019
Wow! Thks Tom! That’s a compliment
Jimmy Zed said on September 29, 2019
I remember seeing the movie as a kid and thinking it was boring as heck, i wonder if it’s worth a rewatch after all these years.
Lovely build and great pics Manuel.
Manuel Magrinho said on September 29, 2019
🙂 yes, definitely it is boring for a kid.
Try to see the 3 min in the link at the description, then you’ll decide. 😉
Tom Cleaver said on September 29, 2019
it would definitely have been boring for a kid, being as how it’s an “adult drama.” 🙂
Worth your adult self checking it out, Jimmy.
Haslam Yeoman said on September 29, 2019
Truly great build.
Manuel Magrinho said on September 29, 2019
Thank you!
Tom Bebout said on September 29, 2019
Nicely done Manuel, you really worked some magic with this old kit.
Manuel Magrinho said on September 29, 2019
Thks Tom!
DE4EVER said on September 29, 2019
🙂 … Greetings … 🙂 :
That is one very nice movie related aircraft, it surely makes one go back in memory lane .
You did fine in this model Manuel, even the color tone seems just right. Your decal magic is very outstanding as well as your detail additions.
Manuel Magrinho said on September 29, 2019
Thks! I had to! No other choice 🙂
dale travis said on September 29, 2019
Really fine work Manuel, this is a kit that is indeed bad and you really made it look good!
Manuel Magrinho said on September 29, 2019
Thank you! It’s up to us, as modelers, to make that change. But it’s not an enjoyable one until the end 🙂
Dan Lee said on September 29, 2019
Amazing work. Just stunning.
Manuel Magrinho said on September 29, 2019
Thks Dan! You’re too kind!
George R Blair Jr said on September 30, 2019
Great job, Manuel, on a really good looking model from a really good movie. Flying wires are evil and should be tackled by only those stout of heart.
Manuel Magrinho said on September 30, 2019
Thks George!
As a matter of fact, the whole kit is evil
David Mills said on September 30, 2019
Super job Manuel!
Lovely subject and great skill on your part!
Manuel Magrinho said on September 30, 2019
Thank you Sir, I appreciate such kind words.
Robert Royes said on September 30, 2019
Beautifully done!!
Manuel Magrinho said on September 30, 2019
Thks Robert! Appreciate
Greg Kittinger said on October 1, 2019
That’s a real beauty! Lots of TLC went into that one.
Manuel Magrinho said on October 1, 2019
Thks Greg! Indeed a lots of TLC at the begining.
Towards the end I must confess that I just want to finish :-/
But I promisse that I’ll be back and correct what must be done
Aleksandar Sekularac said on October 1, 2019
Here’s the proof that one needs motivation and patience, not 100€ of accessories to finish a lovely and original model. Very nice Moth, my compliments!
If I may, I’d just try to align those turnbuckles to the angles of the rigging wires, so that they don’t stick out. But this is really a minute detail…
Cheers,
Aleks
@magrus
Manuel Magrinho said on October 1, 2019
Hi Aleks! @asekular
Thanks so much for your words. Yes You may, please feel free to point all out.
You’re right, those turnbuckles need some care. I’ll be back to this plane in a few days.
Cheers,
M
david leigh-smith said on January 18, 2020
This project is without doubt one of the most beautifully presented posts I’ve ever seen, on this or any other site. Across the board, the skills are first class; the build, paintwork, respect to the subject, and the presentation itself is gorgeous.
A beautiful piece of work. A real ‘poster girl’ for the Group Build. The number of ‘likes’ tells its own story.
@magrus
Manuel Magrinho said on January 20, 2020
David @dirtylittlefokker, thank you so much for such kind words. It was a love project, that’s all.
It ended up well and it proves that we don’t need top money to end up with a nice build 🙂 (but it was some time painfull, I admit).
Anyway, thanks, it’s very nice from you!
Gábor Szabó said on July 27, 2020
Wow! It’s simply beautyful!
Manuel Magrinho said on July 27, 2020
Thank you for your kind words!