ACE-32 Airco DH.2...aka..."The Impossible Model" (1 Viewer)

My first impression is that the level of detail is absolutely astounding. Don't know where to start, but the rigging/control cables are as complicated and well done as I have ever seen. The prop and engine are just beautiful. The cockpit is very well done, and it's generous size screams for a full size pilot figure to go in it. The struts, both wing and boom, look fantastic, and I especially like the boom attachment points at the wings. The fuselage tub, meaning the fabric, looks so real that you can almost see the fabric ripple in the wind. Great shots, Moe. I am a little ways from getting this but I suspect that when I do get it, I will have a new, favorite JJD aircraft. It is just beautiful. -- Al
 
lancer said:
My first impression is that the level of detail is absolutely astounding. Don't know where to start, but the rigging/control cables are as complicated and well done as I have ever seen. The prop and engine are just beautiful. The cockpit is very well done, and it's generous size screams for a full size pilot figure to go in it. The struts, both wing and boom, look fantastic, and I especially like the boom attachment points at the wings. The fuselage tub, meaning the fabric, looks so real that you can almost see the fabric ripple in the wind. Great shots, Moe. I am a little ways from getting this but I suspect that when I do get it, I will have a new, favorite JJD aircraft. It is just beautiful. -- Al
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Hi Al,

I have to say is that it's a pretty remarkable manufacture. I agree that the rigging is amazing in its thoroughness and execution. To collectors who might purchase ACE-32, let me extend some advice. While the model is very sound of construction, you'll want to take care in how you handle it. There are so many attachments on this one, that a ham-hand (or two) could do some damage simply removing the model from the box. That's less a criticism or complaint than it is an observation. This would be a terrific showpiece for a larger collection, BTW. Hehe, I feel like a cat with a canary in its mouth. Not because I'm in trouble, but because, hey, I've got a canary in my mouth!:D;)

-Moe
 
Moe, your photography always does justice to these great models. I have the TGM variant and will compare to this version later. JJD usually has superior cockpit detailing but both are beautiful models. Chris
 
Great pictures as always - you show the high level of detailing very very well.

I know we all wax lyrical about our favourite this and that, but this plane has set a completely new benchmark in the TS airplane department.

It's a stunner
 
Terp152 said:
[...]I have the TGM variant and will compare to this version later. JJD usually has superior cockpit detailing but both are beautiful models. Chris
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Chris, I agree completely.

-Moe
 
Vicknor said:
Great pictures as always - you show the high level of detailing very very well.

I know we all wax lyrical about our favourite this and that, but this plane has set a completely new benchmark in the TS airplane department.

It's a stunner
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Vicknor, I know that you visit Jenkins HQ occasionally. Did he tell you how long he worked to develop this model and get it out for sale?

-Moe
 
ivanmoe said:
Vicknor, I know that you visit Jenkins HQ occasionally. Did he tell you how long he worked to develop this model and get it out for sale?

-Moe
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We talked about this during the week and although my memory may be somewhat befuddled by the beer that was flowing - I'm pretty sure John said it was 4-years.

Again, I might have gotten that completely wrong 🍺🍺🍺
 
Vicknor said:
We talked about this during the week and although my memory may be somewhat befuddled by the beer that was flowing - I'm pretty sure John said it was 4-years.

Again, I might have gotten that completely wrong 🍺🍺🍺
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Sounds right. The DH-2 came up in conversation when I was lucky enough to meet John and have dinner with him at the fellow collector's home of Matthew some years back. We touched on the DH-2 and doing Hawker's aircraft. -- Al
 
What a beautiful and well detailed model, wish I had room for a 1/30 scale Aircraft collection.
 
Vicknor said:
We talked about this during the week and although my memory may be somewhat befuddled by the beer that was flowing - I'm pretty sure John said it was 4-years.

Again, I might have gotten that completely wrong 🍺🍺🍺
Click to expand...

lancer said:
Sounds right. The DH-2 came up in conversation when I was lucky enough to meet John and have dinner with him at the fellow collector's home of Matthew some years back. We touched on the DH-2 and doing Hawker's aircraft. -- Al
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Four years sounds about right. When I referred to ACE-32 as "the impossible model," I did so because I believe that Jenkins had been trying to make this happen for years. However, there were many challenges. These only multiplied as he upped his standards for models, expanded and complete rigging for instance. Now, after all this time, John finally got the model where he wanted it. How's that for determination, not to mention sheer love of ones work?

-Moe
 
OzDigger said:
What a beautiful and well detailed model, wish I had room for a 1/30 scale Aircraft collection.
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Hi Matt,

Couldn't agree with you more. If space is the "only" issue, it'd look great on a stand. ;) Hey, though, let's see if I can wow you with some more pics. This time, we'll look at the routing of the rudder cables:

View attachment 215036

The rudder cables emerge, above, from the fuselage in the area that I've boxed in red...

View attachment 215038

They then run from the gondola to a pulley, again located in the box...

View attachment 215039

Then on to a photo-etch splitter where two cables become three...

View attachment 215040

Where what are now three cables attach to the Rudder/tail-skid assembly.

So, how cool is that! ^&cool

-Moe
 
Display space is now the most important issue for me since downsizing. However I do have room for a few aircraft models but was saving the space for WW2 subjects. However this model is so impressive I'm tempted. I remember building a similar 1/72 scale kit many years ago, attaching the struts was a nightmare that haunts me to this day {eek3}
 
ivanmoe said:
Hi Matt,

Couldn't agree with you more. If space is the "only" issue, it'd look great on a stand. ;) Hey, though, let's see if I can wow you with some more pics. This time, we'll look at the routing of the rudder cables:

View attachment 215036

The rudder cables emerge, above, from the fuselage in the area that I've boxed in red...

View attachment 215038

They then run from the gondola to a pulley, again located in the box...

View attachment 215039

Then on to a photo-etch splitter where two cables become three...

View attachment 215040

Where what are now three cables attach to the Rudder/tail-skid assembly.

So, how cool is that! ^&cool

-Moe
Click to expand...
Unequaled detail and quality of work. This model is truly a 'must have', as overused as I have made that phrase when talking of John's models, this DH-2 is the best. Great detail photos, Moe. Appreciate the close-up of the photo-etched piece where the cables split two to three. Just amazing work. -- Al
 
OzDigger said:
[...]I remember building a similar 1/72 scale kit many years ago, attaching the struts was a nightmare that haunts me to this day {eek3}
Click to expand...

I certainly hear you as regards getting all that stuff to line-up on a DH.2. Even in this larger scale, I'd be completely freaked about trying to rig one. Something to consider is the tensioning of the line. You want it to be taut, but too much tension will bend (or potentially break) fragile parts. In holding JJ's model in my hands, what's remarkable is not that he was able to successfully build such a fine model. Rather, the fact that he's manufacturing these in numbers is simply astounding. Obviously, he's got his materials and methods down!:D

-Moe
 
That's an incredible model with all the rigging going everywhere! Detail and paint job look superb. Looks like my fishing reel when I get a severe backlash :)
 
An incredible model for sure- with an equally incredible review and photos. Top job Moe :salute::

(With all the wealth of detail, my particular favourites are the Bag on the Lewis to catch the spent cartridges and the paint work on the stitching on the canvas fuselage sides.)
Really does look like they are actually stitched onto the model!

The DH2 for me is probably the most evocative plane of the WW1 Air war - a real "string bag" :)

Just wonderful..................
 
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