The Making of a Bravo Delta Model
Friday, June 27th, 2008Bravo Delta Models is a collaboration between a UK company based in Kingston Upon Thames run by aviation enthusiasts, and an additional Philippines based company. The latter also owned by an avid aviation enthusiast, who just so happens to be a ‘hard to satisfy’ perfectionist in his work, constantly pursuing improvements to the quality of his models.
These completely hand made wooden model planes are quite literally superb, which is one of many superlatives that must be applied. The result of absolute skill, using conventional hand tools, such as chisels and files. The accuracy of each model is constantly checked by referring the part work with an array of photographs of the original subject aircraft, taking between 15 to 20 hours, before a craftsman completes all the parts to the standards required. Included in this are the engine exhausts, interplane struts, undercarriage, wheels and propellers as appropriate to the subject.
The next stage of course is the painting process, almost 3 dozen coats of paint are applied to each model. This creates a lustrous shine and depth of finish simply beyond the compare of any other model aircraft firm. Only when this finish is completely unblemished, does the model go to the details paint shop, where the real magic takes place, for every single line, letter, roundel, vent, grille or insignia, call it what you will, are all painted entirely by hand. There are no transfers, or mechanical pad printers used whatsoever.
