The de Havilland DH-88 ‘Comet’ was designed to take part in the 1934 air race from London to Melbourne.

One of them won that race and they subsequently won other races and made record setting flights.

Three were built for the race and two later manufactured.

They were designed to promote de Havilland and sold for £5,000 each, half their manufacturing cost.

Two DH-88s completed the race to Melbourne, G-ACSS won in an elapsed time of 71 hours and 18 seconds.

Next followed a DC-2 and a Boeing 247 and then the second DH-88, G-ACSR in a time of 108 hours and 13 minutes. This DH-88 immediately flew back to Britain in a return time of 13½ days. Later, DH-88s took part in many other races and record setting flights.

This model represents the DH-88 F-ANPY, formerly G-ACSR, that was purchased by the French government.

SBS Models 1/72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in June 2018.