SPA Modeler

jeaton01 wrote:Thanks, Declan.

I wasted a whole day on cockpit decals today, but with it raining all day why not. I did get them printed, although it was not without some travail. The computer I use to run the ALPS printer seems to have failed, so I used the Laser printer which works fine but makes it so I have to paint a white undercoat on all the places the decals go instead of just printing the white. Bother!

Heres a jpeg of the panel decals.

Damned impressive work John!

Thanks, Lyle, Joe, and Gary.

Here's the next step, painting the switch panel area aluminum and where the dial faces will be white.

Boy, they sure do leave it up to the builder to detail that cockpit, don’t they?

Yeah, I sure can't see how the original decals for it would be a good approach. Of course if I couldn't open the cockpit hatches with the Iroqouis parts you would never see any of it. I have to do a good job or the Canadjuns might attack!

The cockpit is all together and unbelievably it all fit in the forward fuselage without any foolishness whatever. The big clamps are just to get the best seam possible, the thick Hobbycraft plastic can take the stress. Still raining, the garage project is at rest, just keeping all the lumber that isn't already up covered.

The resin seats had ejection loops but of course I broke them off almost immediately. I made new ones out of brass wire and painted them with Tamiya flat yellow. While the yellow was drying I looked through my old brushes and took a likely candidate with synthetic bristles and cut it down to about two hairs. I used that to paint the black stripes. I'm going to save that brush.

Started on adding detail to the wheel wells. I'm copying a picture of the unavailable Iroquois Models set, it looks somewhat like the photos I have. I made paper patterns and taped one over bottom skin opening on this wing panel, and cut slots in the web where I then glued in .010 X .040 plastic strip.

Interesting technique. Will the wings close properly? Looks great though

Excellent progress on this John, that cockpit looks really good.

The cockpit looks great John. And that is a simple, yet very effective upgrade for the wheel wells!