Here is a long update on some minor bits and ends. After the fuselage halves are glued together, I like to deal with the seams and complete as much of the puttying, scribing and riveting as possible before the wings are attached since a fuselage without wings is easier to handle. The circular hatch under the nose of the Dora is not molded crisply and has been partially eradicated by sanding.
I've decided to rescribe the hatch without removing the old one. Using a circle template that is the same size as the hatch, I rescribe it using a sewing needle chucked into a pin vise. I recommend securing scribing templates VERY securely with tape... no finger-held templates for me.
I scribe the circle about 3-4 times. The circle will be rough with lots of plastic shavings but once the circle shape is impressed into the plastic, you can remove the template and finish the scribing process.
Using fine sandpaper, I sand the hatch edges smooth, which removes some of the shavings. The circle is deep enough to trace with the needle, which removes more of the shavings but also creates some new shavings as it digs deeper. I just alternate between the two until the circle is nice and uniform. A stiff-bristled paint brush or toothbrush is helpful in removing the shavings. After sanding, I've discovered that the template didn't match the hatch exactly and I have to fix the double grooves.
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An extra step of puttying and rescribing is necessary to complete the hatch. I've also scribed a new line down the glue joint since this is where the engine cowling is joined.
I've painted the resin tail wheel assembly.
The tail wheel well is glued into the port tail half.
Now I can glue the two tail halves together. The wheel and fork is not glued on at this point. I'll leave the wheel off until after painting.
Jumping over to the wheel well, the Quickboost resin gun boots have been painted and glued into the wheel well. Like the tail wheel fork, I've used brass tubing as mounting pins so that I can install the barrels later, after painting.
The little air scoop and the gun barrels have been glued onto the gun cowling. I usually like to leave things like gun barrels and exhaust pipes off until after painting but there is no good way of attaching these gun barrels after the cowling is glued into place. I'll have to hand paint the barrels.
A big chunk of today was spent scribing the upper wings.
Using the Rivet-R rolling tool, the resulting rivets have raised plastic around each hole. The effect is uniform so you have the option of leaving it this way if you really wanted to emphasize the rivets.
I wanted a subtle effect so all of the riveted surfaces are sanded to remove the raised plastic.
Circular rivets are added to the leading edge. There is some raised plastic around each rivet that needs to be sanded down.
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Finally... the cockpit tub has been glued into place using CA glue. As insurance, I wedged pieces of plastic sprue as shims to help keep the cockpit in place. I hope to have the gun cowling and the instrument panel hood glued into place soon!