And here are the pics as prommesed! The cockpit is now almost ready (still need to redo the pilot's rudder pedals as I managed to damage one. I'll replace these with a pair of Koster Do 217 rudder pedals which look the same)
As you can see there will be need of some elbow grease in order to make the cockpit floor sit straight. MPM did install a few tabs for the floor, but I'm not sure they are at the correct height. I feel the floor sits a tad to high. You can also see that the left co pilot's/Bombardier console does not fit good with the inner fuselage. I think this a due to the very vague cockpit installement guide of MPM's instructions. Though nothing that can't be handled.
To bad most of the beautiful Eduard detail will be hidden forever. Especially the radio rack in the back. Oh well, it was a lot of fun to make and a real test for one's nerves
Next were new and longer wing spars. I based these on the bulkhead of the mid fuselage and reworked them. These are made from 1mm thick plastic card and will improve the rigidy and strenght of the wing after it's been glued to the fuselag
And last some work on the kit's engines with the adition of some Eduard brass.
I also reworked the wheels as I felt these were too squared. Looking at pics of the real aircraft, I noticed the wheels are a bit rounder, less flat then the kit's wheels. I carefully rounded of the squared "shoulder" of the tire. We'll see how it works out.
The wheel on the left is unaltered, where the wheel on the right is slightly reshaped.
So, with some luck I can start thinking of actually closing up the fuselage and adding the wings, tail and tailplanes. So hopefully sonn we will see a He 177...