I have been busy but in my spare time I was able to get more done. I put together the photo etch items and built two more chairs for the forward area.
then I started installing each item working from back to front. The usual stuff oxygen regulators, heating units, machinegun, ammo cans and belt, and one of the seats onto the ring where the bombardier sits. Took awhile but it came out ok.
I've added the ammo belt once the back stuff was in along with the controls for the chin-mounted guns. I also decided to make a lamp for the desk. I added the bomb-sight, and other bombing controls.
Looking over photos, I figured I would go ahead and make one similar to the one I made for a Black Widow build several years ago.
I first stretched sprue, then cut the smaller end on side. Then I heated a needle and pushed it into the small end so that it got stuck in the plastic. The plastic was then cut at a point that looked close to what I wanted for the bell of the lamp. Sanding helped to improve the shape before I withdrew the needle and glued in a piece of copper wire.
Once I had the general shape, I drilled a small hole in the table where I wanted to lamp to be attached and cut a reasonable sized disc from aluminum foil. I punched a hole in the center of the foil and pushed the wire through it.
Next I glued the wire into the desk to what I figured was a good length and snipped off the excess. To give the mount form, I used white glue normally used for gluing clear window parts. I also added glue to areas where joints would be. Painted it black after all the glue dried.
Here is what it looks like now. I only have a few levers to glue in before I can finally start closing this up.
I hope it looks ok, thanks for following.