Thanks guys!
I've got the port engine and cowling squared away, and the intial work done for the flame-damper exhausts. The starboard engine is under construction, and will have the ignition leads added, plus a few other bits, although I'm still undecided whether to leave off one of the cowling panels. The kit parts are designed to be removable, but I found when constructing the port engine, that the cowlings actually brace the exhaust collector ring, which, in effect, is the nose-ring cowl.
I've worked out a way of building the whole assembly without the top cowlings, and this will also mean making and fitting a cowling attachment frame, which is rather thin and narrow, But, if I can cut some thin aluminium litho plate, I should be able to make the framework to scale - I hope!
PIC 1 shows the exhaust collector ring (the front cowl) as supplied in the kit. This is more or less correct for the Mk1, but the MkVIF had breather pipes in the front of the exhaust manifold outlet, the bulge on the left in the picture.
PIC 2 The front of the outlet was cut and sanded flat, then drilled and trimmed to obtain a rounded, rectangular opening. The twin breathers were made by drilling-out some 'Evergreen' rod, as I didn't have any suitable tube, cutting to the required length, and glueing in place. Sorry the pic is a bit 'soft'.
PIC 3. The exhaust pipes for the rear cylinder bank were added to the inside of the exhaust collector ring. These were made by cutting some plastic tube at an angle, then cementing at the required pitch, in order to match the exhaust outlets on each of the seven rear cylinders. This will need to be much more precise for the starboard engine, if the top cowlings are omitted!
PIC 4. On the left are the kit parts for the exhaust outlet manifold, and the short exhaust pipe. As the MkVIF night fighter had 'porcupine' flame damper exhausts, the parts had to be modified to accept the 'Quickboost' resin flame dampers, as shown on the right in the pic.
PIC 5 With the exhaust collector ring and cowlings in place and set, support stays were added, made from stretched sprue, and set at the correct asymetric angles. These have yet to be painted, and some other retouching done around the engine crank case.
PIC 6. Shows the exhaust outlet and manifold, awaiting the 'porcupine' exhaust. This will be fitted after the model has been painted, and a support bracket added between the rear of the flame damper and the underside of the wing leading edge.
PIC 7 This is how the model looks to date, with the port cowlings in place, and the carb air intake fitted.
Once the starboard engine, ancilliaries and cowlings have been done, it'll be time to fit some of the smaller bits and pieces, before continuing to sand off the cockpit canopy framing, polish it and fit it, ready for the first stage of painting. The Observers hatch opening will be masked, and the landing gear fitted after the model is painted, decalled and matt coated.
Then it's on to the detail parts, including the entrance hatch covers and steps, the observers hatch cover, and the cockpit roof hatch. Still a long way to go yet!
Thanks again for your interest and kind comments.