I like that little detail at the flap/aileron, I may use that on Merlin's Magic, with your permission of course!
And the canopy parts are verrrry nice.
Bill, there's no copyright on that idea so go for it.
Wayne, Paul, thanks for your input. I was hoping to get consensus on 81/82 as I was leaning that way. Paul, what makes you say "by that time"? I've not found a clear delineation of when the switch would have occurred from 70/71.
Thanks guys and thanks for the link Paul. Did a bit of a web search and it seems serial numbers close to mine suggest the 81/82 scheme, Definitely going with that (like it better anyway!)
Focused on the wheel wells today. Molded-in hydraulic lines were replaced with wire and the struts and actuator added. This all needs to be done before the fuselage halves come together as the hole through which the gear will eventually protrude is pretty small. As a result, much of the detail forward of the strut will become invisible so I wasn't too worried about adding lots more stuff there.
After I had both wells prepared per the above, I went to check my references for what the brake lines looked like and was surprised to find that the torque links faced the wrong way. Photos of my plane clearly showed these facing to the rear and other references do too. I checked the instructions again and I installed them correctly - I couldn't have messed up anyway because the attachment points for the jacks were in the right place. I then did more checking and actually found a couple of period photos where the torque links faced forwards and, indeed, so do the links on the NASM specimen which Hasegawa no doubt used as the basis for their model. Interesting, but it is unmistakable that photos of my aircraft have them facing to the back so.......
....I sawed off the struts at one of the collars and drilled some pin holes. Fixed!
I then set about painting everything and after the based RLM 02 went on, I post shaded with a darker blend and drybrushed with a lighter one to highlight details. Then a greasy stain was washed on after which I added hydraulic hoses made of solder and the shiny oleo leg using aluminum foil tape. Here's how one of the wells looks now. As I said, none of the detail forward of the actuator will be seen so I didn't worry about where the hoses ended.
I have yet to add the brake lines but that will be for the next installment. Thanks again for looking in.
I have been absent from the model stuff for a while now and Andy has graduated with TOP honors. This is amazing Andy! The time spent on the canopy not to mention the patience it takes. I am impressed. I look forward to seeing it finished.
Must be Paul as NASM got 'em the other way somehow. Here's a diagram from the manual showing a bolted flange near the top of the strut. That connection could perhaps be turned 180 degrees and, if the locking pin connection is symmetrical, it seems possible that the thing could be installed the other way around.
Beaut work there Andy. Interesting about those torque links too - I bet more than a few modellers have been caught out. I wonder if maybe it was a modification on later versions for some reason?