Today's progress consisted of finishing off the cockpit which entailed an unplanned diversion. Studies of P-40N cockpit pictures confirmed that the starboard pit wall supplied in the kit is bit of a work of fiction for this mark. Below is the painted pit wall. It is missing the oxygen regulator and receiver controls for the SCR-274 radio.
Fortunately, I found substitutes for both in the leftover parts of my P-47 that I just finished.
Having found the parts I needed, I then set about cutting the offending parts from the kit wall and modifying the box next to the cowl flap lever. After removing the parts I needed from the P-47 wall, I glued them into the spaces I prepared.
And here's the result after painting and adding wiring. Makes me feel better that I got it closer to reality though it's still not quite correct but close enough for me to button it up.
With the sides now done, I was able to glue the tub together and drop it into the fuselage through the bottom. Here's a pic looking into the starboard side after adding an oxygen hose made of fine wire spun around a length of solder.
And here's the port side with the finished instrument panel installed. I also had an extra Eduard PE fuel selector switch that I decided to throw in.
Before gluing the fuselage to the wings, a test fit revealed the need for a spacer to push out the fuselage walls at the front by about a millimeter. I did this with a length of sprue as shown below. I also need to do a further sanding and smoothing of the seams which are more easily accessed with he wings out of the way.
If all goes well, tomorrow will see the wings glued on. Thanks for looking in.