I decided to have a break from fiddling with the seat harness and tiny PE buckles - very tricky, slow work, with my knackered hands - and skipped back to the first stage in the instructions, the instrument panel assembly.
It seems a shame to destroy the nicely moulded detail on the kit part, but this has to be removed, in order to fit the 'Yahu' panel. The gun-sight mount and compass bracket also had to be removed, as these will be replaced with items from the 'Barracuda' resin detail set.
The sight mount and compass bracket were removed first, and then the moulded detail was filed off.
The 'Yahu' panel was positioned using a blob of PVA, which allows time to adjust as required. Once set, the panel will be firmly fixed with spots of CA, applied using a pin. It's highly unlikely that I'll be able to accurately fit the overlay panel for the Blind Flying instruments, again due to the limited dexterity of my hands, but to be honest, it doesn't really need it, as the basic panel also has the shape, in relief, and looks good enough to the naked eye.
The sequence below shows the panel before, during and after filing off the detail, and the 'Yahu' panel in place, with the final pic showing some of the incredible detail on these items.
Once the panel is firmly fixed, the small PE parts for the flaps selector and other switches can be fitted, and dials will possibly be glazed with a spot of gloss clear.
The 'Ki-Gas' primer and fuel selector (bottom right of the panel, on the plastic, kit part) will be detailed using plastic rod and stretched sprue, the resin compass bracket and compass will be fitted, and the cockpit frame will be painted. The gun sight will be mounted later in the build, in order to avoid damage during the rest of the construction.
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