Nice Terry.
**** DONE: GB-44 1/48 F-5E - Military A/C of post-war time
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Lovely work so far Terry!
- Thread starter
- #43
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks chaps.
Got the first part of the shroud fitted to the instrument panel, and the panel installed, with some alterations being required, both for fit, and to allow the windscreen to seat.
Pic 1. Making the edge of the shroud, with thin plastic strip.
Pic 2. Shroud attached and the underside painted matt black.
Pic 3. The panel installed in the cockpit tub.
Pics 4 and 5. Test fitting the cockpit tub showed that some of the plastic strip forming the shroud need to be trimmed, and shallow notches cut into the sides of the fuselage on each side.
Pic 6. As I anticipated, the Monogram panel, being slightly larger, fouls the edge of the windscreen, preventing it from seating properly.
Pic 7. Some further trimming and light sanding cured the problem, and the screen now fits. Note that there is some 'flash' around the bottom edges of the screen, giving the appearance of 'overhang' at the sides. this will be removed, the edges cleaned up, and that chip in the top of the frame remedied.
Pic 8. Strip of plastic have been cemented to the back of the panel, to act as supports for the plastic card that will form the new coaming. Just visible are two light scratches, marking the line where the outer edges of the new coaming will locate.
The new coaming will be fabricated once the cockpit tub has been installed and fully set, which will be done when the rear of the cockpit and the wiring has been painted, shown in the next post.
Got the first part of the shroud fitted to the instrument panel, and the panel installed, with some alterations being required, both for fit, and to allow the windscreen to seat.
Pic 1. Making the edge of the shroud, with thin plastic strip.
Pic 2. Shroud attached and the underside painted matt black.
Pic 3. The panel installed in the cockpit tub.
Pics 4 and 5. Test fitting the cockpit tub showed that some of the plastic strip forming the shroud need to be trimmed, and shallow notches cut into the sides of the fuselage on each side.
Pic 6. As I anticipated, the Monogram panel, being slightly larger, fouls the edge of the windscreen, preventing it from seating properly.
Pic 7. Some further trimming and light sanding cured the problem, and the screen now fits. Note that there is some 'flash' around the bottom edges of the screen, giving the appearance of 'overhang' at the sides. this will be removed, the edges cleaned up, and that chip in the top of the frame remedied.
Pic 8. Strip of plastic have been cemented to the back of the panel, to act as supports for the plastic card that will form the new coaming. Just visible are two light scratches, marking the line where the outer edges of the new coaming will locate.
The new coaming will be fabricated once the cockpit tub has been installed and fully set, which will be done when the rear of the cockpit and the wiring has been painted, shown in the next post.
- Thread starter
- #45
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
With the instrument panel ready to have the new coaming and shroud fabricated, the cockpit tub needs to be cemented into the fuselage. But first, some basic wiring detail had to be added to the avionics bay aft of the seat, and the area painted, as this would not be accessible with the cockpit tub in place.
Although not much of this area will be clearly seen, especially when the canopy lift mechanism is installed, it needed some detail, as the 'boxes' looked rather bare otherwise. Reference photos showed some wiring bundles, as well as other wiring and pipe work, and some of this has been represented, in very basic form, using lead wire and plastic card. Due to the method of construction, the space limitations, and the need to fit the canopy lift mechanism, it was not possible to fabricate and fit all of the 'plumbing' visible in the photos, but as this area is mainly in the shadow of the rear cockpit 'tunnel', what's been added should be good enough to give the right impression.
The pics show what's been added so far, and how it looks when fitted into the fuselage. There's still some tidying to do yet, and then get it all painted.
Although not much of this area will be clearly seen, especially when the canopy lift mechanism is installed, it needed some detail, as the 'boxes' looked rather bare otherwise. Reference photos showed some wiring bundles, as well as other wiring and pipe work, and some of this has been represented, in very basic form, using lead wire and plastic card. Due to the method of construction, the space limitations, and the need to fit the canopy lift mechanism, it was not possible to fabricate and fit all of the 'plumbing' visible in the photos, but as this area is mainly in the shadow of the rear cockpit 'tunnel', what's been added should be good enough to give the right impression.
The pics show what's been added so far, and how it looks when fitted into the fuselage. There's still some tidying to do yet, and then get it all painted.
Crimea_River
Marshal
Well done Terry.
- Thread starter
- #47
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks Andy.
Had a bit of a snooze, then got back to the bench to get this bit finished.
The painting has been done, and the cockpit installed. Further test-fitting of the windscreen has shown that a touch more trimming is required, around the lower edges of the instrument shroud, otherwise, it's fine.
The HUD top needs to be trimmed back a touch, as it sits a little too high under the windscreen, but I was going to alter it anyway, in order to fabricate the sight head.
The canopy lift struts are to be fitted later in the build, and locate into the slots either side of the avionics boxes.
Brutal close-up shots show the work to date..
Had a bit of a snooze, then got back to the bench to get this bit finished.
The painting has been done, and the cockpit installed. Further test-fitting of the windscreen has shown that a touch more trimming is required, around the lower edges of the instrument shroud, otherwise, it's fine.
The HUD top needs to be trimmed back a touch, as it sits a little too high under the windscreen, but I was going to alter it anyway, in order to fabricate the sight head.
The canopy lift struts are to be fitted later in the build, and locate into the slots either side of the avionics boxes.
Brutal close-up shots show the work to date..
fubar57
General
Nice additions Terry
makes a lot of difference Dogsbody !
Very Nice....
Crimea_River
Marshal
Very sharp. It's going to look excellent when it's all together.
- Thread starter
- #53
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks very much chaps.
Stalled a bit for now - severe pain and stiffness in wrists yesterday, couldn't even type. Eased off a bit today, and hopefully back to normal by tomorrow.
Stalled a bit for now - severe pain and stiffness in wrists yesterday, couldn't even type. Eased off a bit today, and hopefully back to normal by tomorrow.
- Thread starter
- #54
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
The resin wheels and brass pitot and guns have arrived, but I think I've dropped one with the wheels.
I checked the kit parts, and noticed there was no detail on the reverse of the wheel rims, hence buying the beautifully detailed resin set.
However, I failed to check the kit parts for the main gear legs - which incorporate the hub and brake detail - Doh !
I don't want to risk trying to remove the hubs from the legs, as there is very little room for error, with the stub axle being quite short, although I'll look further into this.
Shame, especially as the 'blurb' for the resin wheels indicated they were suitable for any brand of F-5E kit.
Pic 1. Pitot & guns set, and resin wheels.
Pics 2 and 3. Both sides of the kit wheels.
Pics 4 and 5. Both sides of the kit gear legs.
I checked the kit parts, and noticed there was no detail on the reverse of the wheel rims, hence buying the beautifully detailed resin set.
However, I failed to check the kit parts for the main gear legs - which incorporate the hub and brake detail - Doh !
I don't want to risk trying to remove the hubs from the legs, as there is very little room for error, with the stub axle being quite short, although I'll look further into this.
Shame, especially as the 'blurb' for the resin wheels indicated they were suitable for any brand of F-5E kit.
Pic 1. Pitot & guns set, and resin wheels.
Pics 2 and 3. Both sides of the kit wheels.
Pics 4 and 5. Both sides of the kit gear legs.
Crimea_River
Marshal
The risk of ruining the gear leg is certainly there. Not sure it's worth the trouble.
- Thread starter
- #56
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
I agree.
Just had a closer look at the kit parts, and it would be very difficult to remove the hub detail, but retain the stub axle and bottom of the leg, without severe risk of losing the axle etc., so kit parts will be used.
Anybody want some nice, resin F-5E wheels ..........................
Just had a closer look at the kit parts, and it would be very difficult to remove the hub detail, but retain the stub axle and bottom of the leg, without severe risk of losing the axle etc., so kit parts will be used.
Anybody want some nice, resin F-5E wheels ..........................
T Bolt
Colonel
I love your extra cockpit detail Terry
- Thread starter
- #58
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks Glenn.
Hands and wrists are still a bit stiff and slightly painful, but I've been able to do a bit more around the instrument shroud and coaming - pics later tonight.
Hands and wrists are still a bit stiff and slightly painful, but I've been able to do a bit more around the instrument shroud and coaming - pics later tonight.
- Thread starter
- #59
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
The instrument shroud, scuttle and gun sight head are done, and have been painted, although the matt black went on like thinned tar.
Pic 1. The rather heavy screen supports were first removed from the top of the moulded sight head, leaving the recording camera intact.
Pic 2. Next, the scuttle was built up, using thin, and very thin, plastic card, the edges of which were sanded smooth when set. The sight head was then fabricated from plastic card, and a hole drilled for the projector lens barrel. It looks a bit rough in the pics, and isn't totally accurate, but will be OK under the windscreen, and the best I could do, allowing for the minimal clearance under the fairly thick side edges of the windscreen.
Pic 3. Checking clearance under the 'screen, with the scuttle joints hidden by the lower frame of the 'screen.
Pic 4. The matt black paint has dried rough, so it will be sanded back a bit, and re-painted. The aperture for the projector lens was painted using a chrome paint pen, and will be glazed with PVA or Clearfix.
Pics 5 and 6. What it looks like with the windscreen loosely placed in position.
The reflector screen and windscreen will be fitted once the fuselage halves have been joined, and some re-touching done, to avoid damage when handling. Joining the fuselage will have to be done in stages, working from rear to front, as some adjustments will need to be done at various points along the horizontal joint lines (how I detest horizontal - jointed fuselage halves ! ).
Some spacers may be needed near the cockpit section, if they can be attached accurately enough, although I think the joint can be manipulated, by easing out the upper half through the aperture where the intake assemblies fit.
I hope to be able to get that stage completed some time tomorrow, so back then.
Pic 1. The rather heavy screen supports were first removed from the top of the moulded sight head, leaving the recording camera intact.
Pic 2. Next, the scuttle was built up, using thin, and very thin, plastic card, the edges of which were sanded smooth when set. The sight head was then fabricated from plastic card, and a hole drilled for the projector lens barrel. It looks a bit rough in the pics, and isn't totally accurate, but will be OK under the windscreen, and the best I could do, allowing for the minimal clearance under the fairly thick side edges of the windscreen.
Pic 3. Checking clearance under the 'screen, with the scuttle joints hidden by the lower frame of the 'screen.
Pic 4. The matt black paint has dried rough, so it will be sanded back a bit, and re-painted. The aperture for the projector lens was painted using a chrome paint pen, and will be glazed with PVA or Clearfix.
Pics 5 and 6. What it looks like with the windscreen loosely placed in position.
The reflector screen and windscreen will be fitted once the fuselage halves have been joined, and some re-touching done, to avoid damage when handling. Joining the fuselage will have to be done in stages, working from rear to front, as some adjustments will need to be done at various points along the horizontal joint lines (how I detest horizontal - jointed fuselage halves ! ).
Some spacers may be needed near the cockpit section, if they can be attached accurately enough, although I think the joint can be manipulated, by easing out the upper half through the aperture where the intake assemblies fit.
I hope to be able to get that stage completed some time tomorrow, so back then.
fubar57
General
Very nice
