I've made a bit more progress on the cockpit, with the scratch-built additions now sanded, cleaned-up, and painted. The instrument panel still didn't look quite like it should, so some more work has been done there, building-up the top of the 'Sapfir' radar scope housing, drilling holes for a couple more instruments on the engine panel, and making a mount for the attitude indicator, which is very prominent on the real panel. It's still not totally accurate, but good enough.
PIC 1 shows the starboard cockpit wall, with the switches and test panels used by the ground crew. These mate-up with the side console, and look quite effective when viewed through the cockpit opening. The colour here is a slightly darker shade of Peacock Blue. I had mixed this to what was approximately the right shade, using Tamiya acrylics (bl**dy Humbrol matt white enamel had dried-up yet again!) but it looked too light, so I darkened it a touch which, although it appears now to be too dense and bright, actually looks about right when the cockpit is enclosed in the fuselage.
PIC 2. The cockpit tub has been painted, and the control column and rudder pedals added. I've just noticed I forgot to make and add the brake lever to the control column grip!
PIC 3. The instrument panel is only clipped in place here, in order to check alignment with the cockpit side walls. Once the model has been painted, the instrument coaming and armoured internal windshield will be fitted, and the sidescreens made and fitted, along with a gunsight and some wiring etc.
The nose shock cone and nose- wheel well will be added next, some lead weight stuffed into the nose, and the forward fuselage sections joined around the cockpit tub.
The next job then is to scratch-build some details onto the basic representation of the SK-1 ejection seat, which will be fitted after the model has been painted, in order to avoid damage when masking.
Thanks again for your kind comments, and I'll post another up-date soon.