Crimea_River
Marshal
Nice Terry. It's been a while since I saw that panel as it's been packed away but I think it's flat.
<-- Mosquito FB.VI - Twin Engined Aircraft of WWII (2 Viewers)
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Robert Porter
Senior Master Sergeant
Great work so far Terry!
fubar57
General
Good stuff Terry
- Thread starter
- #65
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks very much chaps !
The cockpit walls are now complete, and the main instrument panel is 95% done - it just needs some basic representation of the rudder pedals (they'll only just be seen as vague shapes), and the addition of scratch-built levers for the undercart, bomb doors and flaps, which will be fitted when the panel is ready to be mounted on the cockpit floor.
Although the brutal close-up photos show some messy areas, where CA glue has 'caked', these have now been cleaned-up, and overall, I'm fairly pleased with the cockpit area so far. In fact, with all the added detail (more still to come), I'm considering using a vac-formed canopy, the version by Rob Taurus, which looks very good indeed. Although designed for the Tamiya kit, I think it would fit the Airfix kit with little, if any modification, and will allow the internal detail to be seen more easily. The kit canopy, although accurate and quite clear, is rather thick, which causes some distortion.
PICS 1 and 2. The starboard cockpit wall, with the Eduard pre-printed PE parts added to the fuel gauges panel and, below that, the Eduard parts for the oxygen regulator. The top view shows the original Airfix detail, with the signal and nav lamp switches along the top edge of the panel and, at right, the I.F.F. destruct switch guards, and the twin, red fire extinguisher buttons.
PICS 3 and 4. The kit's moulded throttle quadrant was retained, and carefully painted. Next to this is the compass, made from plastic tube, rod and strip, with the Eduard compass rose fitted to the top and glazed with Humbrol Clear.
Eduard parts were used for the tail trim indicator, the lighting panel with its flexible lamp, the compass deviation correction card and other placards, and the radio channel selector box. The white throttle and boost settings placard is just a piece of Tamiya tape, painted white, and with red dots representing the wording.
I might yet fit an oxygen hose, using a length from one of the flexible, 'ribbed' hoses from MDC, but, as with the tail trim wheel (not provided in the kit or Eduard parts), I doubt if it will be seen.
PIC 5. The instrument panel had the oil pressure and temperature gauges (bottom left) re-touched around the bezels / frames, as the colour here was a bit 'thin', and the panels were given a coat of matt clear, with the instruments 'glazed' with Humbrol Clear.
The central pedestal and the small panel at top right are the original Airfix parts, and the bomb selector switches, and the booster coil switches and red prop feathering buttons, were carefully painted and highlighted. Below and left of the prop feathering buttons is the Beam Approach Indicator, added to the moulded instrument bezel using a decal from the 'Airscale' RAF instrument decals sheet.
I tried to use the decal left over from the Tamiya FB.VI kit used in my other build, but as soon as it made contact with the panel, it folded up and wrinkled itself into a ball !
The decal used is actually an artificial horizon, mounted upside down to try replicate the angled 'arms' of the Left / Right track indicators, as the 'Airscale' sheet does not include a Beam Approach Indicator decal !
It's not brilliant, but looks reasonable enough, and better than I'd be able to do by hand, either by painting or 'scratching' the detail through the matt black paint to reveal white painted underneath.
The three vertical slots in the center of the panel, to the left of the small red placard, are the locations for the undercart lever, bomb door lever, and the flaps lever, in that order. These levers will be made from stretched sprue, with blobs of PVA for the knobs, painted in the relevant colours, and will be attached once the panel is ready to be mounted, immediately before closing the fuselage.
It will be interesting to see if I can still do this, as the dexterity in my hands has greatly diminished since I last added this detail to an Airfix Mosquito, some 25 years ago ! (That particular model, a conversion to a B.XVI, is in line for a 'refurb', and will be re-painted as a Pathfinder Mossie).
Next step is to assemble and paint the Pilot's seat, adding the Eduard seat harness, and also paint the Navigator's back armour, adding the harness, and make and add the folded head armour, an item never included in Mosquito kits in this scale.
The seats won't be attached yet, as some work has to be done around the rear 'shelf' and the spar, in preparation for the 'Gee' equipment which, as previously mentioned, I hope to cast in resin, from 'masters' which will be scratch-built, a job I hope to get done over the weekend.
Thanks again for looking in, and I'll be back soon with another up-date.
The cockpit walls are now complete, and the main instrument panel is 95% done - it just needs some basic representation of the rudder pedals (they'll only just be seen as vague shapes), and the addition of scratch-built levers for the undercart, bomb doors and flaps, which will be fitted when the panel is ready to be mounted on the cockpit floor.
Although the brutal close-up photos show some messy areas, where CA glue has 'caked', these have now been cleaned-up, and overall, I'm fairly pleased with the cockpit area so far. In fact, with all the added detail (more still to come), I'm considering using a vac-formed canopy, the version by Rob Taurus, which looks very good indeed. Although designed for the Tamiya kit, I think it would fit the Airfix kit with little, if any modification, and will allow the internal detail to be seen more easily. The kit canopy, although accurate and quite clear, is rather thick, which causes some distortion.
PICS 1 and 2. The starboard cockpit wall, with the Eduard pre-printed PE parts added to the fuel gauges panel and, below that, the Eduard parts for the oxygen regulator. The top view shows the original Airfix detail, with the signal and nav lamp switches along the top edge of the panel and, at right, the I.F.F. destruct switch guards, and the twin, red fire extinguisher buttons.
PICS 3 and 4. The kit's moulded throttle quadrant was retained, and carefully painted. Next to this is the compass, made from plastic tube, rod and strip, with the Eduard compass rose fitted to the top and glazed with Humbrol Clear.
Eduard parts were used for the tail trim indicator, the lighting panel with its flexible lamp, the compass deviation correction card and other placards, and the radio channel selector box. The white throttle and boost settings placard is just a piece of Tamiya tape, painted white, and with red dots representing the wording.
I might yet fit an oxygen hose, using a length from one of the flexible, 'ribbed' hoses from MDC, but, as with the tail trim wheel (not provided in the kit or Eduard parts), I doubt if it will be seen.
PIC 5. The instrument panel had the oil pressure and temperature gauges (bottom left) re-touched around the bezels / frames, as the colour here was a bit 'thin', and the panels were given a coat of matt clear, with the instruments 'glazed' with Humbrol Clear.
The central pedestal and the small panel at top right are the original Airfix parts, and the bomb selector switches, and the booster coil switches and red prop feathering buttons, were carefully painted and highlighted. Below and left of the prop feathering buttons is the Beam Approach Indicator, added to the moulded instrument bezel using a decal from the 'Airscale' RAF instrument decals sheet.
I tried to use the decal left over from the Tamiya FB.VI kit used in my other build, but as soon as it made contact with the panel, it folded up and wrinkled itself into a ball !
The decal used is actually an artificial horizon, mounted upside down to try replicate the angled 'arms' of the Left / Right track indicators, as the 'Airscale' sheet does not include a Beam Approach Indicator decal !
It's not brilliant, but looks reasonable enough, and better than I'd be able to do by hand, either by painting or 'scratching' the detail through the matt black paint to reveal white painted underneath.
The three vertical slots in the center of the panel, to the left of the small red placard, are the locations for the undercart lever, bomb door lever, and the flaps lever, in that order. These levers will be made from stretched sprue, with blobs of PVA for the knobs, painted in the relevant colours, and will be attached once the panel is ready to be mounted, immediately before closing the fuselage.
It will be interesting to see if I can still do this, as the dexterity in my hands has greatly diminished since I last added this detail to an Airfix Mosquito, some 25 years ago ! (That particular model, a conversion to a B.XVI, is in line for a 'refurb', and will be re-painted as a Pathfinder Mossie).
Next step is to assemble and paint the Pilot's seat, adding the Eduard seat harness, and also paint the Navigator's back armour, adding the harness, and make and add the folded head armour, an item never included in Mosquito kits in this scale.
The seats won't be attached yet, as some work has to be done around the rear 'shelf' and the spar, in preparation for the 'Gee' equipment which, as previously mentioned, I hope to cast in resin, from 'masters' which will be scratch-built, a job I hope to get done over the weekend.
Thanks again for looking in, and I'll be back soon with another up-date.
That's scrubbed up alright Terry, well done man...
- Thread starter
- #67
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks Wayne !
fubar57
General
Agree with Wayne and the thumb
Crimea_River
Marshal
Very good Terry. On the port side there would be a cable got by frm the trim indicator over the throttle down to the trim wheel located left and below the pilot seat. A simple add if you want to do it.
Robert Porter
Senior Master Sergeant
Looks fantastic! Great detail work!
- Thread starter
- #72
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks chaps, and thanks for the reminder Andy.
I spotted the trim indicator cable in one of my reference pics, after I'd posted, as the lack of this 'jumped out' from the pics of the model.
I'll add it, along with the radio cables, before doing another 'clean up' and retouching. I'll also 'lose' those tape cable ties, and paint on smaller ones !
There's a resin sanitary tank in the 'True Details' resin cockpit set, but I don't think it's worth the effort to try to mount it beneath the seat, as it'll probably be hidden by the First Aid / torch storage locker - which I'll have to scratch-build when I get to the rest of the cockpit assembly.
I spotted the trim indicator cable in one of my reference pics, after I'd posted, as the lack of this 'jumped out' from the pics of the model.
I'll add it, along with the radio cables, before doing another 'clean up' and retouching. I'll also 'lose' those tape cable ties, and paint on smaller ones !
There's a resin sanitary tank in the 'True Details' resin cockpit set, but I don't think it's worth the effort to try to mount it beneath the seat, as it'll probably be hidden by the First Aid / torch storage locker - which I'll have to scratch-build when I get to the rest of the cockpit assembly.
JKim
Senior Master Sergeant
Cockpit looks very nice!
Crimea_River
Marshal
The pilot will just have to hold it.....
- Thread starter
- #75
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Yep - don't want any plastic pee in my cockpit !!
Nice going amigo!
- Thread starter
- #77
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks Jim. Just about to start on he Pilot's seat an Navigator's back armour - pics probably tomorrow.
Nicely done so far Terry!
le_steph40
Chief Master Sergeant
- Thread starter
- #80
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks Hugh and Steph.
More work has been done on the cockpit area, with the seats painted and the Eduard seat harnesses fitted, that cable added to the trim indicator, and cables fitted to the radio channel selector. The levers have been added to the instrument panel, and the panel, and control column fitted to the cockpit floor.
PIC 1. The Navigator's back armour and seat painted and fitted, with the seat harness in place, and the control column painted and fitted.
The seat armour is a tad on the thick side, but this will be hidden once the folding head armour is made and fitted. The control column is nicely moulded, with the whip cord hand grip, gun buttons, swivel joint cover and the hand brake lever, the latter not included on the Tamiya column.
PICS 2 and 3. The pilot's seat, which includes the back cushion, has been painted, and the harness added, along with the harness release cable, made from lead wire and plastic rod.The edges of the seat pan were thinned down and slightly beveled, to give a more scale-like appearance.
PIC 4. The back of the pilot's seat, showing the added cable, and the moulded fire axe, with an ejector pin mark conveniently placed to be painted as a gas detector patch !
As far as I know, the fire axe was not painted red until post WW2, so this one is just painted in wood and steel colours.
PIC 5. The undercart lever (in the 'Down' position), bomb door lever, and the flap lever have been fitted to the instrument panel, using finely stretched sprue, and the knobs added from 'blobs' of PVA, painted the relevant colours - red, black and green.
Very rough approximations of the rudder pedals were added, just using plastic rod, and then painted silver. Only the bottom edges of these will be visible, once the cockpit is closed up, and then only just, so these are good enough.
PIC 6. A side view of the panel, showing the levers protruding. The knobs on the end of the levers weren't spherical, but more of a 'flattened' oval shape, which I've tried to replicate here.
PICS 7 to 9. The Instrument panel has been fitted to the cockpit floor, and the pilot's seat just tacked in place for the photo.This will not be fitted until later, as clear access to the spar alongside the Navigator's seat is needed, in order to fit and align the scratch-built and resin cast 'Gee' indicator. Likewise, an area on the 'shelf' has been left unpainted, as the R/F unit and receiver will be fitted here once made.
A parachute rack has to be made and fitted into the 'footwell' area in front of the Navigator's seat, up against the forward bulkhead, and this will be done once the remainder of the cockpit has been completed.
I'm still working on the 'masters' for the resin 'Gee' indicator, receiver and R/F unit, which is a bit fiddly, especially the bezel for the cathode ray tube on the 'Gee' indicator, but I hope to have these completed within the next day or so, and then try a first casting - keeping fingers crossed !
Back soon with another up-date.
More work has been done on the cockpit area, with the seats painted and the Eduard seat harnesses fitted, that cable added to the trim indicator, and cables fitted to the radio channel selector. The levers have been added to the instrument panel, and the panel, and control column fitted to the cockpit floor.
PIC 1. The Navigator's back armour and seat painted and fitted, with the seat harness in place, and the control column painted and fitted.
The seat armour is a tad on the thick side, but this will be hidden once the folding head armour is made and fitted. The control column is nicely moulded, with the whip cord hand grip, gun buttons, swivel joint cover and the hand brake lever, the latter not included on the Tamiya column.
PICS 2 and 3. The pilot's seat, which includes the back cushion, has been painted, and the harness added, along with the harness release cable, made from lead wire and plastic rod.The edges of the seat pan were thinned down and slightly beveled, to give a more scale-like appearance.
PIC 4. The back of the pilot's seat, showing the added cable, and the moulded fire axe, with an ejector pin mark conveniently placed to be painted as a gas detector patch !
As far as I know, the fire axe was not painted red until post WW2, so this one is just painted in wood and steel colours.
PIC 5. The undercart lever (in the 'Down' position), bomb door lever, and the flap lever have been fitted to the instrument panel, using finely stretched sprue, and the knobs added from 'blobs' of PVA, painted the relevant colours - red, black and green.
Very rough approximations of the rudder pedals were added, just using plastic rod, and then painted silver. Only the bottom edges of these will be visible, once the cockpit is closed up, and then only just, so these are good enough.
PIC 6. A side view of the panel, showing the levers protruding. The knobs on the end of the levers weren't spherical, but more of a 'flattened' oval shape, which I've tried to replicate here.
PICS 7 to 9. The Instrument panel has been fitted to the cockpit floor, and the pilot's seat just tacked in place for the photo.This will not be fitted until later, as clear access to the spar alongside the Navigator's seat is needed, in order to fit and align the scratch-built and resin cast 'Gee' indicator. Likewise, an area on the 'shelf' has been left unpainted, as the R/F unit and receiver will be fitted here once made.
A parachute rack has to be made and fitted into the 'footwell' area in front of the Navigator's seat, up against the forward bulkhead, and this will be done once the remainder of the cockpit has been completed.
I'm still working on the 'masters' for the resin 'Gee' indicator, receiver and R/F unit, which is a bit fiddly, especially the bezel for the cathode ray tube on the 'Gee' indicator, but I hope to have these completed within the next day or so, and then try a first casting - keeping fingers crossed !
Back soon with another up-date.
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