Special Hobby 1/72 P-40K-1, 64FS 57FG, Tunisia 1943.

[speedgraflex]

Thanks so much, Kari! It took some trial and error to produce a plausible cockpit seat, with a plausible green, not too dark or too light. Now to make the shoulder belts. I am thinking about making them knotted and pushed to either side of the seat—



We shall see.



I am happy with this so far! Building on the kitchen table with only a few tools does lead to insight!

[Floki]

Looking good Bruce.

[speedgraflex]

Thanks so much, Clint.

[Scruffy]

That is looking really sweet Bruce!

[speedgraflex]

Thanks, Ernie. I am glad you spent time inside a converted caboose and outside a real rocket. Trains and rockets are significant content for engineers; and represent the outcome of our very real very human need to connect with greater distances—discovery and knowledge as well as the human experience of fanning out, creating and being creative. Both are sign posts of older times, and remembrance of insight and discovery are sensitive to time and need.

Says the fella building a plastic aircraft out of a cardboard box.



Up next:

How m’I gonna make that?

[Duke Maddog]

Everything is looking great Bruce, especially in light of the fact you're building on the kitchen table. Tremendous job!

As for the seat belt: Tamiya tape folded over. Then thread it through a very fine (.005) metal rod folded into a triangle. Some more small rods and scrap P/E can be the attachments at the middle and ends of the belts. Of course, I'm just guessing based on what I've seen others do. I've never made the attempt myself due to my aversion to extending a build for far longer than I want it to last. Despite that aversion; too many builds get extended beyond my expected time to finish.

Keep it coming Bruce, you've got this.

[Stikpusher]

Yes, tape would be a good replacement. Use fine wire to make the hardware.

[speedgraflex]

Thank you, Mark and Carlos. Mark, my apologies, I have been visiting Maddog Mfg’s Forum thread and just staring open mouthed (catching flies) at your construction versatility and variety of subjects. Your mojo is incredible! My only suggestion is with the round base that you need to choose a thicker impasto to generate an even surface tone. Have you tried the 3M Red Filler used by body shops?

Apologies for straying off topic. I need to think about two shoulder belts that connect then drape over each other. I did a half a** test with Taniya tape. I like PE. It appeals to my “hammer, tongs and hot fire” style of toolkit. Blame it on all the hand me down Lionel train sets when I was a wee lad. Actually no blame! Those were good times.

[Stikpusher]

Well if you want to stick with metal, some of the foil on wine bottles is superb to use for such tasks. Of course that means you have to open the bottle and remove the foil carefully to insure a proper supply... and then of course you can’t let that opened wine go to waste... what would Mark Antony do?

[speedgraflex]

Mark Antony would... drink drink drink. What happens when Curtis Interior Green meets OD? We get this:



Most of the exterior color is temporary... except for the sides of the fuel tank which are OD.