SPA Modeler

jkim wrote:

KennyX wrote:Those consoles are looking great! I’m enjoying seeing this cockpit in 32nd. scale come together. The level of detail in this kit is great!

There's Tamiya Detail and then there is Barracuda Detail. Hard to believe the impact these tiny decals make on the cockpit side consoles. They are small and hard to handle and need lots of patience to place but well worth the effort. I'm about 3/4 of the way done on the decals for this piece alone.

mostrich wrote:Kill me now!

I know, right?

We are unworthy....

BlackSheep214 wrote:

mostrich wrote:Kill me now!

I know, right?

We are unworthy....

Those Barracuda placard decals are crazy right? So small that some of text is not readable under my magnifiers. Got through most of the cockpit decals and decided to dry fit some of the cockpit components together.




The tail wheel well components have been painted Zinc Chromate and given a dark brown wash. A flat coat is still to come and I'm trying to figure out if I need to do any more weathering here as it will be pretty buttoned up when the fuselage halves go together.

Incredible work, John! When you fit the cockpit together, everything looks right. Nothing seems out of place. This is the very essence of realism. Of particular note are the worn areas of the chair: each one is specific in character and effect from the next. The seat scratches are part of exposed areas. The rubbed off sections of each shoulder belt are superbly modulated in a rubbery brown from chaffing and dirt. I also really like the way you treated the molded details such as the chair adjust with just a smidge of operator’s grime. Fantastic!

Thanks Bruce! Appreciate the comments on this build! I'll have to credit Tamiya for much of what you see. Besides the Barracuda stencil decals, I've not added much so that speaks to how much detail that Tamiya has put into this kit.

I've added a few more bits onto the cockpit. Most notably the throttle linkages which I've used four pieces of brass tubing to portray.


Due to the throttle being mounted on the cockpit sidewall, it would be almost impossible to physically tie the linkages to the throttle body so I just want to get them close. They should terminate somewhere underneath the throttle body. To check this, I've attached the throttle using a blob of Blue Tack.


With the cockpit tub in place, we can see that throttle linkages look ok.


I've attached the instrument panel as well as the hydraulic bottles. I made up an oxygen hose by wrapping a wire around thicker lead wire. It's hard to get a good photo of the cockpit since there are so many details sticking out in every direction.


I'm working on the instrument panel hood, which holds the gun sight.

Every little addition enhances the overall look so much. Truly a case of the whole being more than merely the sum of the parts.

There’s a ridiculous amount of detail in that front office! Looks superb.

I hope you decide to leave the canopy open on this build, all this detail needs to be seen.

Great work!