Eduard 1/48 Bf 109E-7 Trop, Libya, 1941

[Stikpusher]

That is some outstanding detail work! a real visual feast! I was curious about those Fine Molds harnesses when I saw them in a couple of LHSs. In spite of them not working exactly as you wanted they really look great!

[kahunaminor]

Instrument panels. The PE panels from the E-7 kit are different to those in the Brassin cockpit set, being about a millimetre too wide for the resin they are to be attached to. You can just see the difference on the right side of the first picture with the E-7 underneath the Brassin:





The Brassin set does not have the additional panel for bomb/ fuel tank release. Minor surgery to graft from one to the other:



Various handles and bits added. Revi C12 from MDC had a lead wire power cable installed and plumbed to the appropriate port on the upper panel:









All laid out for inspection. Flat coat and then installations come next:




Regards,

[Stikpusher]

Are you a micro surgeon for your day job? Fantastic detail work there.

[kahunaminor]

Are you a micro surgeon for your day job? Fantastic detail work there.

No mate,
Just a bit OCD, AMS and PTSD plus a really good set of magnifying lenses and a hatred of letting it beat me!

Regards,

[Stuart]

That is a very impressive bit of cockpit work - superb detail.

[kahunaminor]

That is a very impressive bit of cockpit work - superb detail.

Many thanks,

You guys are too kind. Eduard supplies all the detail, I just colour it in for want of a belter term.

Regards,

[kahunaminor]

Welcome back,

A few days ago, I completed the cockpit assembly as per instruction and fitted it through the lower opening into position within the fuselage. I had progressed to the point where the cockpit and gun deck assemblies were installed:









Well, I thought, that's that and got ready to move forward.

BUT.....You know sometimes the longer you try and ignore something, the more it plays on your mind until eventually it becomes the most prominent thing on your mind? Yeah those gaps around the cockpit tub. Thankfully the properties of CA allowed me to take the tub itself out. I then realigned the sidewalls to close the gaps. Not entirely successful, so I glued some 0.5 styrene strips to close the gaps on each side of the rear deck, followed by some 0.5 x 1mm strips along the top. I will sand these back flush but already happier:











Some 0.5 x 1mm along the gun bay sides will need sanding but should address the gaps too. I may need a spacer to widen the lower fuselage to wing join as at the moment dry fitting has a small gap or it may be solved with dihedral:









So, it would appear I had fallen foul of the alignment gods. Next time I will probably change the assembly so the sidewalls are attached to the fuselage sides first, something I couldn't do this time as the fuselage halves were joined. Or possibly I may take more time in my alignment of the resin tub parts because looking back, they were out of kilter slightly prior to my attempt to install.

Stay tuned!

[Stikpusher]

Nice recovery! I know the feeling of mental model problem solving turning into an obsession all too well. It often hits me when I want to sleep... sometime around 3am to 5am usually... and then once I correct the issue. Good sleep until the next conundrum...

[mustang1989]

I'll second that on the recovery efforts. Great work thus far Kent. Thumbs up here!

[tempestjohnny]

I'll second that on the recovery efforts. Great work thus far Kent. Thumbs up here!

Third