SPA Modeler

I got nothing except...

The Dana Bell book didn't reveal anything obvious that I needed to add to the interior but reinforced the decision to leave out the flare pistol. So I can glue the fuselage halves together now.


One last look at the cockpit before I seal it away.



The view is reduced but you can still see quite a bit of interior after the fuselage is buttoned up.


Most of the engine components have been painted so it's time to start putting it together!

Everything forward of the rear row of cylinders has been glued into place The wiring has been completed. I didn't follow the wiring all the way to the rear of the cylinders as this did not allow the cylinder covers to lay down flat. Won't be able to see from the front anyway.

Thanks Bruce! The Dana Bell book is good but it will be of limited value of me. For one, it's not very thick and since it covers more than just the F4U-1a, information specific to the aircraft I am portraying is limited. But mostly because the Tamiya kit is so complete. Now that the engine and cockpit are done, the only "complicated" work that remains is in the wheel wells. And Bell's book doesn't cover much detail in that area.

Here's another shot of the engine minus the exhaust system.

I knew this was going to look amazing when you put it together but I didn't know it was going to look this great!
Also what color did you use for the prop shaft? Sorry if you already mentioned it and I didn't catch it.

Thanks Clint! I kind of dawdled and thought about the engine assembly a lot before painting. I did a number of dry fittings to figure out all of the glue joints. I didn’t document it but I used ALOT of Micro Mask to make sure I got plastic-to-plastic contact on all of the junctions. The prop shaft was painted Alclad Brass. I’m not going to glue the prop on so it makes sense to have the shaft painted.

The final model will be more than just the sum of its parts. But what parts that are. The engine is a masterpiece as well as the cockpit is. This build is pure pleasure to follow.

mostrich wrote:The final model will be more than just the sum of its parts. But what parts that are. The engine is a masterpiece as well as the cockpit is. This build is pure pleasure to follow.

What Mostrich said!! My Thesaurus broke and ran out of the room screaming.

That’s fantastic work!