SPA Modeler

Kari, I have been debating the merits of closed vs. open.

I was leaning toward closed when I started the project. But I put so much work into this one that part of me doesn’t want to entomb it for perpetuity. ..

I’m really not sure.

Your cockpit looks wonderful! I especially like the work you did on the seatbelts... looks much better than how the Eduard belts come out of the package. I hear you about broken parts... have experienced my fair share. I bought a wooden jig to hold the aircraft during the painting stages. It helps keep the model accessible without having to attach the landing gear pre-maturely.

Kenny: Very nice work on that pit so far buddy. I guess I've always had pretty good luck when painting and dealing with landing gear.

John: Nice jig. I've been seeing these around now for the last few years and may end up with one before I build my next plane.

I bought that exact jig! It arrived in the mail on Friday, and I will be using the Hell out of that thing!

Also- thank you for the kind words on the cockpit. I’m really happy with it, and I think it’ll be a good one to display open. I put a lot of work into it, so why the Hell not.

KennyX wrote:I bought that exact jig! It arrived in the mail on Friday, and I will be using the Hell out of that thing!

Also- thank you for the kind words on the cockpit. I’m really happy with it, and I think it’ll be a good one to display open. I put a lot of work into it, so why the Hell not.

You can say that again. If there's detail I'm going to try my hardest to display it as it's a showpiece of the build.

Okay, I gotta noodle this for a little while. If I’m going full-speed ahead on this open cockpit thing, I think I need to address the instrument panel. I’m planning on using the PE instrument panel. Is making the dials look a bit more real as simple as brushing some unthinned Tamiya Clear Gloss into them, or...? LOL Because I have absolutely no idea!

Are they the pre-painted panels with the dial detail on the back element and the instrumental bezels on the front element? What I usually do is attach the two pieces together using white glue or clear gloss and then shooting the whole panel with a clear flat. This will help even out the exaggerated fabric texture that Eduard pre-painted panels have. After that I'll put a drop of clear gloss on the each instrument face. At this scale, I don't think it is important to try and replicate the clear glass per se but the contrast between the gloss of the dials and the flat panel is enough to give that impression. The color of the IP may not match your interior color... Eduard uses (or used to anyway) a funky purplish color for their Luftwaffe interior parts.

jkim wrote:

I also wanted to buy that wooden jig, find it very cool looking, but found instead an transparent acrylic one (http://www.vertigo-miniatures.com)

But regardless of material etc, one of the better acquisitions to be honest, is a jig!


- Kari

jkim wrote:Are they the pre-painted panels with the dial detail on the back element and the instrumental bezels on the front element? What I usually do is attach the two pieces together using white glue or clear gloss and then shooting the whole panel with a clear flat. This will help even out the exaggerated fabric texture that Eduard pre-painted panels have. After that I'll put a drop of clear gloss on the each instrument face. At this scale, I don't think it is important to try and replicate the clear glass per se but the contrast between the gloss of the dials and the flat panel is enough to give that impression. The color of the IP may not match your interior color... Eduard uses (or used to anyway) a funky purplish color for their Luftwaffe interior parts.

Thank you!

The color of the IP is a nice, flat black. I’ll go ahead and assemble it tonight. It is exactly as you described it, and I’ll follow that method. Thank you!!

KSaarni wrote:

jkim wrote:

I also wanted to buy that wooden jig, find it very cool looking, but found instead an transparent acrylic one (http://www.vertigo-miniatures.com)

But regardless of material etc, one of the better acquisitions to be honest, is a jig!


- Kari

I won’t regret purchasing mine, that’s for sure.

Also- that’s one beautiful bird he’s got perched on it too! Whooo-wee!!