Cockpit is almost ready, missing only some details to be highlighted and a gunsight (from clear acetate...yes, from my sons' ice cream cups...) to be fitted after the final clear coat. Looks busyish with the scratchbuilds I applied. Seat belts are made from masking tape and miss their buckles (to be done with my PILOT fine silver pen):
I then proceeded to the landing gear.
Hobbycraft's offering parts are solid, but are simplified and/or ficticious looking. This is especially true for the front door retraction mechanism.
To present a passable result, I studied some detail walkaround pics and proceeded as follows:
- I cut the main landing gear struts about 3mm short (as they were too long, resulting in an unnatural Vampire posture) and glued them at a slight outward angle, as per pics.
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1. Slight outward angle
2. Brake line
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I glued their dragged doors lower than Hobbycraft recommended.
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The outer doors were glued with a slight inward angle, again as per references. Before I had drilled two holes at each of them, in order to attach a scratchbuilt "H" retracting mechanism that is prominent in reality):
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1. Holes for their retracting mechanisms
- I reduced the front door height and glued it at a position as indicated at the refpics:
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1. Slight inward angle
2. Door position looks closer to reality
Its Hobbycraft retraction strut will not be used as it has nothing to do with reality; instead, rods, made of stretched sprue, will be added at the correct spots.
Here is the result so far, missing the retracting mechanisms stated above, to be installed hopefully tomorrow:
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1. Missing doors retraction struts...
I might also add some "ribbing" in the nose wheel well....
Looks a bit "unbusy....
Cheers, great DH100GB!
