dean Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 Hi Guys, I started this in the jet section but thought I'd better move over here to the in progress: Well I made a start today. I went to the local electronics shop and got everything I needed for the LED's, then spent the next hour trying to figure out how to get it all working. Managed to get it all going in the end and made a start on the cockpit. First I cut out holes for the wires in the cockpit floor in an inconspicuous area so I can feed the green LED's into the instrument panel and extended the floor: Got all the lights working, Two green and two white: Test fitted: Once that was all done, I moved on to detailing the rest of the cockpit. I haven't got any reference material yet and couldn't even find one photo on the internet of the rear section of the flight deck, all the photos I've found have been taken from between the seats looking out. I have no imagination so took inspiration from someone elses build that you guys put me on to. I hope he doesn't mind, I'm going with the "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" line. Diamond plate on the floor is left overs from my truck build. It's not the right scale but I just used it to have some texture on the floor so it didn't look too plain. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 NIce start Dean, lookinf forward to following this one. I have this kit hiding in the stash so I will will watching for any tips you might have on the build Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted May 20, 2012 Author Share Posted May 20, 2012 I got the cockpit finished and wired up today: And test fitted it all into the fuselage: Lights off: Lights on: The white lights are permanently mounted but the greens were just sitting in place, that's why one looks brighter than the other. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iwan_canobi Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Creates a nice effect with that, will look great when completely finished! Are you just powering the LED's from battery? Did you use a resistor in series with LED to protect it from current spikes? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Adam_Kijak Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Hi how much heat those led lights generate, will that not melt plastic? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted May 20, 2012 Author Share Posted May 20, 2012 Hopefully not much, didn't test that first. haha. I did line the areas where the LED's are mounted with aluminum foil to try and reflect light into the cockpit so hopefully that'll act sort of like a heat sheild. I can't really see a time where they'll be left on long enough to get that hot anyway. Going by the guy at the electronics shop I didn't need a resistor as they are running off just a watch battery so doesn't have enough current to warrant one. And by using a small battery the whole unit fits into the bomb bay, so I'll either hinge the bomb bay door so I can get into it to turn it on or attach it with magnets. Either way, it will be invisible when it's on display. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted May 20, 2012 Author Share Posted May 20, 2012 Looking at the photos though, the big holes in the seats are bugging me. They'll have to be fixed before I close it up Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JesniF-16 Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Looking at the photos though, the big holes in the seats are bugging me. They'll have to be fixed before I close it up I was hoping you would say that.... Otherwise it's a pretty cool build. I built this kit for my son last year. It was my first build and I'm surprised that it got me into modelling and not running away from it :blink: I personally didn't think the kit was terrible, but that was when seams and stuff didn't bother me too much <_< I think with some care, when it comes to sanding and filling, It will be a good looking build.... Good luck, /Jesse Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jezones Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 I would use a resistor with led's no matter what battery was used. It would suck to have your model together and one of them burn out. Also you should use heat shrink or at least electrical tape to cover the exposed wire. Masking tape tends to dry out over time and fall off. Also did you solder the wires to the led's or just twitst them. If your installing LED's in a place you will not have access to once completed it's best to solder them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted May 21, 2012 Author Share Posted May 21, 2012 Just a small update tonight. I got the tops and bottoms attached tonight. There is going to be quite a bit of work to get them smooth but it doesn't look as bad as the horror stories I've heard about. I haven't tried dry fitting the two halves yet so I'll probably have to eat my words. You can also see the excellent detail in the landing gear bays too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Looking at the photos though, the big holes in the seats are bugging me. They'll have to be fixed before I close it up Not trying to be critical but that is a good call. This is a fantastic build but those ejector pin marks on the ejector seats are hard to ignore. You have done great work on the big stuff, don't let a little thing like that bug ya forever! LOL Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted May 23, 2012 Author Share Posted May 23, 2012 I started the initial sanding to get rid of all the raised panel lines and dry fitted the two halves together. The fit is nowhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be. It will need quite a bit of filling but everything seems to be aligned alright. here's some pics of the fit: There are a few hollows and depressions that showed up during sanding that will need to be filled too: Top wing seams sanded don't look too bad: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted May 29, 2012 Author Share Posted May 29, 2012 Well, day one of sanding is over, and all I've got to show for it is more filler. I've used almost half a tube of Tamiya filler and all I've filled is the hollows in the plastic and the wing joins on the top and bottom. The two halves aren't even together yet. I'll paint the intakes tomorrow and fit them too so I can fill the edges there too as I'm doing the rest. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Major Walt Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 Keep at it! The Testor's kit is a tough build, but it's looking great (especially the cockpit). This is going to be an exceptional build! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted May 30, 2012 Author Share Posted May 30, 2012 Here's the results of two days of filling and sanding, Still a long way to go but it's slowly getting there. I decided to fit the cockpit glass before I joined the halves together as I've seen a couple of other builds where the builders have had to take it back out as they got sanding dust behind it. At least this way I can clean it up as I go and don't get any surprises later. all the hollows in the plastic have been taken care of: And I fixed the seats and my jammy dog masking tape arrived so I made a couple of simple belts: Lights on: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AjD Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 This could get interesting... Great work - love the contrast in the green and white lighting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted May 31, 2012 Author Share Posted May 31, 2012 Thanks guys. I got the two halves closed up tonight. Now the fun is really going to begin, I thought I used a lot of filler before It's going to be a big job getting this thing ready for painting but I still think it's do-able. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Cooper Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Looks like it's really coming together now. Like they say, it's all in the preparation. You'll be rewarded for your painstaking work .... Nice job. Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skinny_Mike Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 (edited) did you add some weight to the nose? This guy is a tail sitter from what I've been told. Edited May 31, 2012 by Skinny_Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sharkey Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Thank God, you fixed those ejector marks. Those were really too big to ignore. I love lights and you're doing a great job! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Nice work Dean, I can't wait to see this one finished. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dean Posted June 6, 2012 Author Share Posted June 6, 2012 getting there slowly but surely. you guys were all right, the amount of filling and sanding required has been unbelievable but I've finally got a coat of primer on it. Only to show up the areas where it will need MORE filler. I've already used a whole tube of Tamiya filler. The seam of the top and bottom halves has been by far the worst but I've managed to get it under control. That still needs a bit of touching up and the joins of the intake parts needs a bit more filling. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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