Hi All,

This is the start of issue 11.

This is the build of the pilot`s harness.

The first part to be constructed is the right hand lap belt.

Number of parts, seven.

Size, take a look. First parts. Pic 1


Now the folds on these parts have to be very accurate, as they depict straps folded onto themselves and then stitched together. No margin for error, because once folded on this scale of brass I don`t think you`d be able to refold. (These parts are 0.2mm thick)

The first result. Pic 2


Things start adding up now, the next parts. Pic 3


Both ends of this strap have to be bent back on themselves, so I put in 90 degree bends, then fitted , continued the fold and glued. Pic 4

That pic shows the first stage of fitting and the next one shows the end result, with the lower buckle fitted. Pic 5


Two parts to be added in the next stage:Pic 6


The smaller part (light stone in colour) has to be bent to fit inside the buckle. Then the Khaki Drab part is fixed behind. Pic 7


Just one more part to add to this strap.

So, the final pic of one of four straps. Pic 8


I have taken over an hour, to make sure that the parts above have been assembled to the best of my ability.

I am, as always open to comments and/or advise. This type of build is a first for me, so it`s a learning curve all the way.



Any of the straps that are a repeat, will be shown in their finished state, as things are obviously duplicated.

See you all soon with the next update.


Happy building

Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)

Hi Steve,

You don`t know how close that is.

To come soon, the rest of the harness, control levers, etc.

These parts are even smaller than the Stuka. (Due to scale)

I haven`t forgot your passion for the Lanc Steve.

It`s on it`s way when my work shifts allow a good spell on your favorite of my builds.

Look in soon, next big shift break only eight days away.

Happy building

Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)

Hi Del
Nice work as usual
regards
Andy

Cracking build as usual Derek.
Just can't believe how small the detail is your having to work with.

Peter

Hi Peter,

Many thanks for the positive comments.

As for the size and amount of detail, this phrase comes to mind.

"You ain`t seen nothing yet"

There is a shed load of detail still to come.

I am obviously privvy to this, as I bought the kit complete (so to speak), but copyright stops me from posting pics of the mag instructions.

So, I know what`s coming up and everyone else is in for a good few surprises.



Happy building

Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)

Hi All,

So here`s the next installment.

Issue 12 "The gunners seat

"Rather him than me"

The parts. Pic 1

To construct this the way the instructions show, I`d need to be an octopus.



On the grounds that I wasn`t the last time I looked, I fixed it together in a way that worked for me.

Now, several of the parts of the gunners seat have to be bent to the correct shape.
Some have pre scored bend points and vary in size, others have to be formed in an undefined arc to fit where the instructions show.

So, here`s the easy bits. Pic 2


Bring in the hold and fold 5.5, for all of these parts. Pic 3


The next part is shown partly folded, but if you look at the right hand end plate you can see a hole. A matching hole is in the other end, so folding has to be accurate so the micro thin rod fits through without any problems. Pic 4



Having finished the folding this is what you end up with, but the pic is a bit fuzzy trying to show the scale. Pic 5


Next part gets a bit larger (not a lot) and requires folding into a box section, the two free ends being glued together. Pic 6


This is a pic of the parts assembled/formed at this point. Pic 7


It`s at this point that the long brass pins come into play.

These form the pivot points of the seat base, they have to be glued to the seat support arms, but not any other parts.
I applied glue to the back of the pin head with a toothpick, pulled the pin through the holes to locate the seat arms flat, then moved them gently away and let them set at right angles.


Having put a pin in each end of the seat arms for one side (watching for correct orientation of parts/part numbers, you need to form everything up to accept the seat base arms on the other side.

Bring in the "OCTOPUS". Pic 8


It`s now time to get everything straight and fit the lower seat arms on the other side of the seat, to include the straight fitting of the pins and centre rod of the seat base. Pic 9


So with that done, my move was to make sure that everything was straight and square.

The next parts start adding to the seat structure. Pic 10


The last pic shows the first disk plate added and the second to the right side.

Next the part to the right fits in the middle of the main disc. Pic 11


From here on in,I`m assembling the "basket seat" for the gunner. Pic 12


The part shows the top frame surface of the seat.

This is formed into an arc at the back edge. This allows for the lower basket section to be folded and make the main seat section. Pic 13


The lower basket section is a one piece unit that needs a lot of freehand bending to fit the upper rim. Four pins set it square. The curved parts of the lower seat have to be formed to meet the upper frame. Pic 14


When all of the lower basket arms are folded up and stuck in place you end up with this result. Pic 15


This is the inverted pic of the seat panel, as it shows the bend forming required.

When you turn it up the right way and fix it to the seat base the final result to this point is shown here.Pic 16


Now there is still a large amount of detail still to add to this seat, but that`s for another day.


At this point I would like to apologize for the length of some of these posts, but I think you would miss some, if not a lot of the detail if I cut them short.


That`s all for today,

Happy building

Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)

Hi Andy,

Thought that would be the case of the lumpy seat, as the pilot`s seat has the dip, as does a Spitfire pilot`s seat.

Wonder if they were granted sick leave if they had "PILES"



Hopefully the good work continues in the next issue where one part goes "large"

Issue 13, coming soon.

Happy building

Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)

Hi All,

So, you`ve seen the detailing parts for issue 14.

These parts give the rivet detail to the bulkhead between the pilot and rear gunner, plus the bracing plates at other double rib sections. In addition to that, there is also additional detailing for the top rails.

The following pics will show the parts and where they are positioned, but where parts are duplicated for both sides of the fuselage, I will say so.

The first pic, shows the top plate detail in place between the two sides of the bulkhead. The part has to be slightly curved by hand, so as to fit to the curved surface it has to stick too. Pic 1


The two parts in the next pic, fit to the same bulkhead, but one each side, obvious as to which is which by the cut-outs to fit around the support brackets. Pic 2


Here`s pics of the parts in place. Pic 3-4


That`s the larger parts done, now we go small scale again!!

These parts are reinforcement plates for the air-frame and they are duplicated for both sides, so will show one side only. Pic 5


You only have the thickness of the brass frame to stick some of these parts too(0.75mm), so gets a bit fiddly getting these in place.Pic 6


So, with both sides done, we move onto the next parts(also duplicated).

These parts are fitted to the frame in the middle of the rear gunner section of the air-frame. Pic 7


It was at this point that I returned to "Google Translate".

The part with the open ends is not symmetrical, it has three rivets at one end(either side) and four at the other. So having translated the relevant info, I was no further forward as it don`t tell you anything relevant.

So, took magnifying glass to the mag pics and the three rivet end is the lower end of the part. Here they are fitted. Pic 8


At this stage we have eight parts to install.

All parts are fitted to the top rail of the air-frame.

Four and then two identical and two generic to the relevant side of the fuselage.

This is a pic of two of the four parts that are the same and they fit on the top rail, within the forward part of the rear gunners section of the air-frame. Pic 9


Fitted like this on both sides. Pic 10


We then fit the two end rail enhancements. Pic 11


This is another duplicated part , so here`s one fitted. Pic 12


Ok, so that leaves two parts that are not identical. Pic 13


These parts are fitted to the top rail within the pilot`s section of the air-frame.

Bit hard to see, so part fitted between the red arrows and alternate part fitted to the other side. Pic 14


So, that`s the end of issue 14, that`s 10% of the build done and only the cockpit built, with still more to come in that section.

Here`s the part fret for issue 15. Pic 15


The above parts add more detail to the pilots area of the cockpit and two stringers to the air-frame.

Happy building

Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)

Hi Spencer,

Thanks for taking a look.

Unlike you I`ve had very little dealings with etch, until recently.
That said this is etch, on etch, on etch in places, but it`s one infectious build.

I can`t leave it alone.(Unless working )

Happy building

Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)

Amazing work Del, this is going to be a lovely finished model
Steve