It was odd wandering around in shorts and a T Shirt while shops were playing things like Walking In a Winter Wonderland and White Christmas on their sound systems!
Now you know a bit of what my life is like - summer Christmas with so, so many American songs about snow and cold!
There's an open market for a Kiwi Christmas Song just waiting to be exploited. All those songs about snow and reindeer must get very annoying for you!
Wow Richie, you are absolutely zooming along. It is very inspiring and the glimpse inside the cockpit is superb!
Thanks William, I'm making it a goal to get as much detail into it as you manage to cram into your 1/144 builds! Circumstances mean I will have to slow down to my usual slower than treacle tempo for a month or so but I am hopeful of finishing this by Easter.
Well here is my first update update of the year, the seating arrangements have been sorted out and IP and other bulkheads are glued in place;
20230105_161426 by
Richard Williams, on Flickr
The seat belts were made from wine bottle foil and Tamiya tape. I took a photo etch fret from a Wingnut Wings Sopwith Pup in my stash and used it emboss the bels onto the foil. This was then reinforced with Tamiya tape backing and more tape was used to cover the leather portions. Nice and easy and feels like cheating, I like this method! The resulting belts are far from perfect but certainly good enough, I might give them an oil wash but not sure I can be bothered.
The forward bulkhead has a little storage space with a latch and hinges. I scribed the outline and added the hinges and latch with brass coloured foil that is on the back of a new scalpel blade packet. The hinges were bent over brass rod to give them the right shape. I don't think they will be visible but it was only a five minute job.
20230105_162634 by
Richard Williams, on Flickr
Has anyone noticed the elephant in the room yet?
The wicker seat was made using the method Hendie suggested when I was making my Bristol Scout, this time I measured a lot more carefully to ensure it would fit. The pilot's seat was made last year from folded aluminium sheet, I forgot to allow for the width of the aluminium supports that hold it to the fuselage so it had to be unfolded and given a little trim but all's well that ends well. I blame the kit designer, he clearly doesn't have much of a clue! The elephants is still there though, have you seen him yet? 🙄
20230105_161902 by
Richard Williams, on Flickr
There are a few wires and odds and ends still to add to the cockpit before I add the last cell that holds the engine.
Thanks for looking in, best wishes all for a happy, healthy 2023.
Richie
