Scale aviation modeller international

decals for the dials on my model.

The real aeroplane’s cockpit

is quite basic, and Roden have

replicated what detail there is

fairly well, which will be clearly

visible through all the clear

panels and the large side door.

Again, an internet search

revealed a number of variations

on the interior, but one thing

that appears standard, but is not

featured in the kit, is the fabric

material that covers the panels on

the cockpit walls. As this is quite

a noticeable feature I decided to

replicate this by making thin sheets

from rolled-out Milliput. Care

has to be taken not to block the

mounting points for other cockpit

parts while you are adding the

covering. (Another beneit of adding

the lining is that it hides a number

of prominent ejector pin marks

that would otherwise need illing).

Once you have completed the

cockpit, Stage Eleven deals with

the tailplanes and their distinctive

aerials. Two metal rods from

Albion Alloys were used to make

the antenna, but they can be left

of until the end of the build to

avoid any damage (especially to the

modeller, as they are very stif and

pointy and will easily draw blood).

Depending on which scheme

you are building, a number of

lashed-over holes on the spine

of the fuselage need opening up

for the itting of the diferent

communication and navigation

aerials. The cockpit rear windows

are installed from the inside, and

some adjustment is needed to the

opening to get a really good it.

If you are following the out-of-

sequence assembly instructions you

now jump back to the engine again,

to assemble the twin exhausts.

These are quite poor parts, marred

by lash and a cross section that’s

not at all circular, so I replaced

the kit parts with some sprue

and Albion aluminium tubing.

By now, we have reached

Stage Nineteen, which is where

the interior gets itted and the

fuselage closed up, and I did not

encounter any major problems

here. I used a number of clamps to

keep everything closed together

...once filled and polished

Prominent mould ejector marks on the cockpit wall...

...I attempted to fill them... ...and I had some success

The pilot’s seat frame is a complex build

Nasty scar on the model’s surface...

14 • DECEMBER 2018 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL