Hi Gang,
Its time! That end of the weekend update!!! ENJOY!
Izzy sent me these 3D prints of the 1/4 scale Nav Chair head piece and a few other pieces...
Back side no primer yet
1st layer of primer
VERY COOL! Thanks, Iz!
A good buddy of mine, Philip, who has helped on the project in the past and taken some excellent photos of the console, quad, etc, is helping me light the nav computer!
We went back and forth with where to put the LED strips but Philip thought adding a bit more reflective tape and placing the LEDs around the outer edges would work best. We put a white sheet of paper behind the panel to see how the LED strip would work around the edge... NICE! THANKS, P!
He also asked me to designed a new Nav Computer shelf with a housing to help with the LEDs. More later!
The window is getting some MUCH needed interior detail!
Primer
I can't wait to add all the beam greeblies and hoses!
Lots to fill!
Added more filler
I wound up taking apart the door housing (having forgot about lighting) so I could lay reflective tape to help the LED light reflect... :facepalm
Took some effort to put back together
This should help back light those panels
Time to skin the canopy! I bought a bunch of cheap "For Sale" signs at the local Wally World for $1.88 ea and started to cut
Fairly simple approach... Cut the basic shape, apply some E6000 to the frame and press into place. When the adhesive dries I carefully cut away the excess using a sharp blade or hot knife
You can clearly see where the hot knife edge slipped out of position... UGH
YUCK!
I also started the last of the beams! These vertical beams are going to be fun! Not really...
So far so good!
The interior and the exterior views of the cockpit, as I explained, do NOT match up so there is a LOT of playing around to do trying to get all these edges to match and actually work together... I had to cut these extra shelf pieces to help align the front and back arches
OK... Back to the canopy!
I wanted to do this in separate sections to make sure I had total coverage of the MDF
Filler strips
As you can see the interior arch was cut just a bit too short so build up was necessary
Using the "Tape" method
Cut the tape around the shape, remove and place onto styrene
Leave enough excess
Adhere into place
Looking at the interior side
Trim to fit! Then gently sand the edges smooth
Covering the beams
DONE! Now that the canopy is covered in styrene it was time to cover all those individual piece into 3 larger pieces of styrene
I marked the centers of the upper beams from end to end
I laid one edge of a sign along the pencil mark and adhered styrene to styrene covering 1/3 of the canopy
I then cut the center piece
Laid the final piece in place creating a smoother 2nd layer of styrene
Cut to fit! NICE!
Perfect!
On window cut, 4 more to go
It worked!
Now there are only 2 seam lines to fill
I might lay 2 more layers of styrene - depends on how thick I make the skin for the main body
MMMMM primer
Filler
Had to clamp into place as the styrene wants to pull the canopy apart
Working the interior side
LOTS of adhesive was needed for this sheet of styrene... probably the color print on the front side
As the adhesive dries I cut the interior center piece to fit
The interior shape was simple... I simply laid the styrene against the outside edge of the canopy and traced. The interior and exterior are only 1/8" difference so there was minimal difference between the two curves
Again, I marked the centers of the beams as a guide
Side pieces
Removed much of the excess beam material
Dry fit
There was nothing behind those side pieces to act as a support for the styrene so I laser cut these pieces
I then covered the beams and added primer!
The interior will NOT receive another layer of styrene as most of the interior panel (full scale version) is covered with the diamond pattern blanket. I have to find something comparable in scale
Those side edges DEF need some attention - not sure if I'll cover with styrene or simply add filler? if I add the windows I DEF have to use styrene
These interior pieces are frustrating!
For fun I laid styrene across the exterior body to get an idea how it will all look
Nice clean edges! When does that ever happen?
I laid 4 sheets of styrene across the body. Might have to order some thicker material
I guess I'll get to these vertical beams next time!
And this is where we are!
I hope you guys/gals are enjoying this project. Its been a wonderful change of pace / focus and has been very therapeutic. I know it's not the full scale cockpit, as the thread title describes, but images are coming so stay tuned!
Also, I'll be in Irvine, TX for the Fan Days Con this Oct 19-21!!!! So for those in the TX area, be sure to get your tickets and I hope to see you there!