This is the Hi-Tech 1/48 Monogram Kingfisher kit with many extras such as all the Cutting Edge options and the Vector engine and the Squadron vac canopy. Today I would like to show you the many layers of detail involved in the aft cockpit. Most of this is Cutting Edge resin but the directional antenna and the gun sights are from the original kit. The wiring on the back of the upper instrument panel is my add-on.

First layer of detail;

Note that the guy in the back has a full set of flight controls; the stick is racked on the right side of the tub.

Second layer of detail;

Imagine picking up say two downed airmen and having to stuff them into the aft fuselage under that bracing. Now imagine one or both are injured. A tight fit but better than floating around in the ocean looking for sharks.

Two views of the third layer of detail;

And the forth and final layer of detail, the gun ring can pivot up and down and so can the gun on the ring. Since the ring cannot travel left or right this feature really does not mean much.

And a quick close-up shot of the gun ring and seat.

Next is the Vector engine and the Cutting Edge replacement cowl/firewall.

LOL, I can't believe I did that!

swingr1121 wrote:

Looks good Swanny, even if you miffed the post/ring setup.

  But otherwise, what a beautiful work! Kudos, friend!

 

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Very nice work and detail so far Matt, Its about time you did a WIP. Been a while LOL

...Guy

I'm still jealous you got all that aftermarket stuff. Lucky duck. Looks great so far though! Is this an early war kingfisher? i was just wondering about the yellow chromate....

Looks great so far! I think Raider is suggesting the cockpit interior should be aluminum too?

I was actually thinking aluminum too for a pre war OS2U, at least for the cockpit area below the consoles.

 

My build will be as seen in 1940 with an overall aluminum finish with yellow wings and a red tail. As for the interior, I cannot find anything that shows a specific color so went with the zinc chromate yellow. From what I could see of the Smithsonian bird this was the color used there. At this time it is a moot point as I have painted the interior and it is what it is.

Now I'm playing with the Cutting Edge replacement cowling and firewall plus the Vector engine set. Problem with the Vector engine is it is made perfectly to scale. Why is this a problem? Because the cowling wall thickness would have to be about the thickness of a sheet of paper to be in proper scale which obviously is not possible. Here is the basic crank and cylinder bank next to the CE cowling.

Now this is what it looks like when overlaid on the cowling, not quite going to fit.

Now my choices are to shave off cylinder heads or grind out the cowling or some of both - I choose some of both. Now most of the upper rocker arm covers are gone and the inside of the cowling is somewhat thinner

I found that wire stripped out of old telephone cable worked very well for the ignition harness and medium magnet wire was used for the push rods. You can't really see the exhaust manifolds behind the cylinders and I did not bother to install the back side of the crank case. At least it fits and looks tons better than the original kit engine. Probably going to take a break from this build for a while now as my copper clad boards arrived today and I can get back to etching and building the lighting panels for my Romulan Bird of Prey. Nothing like a warm plasma cannon to keep a guy happy.

Scotty:

"She's shakin' in every rivet, Capt'n! The lad's'l never believe it back at the yard!"

 

 

 

Thanks guys, just takes time and a really good pair of magnifying glasses. I did get the main wing spar completed but have not decided how I want to approach the overall wing, should I install the wing and then paint it or should I try and paint it then put it in place? Not sure yet so while I try to decide I went back to the engine firewall. The new cowling has wide open flaps so you can see just a little bit into the back side of the engine compartment. I added some additional detail there with some old Mandolin strings before attaching the piece to the fuselage.

The firewall fit very nicely to the top and bottom of the fuselage but was a little inset along the sides and with all the internal resin already there compressing it was not an option. I went ahead and superglued the firewall in place then filled the step with some glazing bondo. Once sanded this left a few pin-holes so Mr. Surfacer 500 was brushed over top. Still needs that final sanding.

While I'm waiting for the Mr. Surfacer to harden up I test fit the engine/cowl assembly to see how things would look.