1/24 Trumpeter Rufe cockpit done

pix looks great. can't wait to see more. Jason

WOW, what a lot of detail. And what a great job of painting it all. Were the rudder pedal straps included in the kit or did you add those?

Pix, you do awsome work.

looks great pix.

joe

That looks like you could just climb in, buckle up, and go! Nice job, Pixilater!

Amazing.....William...beautiful cockpit...

If you keep this up, youre going to have an award winning Rufe!

Regards, Dan

Thank you Jason, Rick, Tim, fightinjoe, paulnchamp, & Dan !

This has got to be thie first cockpit that I've built that can't be improved with resin or photo etch. Trumpeter did a great job with plastic !

Rick - you're right, I forgot about the pedal straps. I made those from lead foil. I also added the "chain" to the trim wheel (its actually solder, with painted black stripes to resemble a chain).

paulnchamp - I'd buckle up & go too, as long as there aren't anf F4Fs around !

Dan - I just build for pleasure. I really don't care anything about contests. But I appreciate the thought, that you feel that its done well enough to be considered.

Thanks again all ! I'm really enjoying this build !

pix great!!
the only thing missing is the smell!!
regards,
nick

Very realistic, Pix!
Can't wait to see the finished Rufe!

Impressive stuff! Is there any realily behing the myth of the purple-painted Rufe..? Do you know?

Looks very nice. It's so busy, straight out of the box. Can't wait to see what it looks like sitting in the fuselage.

Pix, that is some awesome cockpit detail. I can't wait to see the entire plane finished.

Great work!

Jerry

Awesom. You must have had unusually good detail documentation. What did you use?
tombal4

Thanks nick, Brian, dj, zokissima, Jerry, & tombal !

dj - I've heard talk of the "purple Rufe," but I suspect that it was an optical illusion. I haven't seen any purple colors listed at the j-aircraft site (a MUST see for anyone building WW II Japanese aircraft). I'm skeptical.

tombal - I found pics on the web for the color info. I saved the pics, so I'll have to go looking for the site again.

The main airframe components will be assembled this week. The fit is great, so I don't forsee any trouble with the seams. I had built a 1/48 Hasegawa Rufe, in which I forgot to place a weight. I don't like to make the same mistake twice. I assembled the main float, and put in two rolls of pennies ! (hope I don't need that dollar some day)

At a retail price of $119.95, it seems expensive. I've invested that much in a 1/48 kit with resin, PE, & aftermarket decals. The only drawback is the amout of space it occupies. Where's Bob Villa when you need him to redesign "This Old House?"

Thanks again ! More pics in a few days.

Wooooah... now that's what I call cockpit detail!!

Beautiful work Pix, as always!!

Take care,
Frank

man, that looks totally excellent pix. makes me want to strap it on and take it up. i just gotta build a 1/24 or 1/32 on of these days. later.

Great job on the cockpit. Liked the pics.

Nice job. That model really illustrates the Japanese planes' biggest weakness. No armor. I wouldn't want to be flying in that plane with any hostile planes around....

Thanks Frank, saltydog, Saber, & mummkitty !

After years of squinting while painting the details of a 1/48 kit, its MUCH easier in this scale. These new large-scale kits are not the ones I remember as a kid in the 60s !

Thanks again !

beautifull cockpit pix.
are you gonna sit in the bathub with it?

Wow!

That is stunning. That is going to be one good looking Rufe!

Karl

Pix, great job and amazing detail.

I'm getting red x's and dead links. Were the pics moved?

Thanks obiwan, Karl, & Keyworth !

cassibill - there have been problems with RonUSMC's gallery lately. You may have looked here when the gallery was "acting up." Ther pics are here, though.

All systems do now. Sweet job. You half expect the pilot to climb in.

Thanks, cassibill !

The cockpit has been installed, along with the guns & sights. I used clear plastic for the glass, a photo etched ring sight, and copper wire bead.





This is such a nice kit. I got a little burned out, dealing with the ejector pin marks, but I think the detail is worth it. Hope you like this kit as much as I do !

that really looks good pix. thanks for sharing.

joe

Thanks, fightinjoe !

I dryfitted the wings, tailplane, engine/cowl & floats to the Rufe, and took a pic of the 1/24 Rufe next to a 1/48 Hasegawa Zeke. What a difference in size !


The 1/48 kit seems so small after getting used to the larger scale. It sure will be difficult going back to 1/48 !