I have loved this plane since I first saw it on the cover of popular science in 1973! I still have the copy. Anyway I've finally gotten a chance to model up one since i have access to a 3D printer, I work for one of the larger printer companies in R&D. This has been a labor of love and frustration, makes me appreciate pre-made parts! Any way here we go...
This is the first step right out of the printer.
Here is a picture of half the fuselage and different size helmets, trying to decide the right size for this scale
got the fuse together and the interior framed up
got the landing gear cutouts
and some IP and seat parts along with the plugs to pull the canopy
wing tip lights
pulling the windscreen
finished front windscreen ready for install
got the hinge lines scribed in and the cockpit taped ready for painting to start
got her painted the base white color
taped for color #2
done with color #2
Here comes the red!
And now for the decals
Added seats
one of the only 2 purchased items in the build, the seat belts
the almost finished cockpit
cockpit with decals a handmade PE foot pedals
scratch built nose gear, the tire is from a 1/72 cessna 172 model, the main
gear is similar the tires are from a slot car.
the PE thrust reverser
and helmet
And the finished plane!
Been lots of fun doing this but like I said
doing models this way really makes me appreciate injected
molded parts.
John
On the Bench: 1/72 Ki-67, 1/48 T-38
1/144 AC-130, 1/72 AV-8A Harrier