With the osprey on hold for a couple of weeks, on Fri i got stared on my first build of the year. Been wanting to do this for a while. This is the oldr boxing, released in 1998.
Before i actually make a start on construction, i need to make a few changes and improve some detail with some scratch building. There are no AM sets for this, so the spares box is my new friend.
First, the bomb bay. This is moulded to hold the 2 large and 3 smaller bombs that come with the kit.
But i need it to hold a single 4,000KG Uranium bomb. I found a couple of sway braces in the spares box.
And after removing the moulded in braces, i added the missing detail with some stryene strip and the new braces.
Then onto the cockpit. The seats clearly needed some work.
So i removed the belts and filled the hole. I also sanded down the seat backs, i don't like that quilted look. I will fill the rest later with some perfect plastic Putty which i need to order.
Also added some PE foot peddles and acuator rods with some styrene rod.
Another area that needd attention was crew access, i need an open hatch for the dio The most sutable area was a panel between the front wheel well and bomb bay. Afraid i got carried away and cut it out without taking a pic, but the hatch goes here.
I would usually replace the hatch with sheet stryene. But the one i cut out has a gentle curve and some nice engraved detail that will pass for the locking mechanisim.
After thinning, i added some detail on the inside.
That hatch is right under the rear gunners seat, the seat fit onto these rails.
After xconsidering several soloutions, i setteled on putting the seat on rails so it can be slide towards the back and off to one side. This leave its clear of the floor/hatch and also allows personal to access the erar of the aircraft.
And on the underside of the hatch a ladder to ease access.
And finally the landing gear. The front gear is supposed to be fitted when the pit goes in. But taking an idea from a build on another site, i rigged the front leg so it can be fitted later. I still need to fill the gaps on each side at the front. I also removed the solid triangular plastic at eitehr side of the legs and replaced them with some plastic rod.
And the same with the main legs.
And that it for now. Just got a couple of small things to do and then its off for some primer and paint.
Thanks for looking, and of course, all comments welcome.