I've also gotten past the Christmas rush and found some serious time at the bench. Having the week off between the holidays helps too.
Here's some WIP pics.
First are my scratched rudder pedals. although you can barely see them in the completed pit. Still better then little blobs of plastic.
A couple pics of the completed office. Needs washes and weathering at this stage.
Wanted a more accurate way of 'rolling down' the side windows, so I trimmed off the side edges of the pit at an engraved panel line just under the top edge of the pit.
Then filed back on the inside edge and sides of the pit opening to make clearance for the windows, followed by building a guide and shelf to support the window.
A couple pics of a test fit with the left hand window. I think I found the look I was after.
Also note the first ,but evidently not the last bit of putty to go on this model.
The landing lights look like painted on the inside clear plastic. Will drill them out and replace with something more realistic.
Here's where I'm currently at .
Going to jazz up the wells some , as well as detail the radiators.
I like what I've seen from HK and Wingman ( great work ,guys) , I've gotten some great ideas from your work. Does anybody make a hexagonal screen mesh in this scale?
I have an idea borrowed from reproducing door handles and such with model cars . It involves aluminum foil , super glue and a mold master.
I have the Trumpeter 1/48 C-47 in my stash. I plan on using the PE oil cooler screens , burnish a bit of foil on the PE , Then remove the foil , fill in the back of the pattern with CA , trim to fit my application on the Lightning . Voilà, hex radiator, oil cooler fronts(hopefully).
BTW Doogs- hang in there . I checked out your model site and I like your piece on destination / journey kits. I must add a thought , sometimes the challenge of a destination kit can be quite skill building and enjoyable in the end. We just don't realize it while we're trying to fill countless gaps, gluing many tiny bits of stretched sprue switches, etc.
Howard