Hey guys,
Some of you may remember this project that I started a while ago... (last year... 
). I got a little burnt out on it and set it aside, but have pulled it down and have been puttering away at it for the last couple of days, so I thought I'd offer an update:
I want to be able to open both the driver's hatch and the engine compartment, to show off the scratchwork I did in each. The challenge is that the two hatches interfere with one another. That left me with the option of leaving them both open permanently (the Tamiya kit has a 'functioning' engine hatch, but the drivers hatch is not) or making the driver's hatch 'functional'. I chose that route.
The process is simple, really. Start with the hatch and appropriate diameter styrene rod:
Remove the kit 'hinge':
Cut new 'hinges' from heavy foil:
Super glue to the hatch:
Now, take a deep breath and pull out the dremel tool - grind off the attachment points on the hull:
Apply styrene rod:
Wrap foil hinges around rod:
Glue them back onto themselves (I'm leaving them loose to remove for painting), and you are IN BUSINESS:
Well, I hope to have some more in progress pics of this puppy soon - my goal is to wrap it up in the next couple of weeks.
You know the deal - comments of any sort are welcome. 