1/12 Mercury Freedom 7 WIP

Lancair IV

Member since
June 2005
From: Novi, Mi

Posted by Lancair IV on Thursday, June 11, 2015 8:55 PM

Spent more time researching than building the past couple of nights. Built the pressure relief valve and started the pressurization system.

Rob Byrnes

Novi, Mi

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Lancair IV

Member since
June 2005
From: Novi, Mi

Posted by Lancair IV on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 8:39 PM

Thanks again.

Worked on the Top pressure bulkhead and hatch tonight. I used a bowling ball as a form to shape the sheet styrene.

Pressure Bulkhead glued in place

Hatch in place

Release handle and Safety Pin

Release Handle and Safety Pin on the Hatch.

Rob Byrnes

Novi, Mi

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KnightTemplar5150

Member since
April 2013

Posted by KnightTemplar5150 on Monday, June 8, 2015 4:24 PM

The string ties look great! Appropriately spaced, ties before and after breakouts, harnesses evenly formed - we just need the inspector to run through the pin-out list in the shop aid and it looks like it's good to go for test! Nice work - seriously nice work! Runs like that aren't all that much fun to build in 1:1 scale, so it's pretty impressive to see it reproduced here in miniature!

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Raualduke

Member since
February 2011
From: St louis

Posted by Raualduke on Sunday, June 7, 2015 8:17 PM

Oh my! Truly impressive!

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Lancair IV

Member since
June 2005
From: Novi, Mi

Posted by Lancair IV on Sunday, June 7, 2015 7:24 PM

Wiring of the main panel

Rob Byrnes

Novi, Mi

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Lancair IV

Member since
June 2005
From: Novi, Mi

Posted by Lancair IV on Sunday, June 7, 2015 11:59 AM

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing

Rob Byrnes

Novi, Mi

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GAF

Member since
June 2012
From: Anniston, AL

Posted by GAF on Sunday, June 7, 2015 10:57 AM

Very impressive. I was watching this film (set it to 720p for best viewing):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNxsnZvNv9w

At about 8:35 there is a shot of the back of the instrument panel with the astronauts. Although this is a mockup, it looks very much like your build.

Keep up the good work!

Gary

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Lancair IV

Member since
June 2005
From: Novi, Mi

Posted by Lancair IV on Sunday, June 7, 2015 9:47 AM

Thanks for the compliment. I started stringing runs yesterday. I should have enough done later today to post pictures.

Rob Byrnes

Novi, Mi

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KnightTemplar5150

Member since
April 2013

Posted by KnightTemplar5150 on Sunday, June 7, 2015 8:49 AM

I spent a few years working as both a builder and a production manager for a military aerospace subcontractor where we built electrical components, instrument panels, and wiring harnesses. I am really impressed with the data placards on the instrument housings on the back of your panel - that's looking very authentic! I wish that some of my former employees could have laid out their wire runs as neatly as you've done here, would have made life easier on my quality inspectors. Any plans to string tie the various runs together into harness forms?

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Lancair IV

Member since
June 2005
From: Novi, Mi

Posted by Lancair IV on Thursday, June 4, 2015 8:41 PM

Thanks

The instruments were printed on glossy photo paper. That's all I did.

I started wiring the backside tonight.

Rob Byrnes

Novi, Mi

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KnightTemplar5150

Member since
April 2013

Posted by KnightTemplar5150 on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 1:21 AM

It's all really coming together nicely! The instrument panels are truly impressive - what did you use to simulate the glass? It really looks sharp!

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Lancair IV

Member since
June 2005
From: Novi, Mi

Posted by Lancair IV on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 8:09 PM

Completed Front Face. It needs some touch up here and there. I'll take care of that before it gets permanently installed. Who knows how bad I'm going to mark it up when I detail the back side.

Cheers

Rob Byrnes

Novi, Mi

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Lancair IV

Member since
June 2005
From: Novi, Mi

Posted by Lancair IV on Monday, June 1, 2015 8:53 PM

Gauge Faces and Wiring are all that remain

Rob Byrnes

Novi, Mi

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Lancair IV

Member since
June 2005
From: Novi, Mi

Posted by Lancair IV on Saturday, May 30, 2015 3:08 PM

Glued the switches to the Left Panel

Glued the panel sections together

Rob Byrnes

Novi, Mi

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Jim Barton

Member since
February 2003

Posted by Jim Barton on Friday, May 29, 2015 5:41 PM

You're going to have the control panels lights work? How cool is that! Yes

I'll definitely keep an eye on this thread! I don't hang here too often simply because of the sparse traffic compared to the aircraft forum, say, but this will be fun to watch.

"Whaddya mean 'Who's flying the plane?!' Nobody's flying the plane!"

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GAF

Member since
June 2012
From: Anniston, AL

Posted by GAF on Friday, May 29, 2015 3:56 AM

Looks like a labor of love, Rob! Nice scratch-building.

Gary

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Lancair IV

Member since
June 2005
From: Novi, Mi

Posted by Lancair IV on Thursday, May 28, 2015 8:16 PM

Applied the labels to the Left Panel and Control Panel.

Control Panel and Attitude Handles

Left Panel and Warning Light trial

Rob Byrnes

Novi, Mi

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Lancair IV

Member since
June 2005
From: Novi, Mi

Posted by Lancair IV on Thursday, May 28, 2015 5:49 AM

Thanks guys.

Here's the Left Panel started

and the decals applied to the Instrument panel

Rob Byrnes

Novi, Mi

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OctaneOrange

Member since
June 2010
From: Australia

Posted by OctaneOrange on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 5:40 AM

amazing detail on this, well done so far.

My Photo Album

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KnightTemplar5150

Member since
April 2013

Posted by KnightTemplar5150 on Saturday, May 23, 2015 7:58 PM

You have a very fascinating build going on here, Lancair. I'm truly enjoying the insights these photos as offering on your techniques and I appreciate the details you are bringing to life here. This is going to be a stunning piece when it's done!