RN Phantom - Seat Problem

[Ghostbase]

This is the Hasegawa P17 1/48 British Phantom FG Mk.1 which I have put together as operated by 767 Sqn Fleet Air Arm. I have made a bit of a hash of the cockpit, I tried Eduard Zoom Photo Etch but didn't really get on with that. Now the cockpit seems to be too high in the aircraft and too far back and I think I messed up the initial build. As a result the pilot's seat rattles around in a large space but just fits under the canopy, the navigator's seat though sits far too high and tips forward. Every couple of months I think about finishing this beauty then it seems too difficult and she goes back on the shelf of shame (a large shelf). These photos show the problem:

So what is best to do? All I can think of is to cut the rear seat in two and take a chunk out of it though it will then look like a child's seat in a family car! She will be displayed with the canopies closed because the forward undercarriage oleo will be extended as if on the catapult.

TIA Michael

[Rhino]

If the canopies are to be closed, try cutting out the cockpit floor and attaching the seat lower down. Not an attractive way to do it, but it's an idea.

Ted

[Parabat]

It looks like the rear seat is also sitting canted forward, as if the rear bulkhead is pushing it forward. Might you be able to remove some material off the base of the seat?

Failing that, some Pavla seats might do the trick, as they are, IMHO, always a little undersize, so might fit better than these under the canopy.

[Ex-FAAWAFU]

It looks like the whole thing has shunted backwards, so the Observer's seat has canted forward as it's run out of room.

Will it (i.e. the whole cockpit assembly) move forwards? You say the Pilot's seat is rattling around - was that a figure of speech about all that extra legroom he's got, or do you really mean it is loose? If it could move forward, you might be able to cure it?

[Plumber]

Looks like the whole cockpit is way too far back, and high. The nose leg should be in-line with the rear of the nose intakes and the top of the rear seat should be level with ( or slightly below) the rear cockpit fairing. Major job to fix that methinks. Shame coz other than that it does look rather good!!

[Spooky56]

Have to echo Scootsah1, cockpit tub is in the wrong place and therefore major surgery to fix. As a (very) rough guide the rear of the pilots seat should be in line with the seam line around halfway along the intake splitter plate. As the cockpit tub is glued onto the nose gear bay is it possible you've got the the bay the wrong way round?

The nose gear should retract rearwards and having the bay the wrong way round would account for the nose leg being much too far back and you will end up with a tail dragger.

Realistically I don't think you'll easily be able to get how you intended.. My suggestions would be, in no particular order, move the nose leg to the forward end of the gear bay to get the height right and then undertake some drastic surgery to the seats ( after moving the front seat forward to the correct location you may be ok for height and only need to shave a bit of the base of it). The rear cockpit is stepped higher, at least that's how it appears on the instructions so same process but more drastic surgery will be needed, and don't forget the crew will need a bit of work doing as well. Another option would be to bin the seats glue the canopy shut and cover with some sort of tarpaulin as though battened down on a flight deck, will need the shorter leg for that and some fod guards, and finally (from me at least) consider displaying it mounted on a base board with wheels up and the canopy sprayed over like one of those wooden desk models? Sorry for the long reply - hope it all works out as it would be a shame to completely bin it as your finishing looks good

[Ghostbase]

Just got home from work and have read all your comments and now I know where I have gone wrong, as Spooky56 suggests I have put the nose gear bay in the wrong way round!! In doing this I have shunted the cockpit tub backwards and upwards and now it all makes sense (I also feel quite embarrassed, what a stupid mistake!).

Unfortunately the fuselage halves and the cockpit tub are firmly cemented together and to try to move these would cause more damage than it is worth, I am very pleased with the finishing so far and don't want to compromise that if I can help it. I should have mentioned that the two seats are loose - they were just placed in the cockpit tub to demonstrate the problem - and I can work on them quite easily.

Moving forward I can move the nose gear round, I do have the shorter leg from the same kit to hand as well so that is another option.

I have started yet another old ESCI kit in the U.S. Navy group build so maybe I will replace that kit's seats with these ones (yes, they will fit and they do make the basic ESCI product look a lot better) and I can consider Pavla seats for this F-4 or maybe the tarpaulin idea which would hide a multitude of sins, it could be fun to try a base board flight deck as that would be new for me

Thanks again for the comments, now I know where I have gone wrong and I have ideas how to move forward.

Michael

[Mozzy19]

The tarpaulin idea should work. I messed up the front canopy of an Italeri Gripen, had a quick look on airliners.net and out came the tinfoil and fishing line to make a cover.

Looks to be a nice build apart from the cockpit problem.

Sean