dukdalf Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 Hi, Having used this forum far too long as only a source for references and good ideas (thank you, all !) and as a warming-up for the upcoming French Fancy GB, I'd like to share my latest effort with you: Which I hope will turn out looking something like this (in flight, yes): The Eastern Express kit is a reboxing of the Toko-edition. It gets mixed reviews but so far I'm pleasantly surprised by its quality. The proper fit is of course hidden beneath plenty of soft plastic, but it is certainly there and the detail is more than acceptable. I've chopped the headrest to make way for a sheet of armoured glass: The main problem would seem to be those rectangular blobs on the nose which somehow have to be transformed into gun troughs: Thanks for looking, more pics tomorrow. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sovietstar Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 Great work so far! Loving it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukdalf Posted January 13, 2015 Author Share Posted January 13, 2015 Thank you, Soviet. The first interior colour is on, I've sanded down the insides of all wing sections considerably to give a slightly more convincing edge, did some scraping and sawing at the starboard control surfaces (that trim tab on the port wing will go) and closed up the first wheel bay. EE would have you fit inner gear doors, but I can't find any evidence of those being present on the P-63. They would require major surgery to the wheelbay edges to fit. (I'm sorry about this photo-misery,but Photobucket keeps playing up in saving changes and my camera skills need a major shot in the arm): 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick231 Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 Looking pretty good mate welcome to the forum! I knew about the Aerocobra but had no idea it evolved into the Kingcobra! Looks really nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sovietstar Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 Lots of progress made so far! Loving the russian brand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukdalf Posted January 14, 2015 Author Share Posted January 14, 2015 Thanks guys. The story of the Bell Cobra's is a peculiar one: neither aircraft found much appreciation at home, the Soviets loved both apparently. I gather the French were rather desparate for any kind of fighter aircraft in those days, I haven't found any contemporary pilot reviews yet but it was fased out pretty quickly after seeing heavy combat use in Indochina. I'll finish this aircraft in Normandie-Niemen colours, as part of a personal 'group build'. Anyway, back to work: Tidied up the three fuel tanks and blanked off the rear end on the ventral one. It doesn't sit flush with the underside of the wing to allow what I suppose are cooling vents to be opened, and a dry fit warned me from sticking it on as-is. Under the tanks is the part that will make up the wingroot intakes: portside has been cut to look more like those on a P-63. I've left the 'cleavage' in the top frame open because of this: I'd rather fill that seam than sand down the canopy sides... On the radio deck I'll add some more detail and the armoured glass before gluing it in. A dryfit of the intake fairing on top and the glassworks promises more fun to come: Thanks for looking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynamo11 Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 One of many "so ugly it's pretty" planes I think. Following this one with interest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Nice progress! That interior looks great.I've been building the Toko 1 1/2 Strutter and I've been pleasantly surprised how good their quality is. I've got a soft spot for the Bell cobras too. Regards, Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukdalf Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Thank you, guys. I'll be sure to pass on your kind words to my Cobra under construction as frankly, I think she's just plain ugly... Just kidding of course, but as Adrian I'm very surprised at the quality of this kit. Slightly unorthodox in its engineering at points, but clearly someone gave it some serious thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiton Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 I like this plane and this kit. This kit have got very interesting surface. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukdalf Posted January 24, 2015 Author Share Posted January 24, 2015 Slow progress, at my usual snail's pace. Dryfitting the first door and not quite there yet: Pondering those lumps which need to be turned into troughs: I've read a build report on this amazing forum (frankly, I feel a bit out of my depth when I look at the work shown in some topics) where the strategy was "drill an enormous hole, fit a pipe which has an internal diameter equalling that of the trough and start sanding". Too difficult for me I'm afraid, so I've come up with an alternative plan which involves no more than drilling straight (yes, that would be essential) into those squares, sand the lump down and fit a syringe needle or something, and forget about the pipe. Knowing Eastern Express, they will probably have provided enough plastic: I've been wrestling poor Pierre into his seat and after a lot of surgery he looks like this: Here, the stick is at its original length. Not a position his instructor would have approved of I think and I'll try to prevent the obvious indecent suggestions by shortening it somewhat and then he'll be ready for his harness of bottle-lead, which he should be familiar with. The fit of the intake fairing behind the cockpit is as good as it gets, before filling and sanding that is. The tilt of the radiodeck seems to be the way EE would have you fit it. The rear canopy part will hide it so I've left it as is. I might add a wire or two before closing, but next week the wing and the glass should be fitted so I can start preparing for paint. That is unless you have any suggestions for improvement, of course. All are welcome. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonehammer Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 The solution you describe would've been my first, I did something like that on a KP Il-10. If you don't feel up for it you could delete the lumps altogether, reproduce the inner profile of the intake on the fuselage by carving/filing, then add a scratch built replacement for the intakes. Thin plastic sheet, aluminium can cuttings and paper soaked in superglue are all suitable materials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Venables Posted April 1, 2016 Share Posted April 1, 2016 Just revisiting this thread, as I was following it when it was active. Did the P-63 get finished? Did it get put away for a while? I was keen to see the finished product in French markings - it was providing me with enthusiasm to get mine under way. ...the stick is at its original length. Not a position his instructor would have approved of I think and I'll try to prevent the obvious indecent suggestions by shortening it somewhat.... Looks like the same length stick that Hollywood uses in its WW2 aircraft, eg. the "Pearl Harbour" P-40s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukdalf Posted April 30, 2016 Author Share Posted April 30, 2016 Sorry for the late response, James. This P-63 has indeed spent the last twelve months or so or the shelf of doom for reasons outside the realm of modeling. Having put those troubles behind me, it will get finished as a Normandie-Niemen aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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