alzictorini Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 Afternoon BMs As promised to Steve Sauvé, find below build details for 1:1 scale Instrument Panel I made for an Italian museum (I was at the time working in Madrid). The Macchi C202 was one of Italy's best fighters in the early part of WWII. Here is the completed panel which I made from - MDF, Card, Paper, CD case clear plastic, wood rod and a bit of resin. For panel layout I only had a sketch in one of the books below. The only measurement I had was the diameter of the Altimeter (which I obtained from the Spanish Air Force Museum, Museo del Aire at Cuatro Vientos Air Base). I blew up the drawing of the panel until the altimeter was the correct size. I stuck the drawing on 3mm MDF and cut it out. I did some research and figured out what gauges would be on the panel. Again it was fortunate that the Spanish Air Force museum had just about every gauge on display (As Spain flew many Italian types between the wars). With measurements and how the gauges should look I drew up the gauges in Serif Drawplus 8 (free software). I used each gauge drawing to cut out the gauge in either card (small gauges) or MDF for the big ones. If you notice, the gauge is made into layers. The needles are drawn on card and then cut out. I painted each number to represent Radium glow. I sanded the sides so all the layer were the same size then wrapped paper around the outer diameter. If you coat this in superglue it sets hard as plastic and paints perfectly; The reset knob was made of MDF and wrinkle paper. Again, coat in superglue before sanding, then assemble the parts into one gauge. The panel on italian fighters was painted in wrinkle paint (anti glare). I used hi temp wrinkle spray for the effect. It goes on smooth but drys like a prune!! Smaller gauges such as the rate of roll gauge was all made out of card (picture framing card). The glass on this needed shaping so I heated some clear plastic and pressed out the shape i needed. For the data plates and info labels, for example the one below, I simply print my design onto silver sticky paper. For the artificial horizon I utilised a childs plastic ball as the shape was the correct size (this took me several months to find) The lower part of the panel came next. The weapon cocking levers were made from wood dowels. The motor cut off was made from modelling putty then sanded smooth and added to an ink stamp i had (just looked perfect). The clock was made in three parts and the centre section I installed a quartz working, it keeps really good time. It took me best part of 10 months to make this panel. Research took me 2 months and the build the rest. Hope you got some ideas from this build for your projects. I will show you another build of a Hampden Bomber panel utilising 3D printing instead of the paper/card technique mentioned above. If you have any questions or more clarification, please ask. Enjoy 23 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVTB Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 Excellent! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ventsislav Gramatski Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 Quite another level of scale modelling! Great work! I had always wondered if some aircraft parts in museums, like instrument panels, are replicas.. now I know some are! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Autle Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 You can't just go around museums ripping out the instrument panels on your favourite aircraft and passing it off for modelling. Only kidding, it's another amazing piece of work and just brilliant on every level. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted June 7, 2022 Share Posted June 7, 2022 Marvellous modelling! Nothing like scale 1:1… Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted June 8, 2022 Share Posted June 8, 2022 There's always something new in this hobby. Your models are very clever, very good. The only thing that distinguishes them from the real thing is their newness. Excellent work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_W Posted June 8, 2022 Share Posted June 8, 2022 That is incredible. If it wasn't already in a museum, I would have said it should be. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky Keg Posted June 8, 2022 Share Posted June 8, 2022 Wow!!!!! Your attention to detail is impressive. Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitfire Posted June 8, 2022 Share Posted June 8, 2022 Most impressive and it certainly will help me when I get around to building an MC202 Cheers Dennis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zigomar Posted June 8, 2022 Share Posted June 8, 2022 That's a superb work, and you show your skill and imagination, so a big thank for that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toryu Posted June 8, 2022 Share Posted June 8, 2022 Awesome work! Really impressive how you worked your way up to the full dimensions. A gem of authenticity. When are you ready to engage the full cockpit? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillF67 Posted June 8, 2022 Share Posted June 8, 2022 Wow. Just wow. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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