I decided not to make a separate “piano hinge”; there are two reasons for this:
1) The hinge will not be used that often so the litho plate will be strong enough.
2) The sections of the hinge are fairly long, about ½ inch.
The first job is to make the top cover allowing enough extra material to form the hinge and the front section, mark the sections then cut the front free. The cover is backed with 1/64th ply and the appropriate sections bent down, these will eventually be cut off but for now they will ensure there is sufficient clearance when the other sections are bent around the wire hinge pin.
Here is a photo showing the top cover completed with hinge wire in place; the front section is yet to be started.
The front section is bent around the hinge wire and then the completed top cover glued to the axle fairing.
With the cover closed
And open
With the axle fairing fixed in place the bracing wires can be fitted and a coat of etch primer applied to the litho plate ready for a coat of PC10.
The undercarriage is now finished as far as it can be; the axle is awaiting the arrival of the Williams Brothers 5" Vintage Wheels and the tops of the legs need to be made an exact fit when the fuselage is made.