The 1st of March came round (NZ time) and so I started on my Phantom SIG build.
I have thought about the canopy issue.
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I can buy a replacement canopy. This will cost extra money which I don't want to spend. I could buy another F-4 kit and steal the canopy, but it would have to be extremely cheap and the canopy would have to be a complete piece, i.e. contain the affected area and include the framing. The next one is to paint the side windows in. A browse on the web shows a few people have done this and it doesn't look too bad. But it isn't the best option I don't think, a bit of a cop out but a good last resort. Another option is to drill into the frame and file the shape of the missing window and glaze it with that crystal clear stuff as Dave suggested, but I don't have any at the moment. I am experimenting with PVA. I'm also experimenting with various types of clear plastic which are being glued to some spare plastic parts. Once dry, I will mask off the window shape and blend the various types of plastic into the frame to see which one works best and suits the rest of the glazing. If that works, I think this is the way I will go. In the meantime, progress has been made.
The crew:
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The cockpit has been attached and the fuselage halves are together:
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The
Airfix kit has a moving tailplane mechanism, a nice little touch:
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To say the cockpit is bare is an understatement. I gave the RIO a panel (actually a WWII cockpit instrument panel from an old model), and I sealed the back with some plastic and painted it. At least now one cannot see right through the fuselage!
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The wings were built and attached, and this is where I am at as of the end of day one:
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I sense much filler in my near future.
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