As a child, I would spend hours with my Mother putting puzzles together. Didn't make any difference what the image was, I was just searching for that next piece that fit.
I would do three times as many pieces as my sister and Mother combined, and my sister hated that. Jealous as the world is round.
She couldn't understand, I just had this thing for imagery, even at a young age.
This cockpit kinda reminded me of those puzzles we would put together, except this time, I'm making all the pieces. 223 so far!
The control column is progressing slowly. I spent almost three hours on it today and it's still not completed.
11 pieces so far for the column. I'm not including paint as a piece, although I imagine I could?
I have this button jar, it was my Mom's and I still have it. All types of buttons and different colored threads.
I actually found the buttons in this bag that became the Mig-3's trim wheels.
I found some dark brown thread which I used for the pilot's twin grip. Photo shows one side completed. Yup! I wrapped it around, took forever. Well, almost. Couple coats of clear Krylon darkened it up and took the fuzz away.
Two wraps of Flite Metal at the bottom. One wrap of Flite Metal on the control column itself, a bamboo skewer, painted with Robert's 540 gray primer. The column will stay gray.
The front wiring harness cover is made of photo paper, folded and glued. Much of the cockpit floors, back and sides are also photo paper. One coat of Robert's 540 gray primer and a coat of zink oxide. Rivets were made from the back using a "T" pin. The top, not that noticeable, is beveled as is the actual aircraft's. Release button for the brake is a cut off straight pin painted dark red.
Two machine gun activators, leavered with square "flats" can be seen in the photo. Photo paper again. It's 5/16" tall. This will get epoxied on the top center of the column, between the two grips.
I needed a base/flange for the control column. The photo shows a cut plastic push rod end. This should be boot covered. If I can find something to use as a boot I won't use it.
Getting there!
Charles