Thank you Al and Wayne for the kind words.  I really got the "building bug" and I'm getting out to the shop several hours a day almost every day.  I tack glued the rear top block and got it rough sanded.  I use a lot of masking tape while sanding to protect surrounding areas.  I'll remove it and hollow it then once back in place do a final sanding.

The fin/rudder is complete.  I used incredibly hard 1/4 inch balsa that I thought I would never use, and sanded in an airfoil.  I don't plan on gluing it on until everything is covered with silk span.  On previous builds, I've dinged up the rudder quite a bit while flipping the plane over many times while doping, putting on silk span and sanding.  Might save a headache?

I installed the motor for these pics and found that I needed to sand a bit more on the inside of the top block to allow clearance for the motor.

I made the headrest by attaching a rounded piece of 3/8 inch balsa to a threaded Dremel bit and used it as a mini lathe against a sanding bar with 180 grit paper.  The seat back was sanded from a piece of 1/4 inch balsa.

After some dope, primer and sanding, each piece will be painted flat black and glued in after painting the cockpit area flat black.  I use Testor's flat enamel for plastic models.  It works pretty good for this purpose.

Don:

I ran across these looking for paints I could mix for cockpit, etc.  They are water based acrylic, cheap and come in a zillion colors.

https://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-Hobbies/Craft-Paint-Stencils/Acrylic-Craft-Paints/Crafter-s-Collection-Acrylic-Craft-Paint/p/533

A plane is not a plane without a cockpit !  What is cool about these colors is that they are very thick, intended for mixing.  I will be going over this color on mine with a cockpit gray then rubbing it some to give the worn look with the zinc chromate base.

I really like what you are doing, keep it up!

ken

Don,

Appreciate your taking the time to post a very comprehensive thread.  The photos and
captions were excellent.  The workmanship and engineering were pretty darn nice as well.

Good job.

Cheers.

Warren Wagner
Bradenton, FL

Great thread.

Love the finish scheme.

I got my shipment of dope from Aircraft Spruce and 4 rolls of medium silk span from Easy Built Models.  While I was waiting for materials I cleaned my shop, which included painting the walls and base boards, which were covered with overspray from previous builds.  I also painted the pilot!  Now back to work on Vertigo II!

Applied silk span to some parts by wetting with a spray bottle, lay it on the part and brush on dope.  Then rub with finger to get good adhesion.