Mig-3 Warbird, Cockpit Build Thread!

[Avaiojet]

I looked around and couldn't find a Thread on Warbird cockpit detailing.

Or the making of one from scratch.

Is there a Thread?

Anyone ever take this to a good or reasonable length?

I plan on having a full cockpit for the Mig-3.

Or, I should say, whatever I can squeeze in there that looks somewhat scale.

Charles

[Trostle]

Dave Rees, who really needs no introduction on this website, designed some great stunt ships over the years, flew well, and then went on to FF scale where is became a recognized expert.  When he was still in CL, he wrote several outstanding articles on various topics, included a 7 page article in the Feb 75 issue of Flying Modles with the title "Lightweight Cockpit Interiors for Stunters"  Lots of pictures.  Lots of clever ideas.  Shows immaculate work as were all of Dave's models.

Keith

[Trostle]

Over the years, there have been dozens of scale columns (RC and CL) in the magazines on giving details and examples of doing cockpit details.  In addition, there are other articles on doing this as well.  Some of the better ones, in addition to the Rees article in FM mentioned above, here are some of the other ones on cockpits in general.  Omitted here are specific articles just on instrument panel, pilots and canopies. 

"The Cockpit" by Richard Uravitch, Sep 74, American Aircraft Modeler.

"Cockpit Detail" by Charles Newman, Mar 86, Aeromodeller.

An article on detailing a Hurricane cockpit by Mike Morley, showing lots of ideas and methods from Radio Control Scale Aircraft, Aug/Sep 95.

[Avaiojet]

Keith,

As usual you've come to the rescue with great information and solid leads. Thanks for that.

Unfortunately I have no access to any of those publications.

I do have experience making cockpits from scratch, but never this small. I should have mentioned this. I apologize.

I believe this Mig-3 may be 1/10 or 1/11 in scale. A guess.

What I was hoping for was someone with Warbird instrument art. I could just resize the art for the Mig-3.

Took me a while, but I found the "art" panel file to the Aviojet, which I started years and years ago. Did this panel for that model, actually in Photoshop ten years ago. From scratch! Yes, I can't believe it either. Took me countless hours to put it together. Well, there are shortcuts.

So, what I will do is, scale only the instruments I need, those that will look OK in a Warbird panel, for the Mig-3. Because they are small, they will be fine placed behind a thin panel. I have the outline to the Mig-3 panel.

The rest, I'll wing it! Probably do a photo build.

Here's my start, the panel to the Aviojet.

Thanks again for the fast and kind reply. You know I appreciate it.

Charles

[FLOYD CARTER]

Don't overlook the cockpit kits sold by Top Flite.  I used their Spitfire cockpit kit in my own Spit.  Although their R/C kit is larger than my C/L stunter, I cut it down to fit, and it still looks real, if not completely accurate.

Unless you are building for AMA Scale, or FAI Scale, a "sort of"" cockpit detail is all you need.

Floyd

[Avaiojet]

Don't overlook the cockpit kits sold by Top Flite.  I used their Spitfire cockpit kit in my own Spit.  Although their R/C kit is larger than my C/L stunter, I cut it down to fit, and it still looks real, if not completely accurate.

Unless you are building for AMA Scale, or FAI Scale, a "sort of"" cockpit detail is all you need.

Floyd

Floyd,

Thanks for this info, got me thinking. I did use parts of a Pica interior kit for a Waco I built 500 years ago. Well OK, 100 years ago. And I have made a few from scratch, but always large models where there's space.

I took a look, and I see at Tower the Warbird kits are 10 bucks or more without shipping. Also, they are a bit large. Even if I cut them down, the sides would eat up some of the space.

So, I think I'm just going to wing it. I have some vacuum formed stuff somewhere from the old Guillow's rubber powered kits. That's light stuff and there may be something I could use, plus I have great photos and diagrams for the Mig-3 cockpit, which I can follow as a building guide.

As you said, doesn't have to be 100% scale. Just a nice look.

I'll do a cockpit Build Thread. 

Thanks for the reply!

Charles

[Avaiojet]

Here's a beginning of what I have, as far as art or picture resources, to prep for my building task.

The line art was brought into Photoshop and enhanced to make black lines that are more visible. Increased DPI's also, for printing.

Next is to measure my cockpit and size this line art to fit. That would be the panel, side, and rear drawings. What's on the floor won't make a difference.

Charles

[Avaiojet]

The Mig-3 "Cockpit and Detailing Build" will continue at CFC Graphic's Vendor's Corner.

Same Thread that has the Mig-3 Build.

Here's the link.

http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?board=79.0

Thanks for your interest and participation, see you at the Mig-3 Build!!

Charles