I am building 1/48 Spitfire FR47 the Aires cockpit instructions say to reduce area of sidewalls.
My question: Do I remove the whole section or reduce it to paper thinness?
Would like to get the sidewalls at least somewhere near scale thickness.
Thanks
Andy
As with any resin CP, one only needs to thin enough to get a good fit of the parts. Dry fit sand, dry fit sand, dry fit sand till she goes in.
Jerry
I just recently used an Aries wheel bay for my Tamiya Fw190. It is a great addition, however it is a time consuming and possibly patience consuming task. Start removing things that obviously need to go. After that its a matter of test fitting, removing more material and test fitting again.
What can be frustrating is determining where the interference is. In the case of my wheel bay, I hit a wall where no matter what was removed it didn’t fit. Until I found the spot that was creating the trouble and everything was fine.
Just take your time and let the fit of the parts be your guide. I wish you the best!
OK Andy, here’s the problem;
I have that kit in the Grand Phoenix line and it comes with the Aries cockpit. Two guys I know tried to build it. The cockpit doesn’t fit the fuselage. After thinning the resin side walls and the plastic from the kit to paper thin, it was still too wide. I am not aware of anyone who has been able to make it work yet. I have read similar online reviews also.
However, after listening to those failed attempts, I have come up with a series of instructions on my own. The Aries instructions tell you to build the whole cockpit, sidewalls and all, then install it. Don’t! [:(!] I think the problem lies in the floor and instrument panel. Instead, assemble the IP, and bulkheads as normal to the floor and see if you can get that to fit into the fuselage. Don’t do any thinning to the kit’s sidewalls, or add the resin ones. If the problem is in the IP and the resin floor, you should see it now. Then it’s a matter of getting those parts to fit.
I have used resin cockpits before where the sidewalls provided cause a major problem, so I have left them off. Instead I remove the detailed components and add them to the kit sidewalls as “scab on” pieces. It makes for a much easier fitting of some resin cockpits while adding to the detailed look of it. Hope this helps you some.
Drew
It has been my experience that almost all resin replacement parts need major work to make them fit properly. I think it is definetly a good idea that DrewH has about finding your own way. I almost never follow the instuctions on any model kit. I look at them as more of a guide than the only way to do it. They would have you install small fragile pieces early on in the build alot of times which every one knows will only be broken of when sanding and painting. You do have to be carefull though because there are some parts that are impossible to install after a sub assemble is put together. Ask me how I know! If you are giong to work with resin I like to put a sanding drum on my dremel. It cuts down on the sanding time alot. Of coure I am shure you already know all of the safety procedures. They have been covered here many times so I will not go over that agian.
Soulcrusher
Thanks for the tips guys I will definately slow down on this a bit a look at the different options, I am building the Grand Pheonix kit so any review links you may have would be useful.
Again thanks