I’m currently working on a resin FW 1000x1000x1000 by Unicraft. My best friend sent it to me so I could build it for him. This, by far, has GOT to be one of the worst kits I’ve ever worked on! It’s salvageable though. The resin is rough and irregular on the outter surfaces. The inner surfaces are like they were formed with a ball peen hammer. The resin is pretty much covered with a slimy film of release agent which Dawn dishwashing detergent could not remove. Looks like I need to invest in some Bleech-White. I’ve heard that stuff is supposed to clean it pretty well.
Anyway, there is absolutely no cockpit whatsoever. I was wondering if anyone had a spare 1/72 scale single seat German cockpit floating around in their spares box. I tried looking in mine but no luck.
If anyone is feeling extra generous, I could also use a set of tricycle landing gear for it, too. The struts and the tires in this kit look like they were formed with a chisel…and a dull one at that.
So close! LOL! I appreciate it though. I tried to get my friend to: a) just let me tint the canopy so that you really can’t see inside. Nope. No deal. And b) to let me pose it with the gear up. I told him I could build a nice “in flight” display base with acrylic rod. Again…nope. No deal. Grrrr! So now I need to scrounge some parts. I hope someone can come through! [:D]
That’s true, Hans. I could. There is some heavy framework on the canopy so that could hide the fact that I’m not sure how I’d replicate the details of all the buttons and knobs on either side of the pilot. Plus I’d have to find or scratchbuild a seat. Ugh! I’d much rather not because I’m not that talented at scratchbuilding nor am I blessed with the time to do all that.
The beauty of these kinds of projects, Eric, is that you can pretty much do whatever you want and get away with it. If you are bent on historical “accuracy”, pony up the $ 15 and go get a Hasegawa 262 donor kit. Heck, you could even tint THAT canopy, build it wheels up and have a “chase” plane.
Or, just gizmo the thing up with plastic, solder and wire and since it’s dark gray anyhoo, you’re cool. Especially if you give it an ejection seat.
Curse you, Bondo! Now you just gave me a most excellent idea! That is a sweet idea to have the 262 serving as a chase plane with both planes in flight! I really like that idea…and it ain’t even my plane!!!
Why, oh why, did you have to go and do that to me?!?!!?
If yor friend is being so insistent on these points, tell him to order the replacement parts for you and you’ll be glad to build it the way he wants. If you’re doing the guy a favor, he shouldshow a little appreciation and be flexible with his demands.
probably easier to make one from plastic card than make an existing one fit. have you tried citrus degreaser (bike chain cleaner) to clean the gunge off? should work and wont harm the resin. good luck-post pictures of it when its done.
I just “salami-slice” stretched sprue or plastic rod (about .020) for knobs and dials and drill some #80 holes for breaker switches, then insert stretched sprue switches and trim them to length. Then insert some stretched sprue levers into holes drilled into a half-round or quarter-round piece of sprue, use my ever-present cee-gar to mushroom the heads of the stretched sprue levers and -poof- instant throttle quadrant…
For panels, it’s a simple (though tedious) matter of cutting two panel-shaped pieces of sheet and drilling various-size holes in one for the gauges. Paint the other black, then use a needle to scratch the dials into it, then put the front over it.
As for seats, they’re relatively easy as well…
This seat was quick job I did for my Monogram TBF turret-gunner’s seat…
I took a piece of sheet plastic and cut it to the approximate length of the seat and back, then used a lighter to heat-form it into a seat for the gunner.
Holding the part in one hand, I moved the lighter close to the edge of the part, an’ it magically turned 90 degrees and I quickly grabbed it with my thumb and finger to form the dimple in the pan for the parachute pack. I cut the back into shape with a scissors, then sanded it round, adding a small piece of sheet plastic for a mount.
Hans, those are some great tips! I love the step by step info like that and I really appreciate it. Sometimes when I get some wonderful bits of advice in this forum, I print them out and keep it in the kit box so I can try it out. I’m going to do that with your info. Thanks!
Fermis, I did get you your PM and THANK YOU! I’m sorry I haven’t written back yet. This weekend was suuuper busy! My youngest girl turned 3 over the weekend and we had 20 people over for whom I cooked breakfast. My wife cooked up 27 eggs, I shredded and cooked up 11 potatoes for hash browns, my dad and step-mom cooked up all the waffles, sausage and pancakes. That, plus all the fruit, bread and bagels, I think we had enough food to feed everyone here in the forum! LOL! I’ll send you a PM back in just a little bit.
Thanks again for everyone’s input!!! Everyone in this forum has always been so great and helpful.
