Just getting back into aircraft after quite the break. One that I had had in my collection was the Monogram P-61 and when I began searching for reference I knew that after market parts would be imperative and a must add to bring the basic model up to a higher standard of detail. To this good out of the box build I began to purchase Victor resin engine and cowl set(s), Eduard PE & Brassin pieces. On a tangent, if anyone is building a one of these night birds then you must check out the www.maam.com web page for the pictures that are being taken as the group builds one to flying condition. Back to our build. Looking over what the Monogram PE items contained it became obvious that the design in certain areas was incorrect. Mainly the main gear wells. With thanks to GWH for introducing a version and Eduard creating PE to go along I could rectify most of the shortcomings.
Some of the parts and pieces assembled for this build; Two of the below set of the below were needed as I built a row of cylinders backwards. Since then I have decided to only use one for the right boom.
For the left boom I changed direction and went with this little gem which is a kit unto itself.
The detail on this engine kit is spectacular. Standard PE wire harness but the individual resin pieces are works of art.
Exhaust manifolds and engine casings.
Cowl ring and cowl vent flaps.
The individual cylinders I will remove the molded on push rod tube and replace with brass. Since this engine will be completely exposed I think the extra effort will be worth it int he end.
Last of the major parts so far are the Eduard GWH wheel set. Again detail is amazing. Sorry for the blur.
To start with I began by removing the existing molded in wing vents. Then once these were removed and cleaned up the PE vents were built and inserted. I cut the lower wing, removing the section between the inboard and outboard wing panels.
The curved piece is from a wine bottle foil pressed flat, sectioned then curved to form the back side of the intake body.
These two are the left outer wing. The cut edge closest is where the boom will attach. Below is the inboard lower wing section. Glued and a bit rough of finish but that is a simple bit of filing.
After cleaning up the PE and making sure the foil was in good shape and painted zinc chromate yellow I closed up the wing pieces with CA.
Some filler was needed along the leading edge and in the flap area on each side of the boom.
Additional shaping, sanding and filing the leading edge and air intakes come into better shape. Forgive the perspective on this pictutre.
While the ducting side wall disappears in the shadows it does help with detail at the main intake. So being perfect isn’t all that necessary at the tail end by the boom.
I cut the vertical and horizontal tail planes off and with a bit of work with strip styrene and some brass wire these can articulate through their needed swings left and right.
