I’ve always been fascinated by the Black Widow, it’s a very interesting plane. I’m a Radio Control modeler, but I usually buy a few plastic models of the subject I’m modeling in Radio Control to compare and use for scale detail references. I have a closet full of plastic models that are not built, but occasionally I’ll build one if it really interests me. Now back to the subject at hand, the Revell 1/48 scale Widow. I think I’ll build this one, it looks to be a very nice kit. When I was researching the cockpit so that I could build a 1/9 scale pit for my 89" Widow I noticed something. Every model RC and plastic that I’ve seen has an inaccurate cockpit. Sure enough, looking at what photo’s are available, it is very difficult to see some of the finer details of the cockpit layout. Like most pictures of cockpit interiors, the photo’s are all of the same general things. Mainly instrument panels and some side panel shots. Almost none of the floor! I noticed that all of the cockpits that I saw had the step in the floor in the middle of the nose wheel well, after doing the research I found that this is not correct, they are all wrong. The Revell is missing a few little details that could really help the looks, like the gunners armor plate. The pictures below are of my cockpit built stock and installed in a customer’s plane, my own cockpit will be much more detailed. If you are all interested I will post pictures of it when I’m done.
This is a picture of the Revell pilot and gunners cockpit area. Notice that the step is in the center of the wheel well opening, this is incorrect.
This is a picture of my prototype cockpit in 1/9 scale. Notice the step location and the armor plate for the gunner. In this picture the ladder is in the stowed position. The armor plate was split in the middle and could be folded back and out of the way.
Ladder down for crew entry.
If any are building this kit I would like to know your thoughts, not much info here on the Widow, hope this inspires someone!
Mate…your 1/9th P-61 'pit is just lovely…very nice…very nice indeed.
My hat’s off to you R/C guys…I’ve seen some incredible scale flying models…with the most fantastic, beautiful detail.
And then they go and throw them into the air, with the possibility that their stunning model may just end up a big smoking hole in the ground…
Man - like I said, my hat’s off to you guys. I don’t have the guts to do that.
I don’t care if your P-61 flies…please do us a favor and post pics of the 1/9th build as you get along with it - if the rest is as good as the 'pit, then it more than deserves to be included in FineScale Modeler.
Thanks Jaypack55, yes I designed and built the molds to vacuum form the cockpit parts. It is completely vacuum formed to save weight, resin parts are to heavy.
Thank you, I appreciate the compliments! I feel kind of unsure as to where I belong also. I’m such a perfectionist and I love to build much more than fly, but I still fly my models now and then. I don’t really fit in the RC forums, most guys that fly RC are not into the detail the way I am and couldn’t care less if the Widow had a cockpit or not! Much less if the step in the floor is correct. I just thought that some people here would be interested in going to that level of detail. I am very interested in the techniques plastic modelers use to paint and weather their planes, in fact I learned a great deal about painting cockpits from plastic modelers, my cockpit would not look like it does if it were not for the tutorials by plastic modelers. In fact I’m painting my 1/9 scale P-61 with Model Masters paints! I will be following closely the techniques used by a plastic modeler who did an outstanding version of the Revell Widow.
If anyone has any info, references for the Widow or pictures of their plane please share! I’m doing the Green and Grey Moonhappy version. I am particularly interested in weathering techniques for the green version.
These are just some pictures of the model as it is now, just need to finish some details before I cover it with glass cloth and resin, then it’ll be a plastic model!
I also designed and built the crew. I actually bought a sewing machine and made the uniforms myself. I figured that if I could follow a plan and build a plane, patterns for clothes would be no problem! lol No, I’m not going to make anyone a shirt!
Here is the almost finished pilot, his uniform needs to be weathered and he has on a temporary head, I’m casting the final heads in resin.
I will post more pictures when I get to the painting, that will be info others can use on this site.
Perfectionist does not fully capture your talents! The level of detail and authenticity are unbelievable! I will be watching closely for progress pics as you go, and I, for one, would love to see pics of any other large scale builds that you have done! Simply outstanding work!
Nice model of the widow in both scales! I’ve just started the build on revell’s model. Was not aware of the inaccurate molded floor, Just another thing to correct. There are photo-etched am parts that you can get to help with the detail I’m waiting to get mine from squadron. I found some good sites on the internet for reference including one where they are rebuilding a P-61, Alot of good interior images. I’m at work right now so I can post them on here when I get home if you like.
Thanks for the compliments guys, I’ll post some pictures as I go!
Great! Post those pictures! Like to see how the detail kit looks, the floor will be an easy fix. The left panel in the kit looks pretty good, but the right panel is mostly made up boxes and stuff. The right panel is a hard panel to find pictures of.
Thanks Jeebus, I’m sculpting 3 heads for the crew, we’ll see how they turn out!
I’ve always thought the pit on Revell’s P-61 looked out of proportion. It has always seemed to me that the position of the pilot’s seat in relation to the rudder pedals would require the pilot have about a 70 inch inseam to reach them.
