cockpit building

[Guest]

I've done my first cockpit. Painted every part before I put them together. Putting it together was a little tricky as i could not use mek-pak because it was painted - I went for superglue (a little messy).

My second model that is waiting for me has a cockpit made up of eight parts. I'm thinking of gluing it all together and then painting it. But I am guessing I may have difficulties to paint it nicely once it is all together.

In which order do you usually build cockpits? And what glues do you use?

(this is not a big cockpit, F4U-1D Corsair 1/72 by Tamiya)

[Guest]

I've done my first cockpit. Painted every part before I put them together. Putting it together was a little tricky as i could not use mek-pak because it was painted - I went for superglue (a little messy).My second model that is waiting for me has a cockpit made up of eight parts. I'm thinking of gluing it all together and then painting it. But I am guessing I may have difficulties to paint it nicely once it is all together.

In which order do you usually build cockpits? And what glues do you use?

(this is not a big cockpit, F4U-1D Corsair 1/72 by Tamiya)

I built the Italeri cockpit for the F4U-5N and I just coated the tub (with stick installed), seat and panel seperately. Painted the dials and features on the panel, seat cushions etc, scraped the paint from the contact points, then sparingly glued them in place. Sometimes it helps to dry fit the cockpit into either one or both the fuselage halves to make sure the instrument panel stays in the right place when drying.

With a little care and attention, it should be pretty straightforward. I have worked with some pigs of cockpits though (Esci Mirage III)!!! lol

Hope this helps.

Stuart

[Guest]

Thanks Stuart.

OK. I guess the general idea, depending on the cockpit, is to put together as much as you can and paint it. Then paint the other parts that would obstruct you from painting the cockpit and finally glue them to the already painted cockpit (or maybe glue them to the already painted cockpit and then paint them?)

[Guest]

Thanks Stuart.OK. I guess the general idea, depending on the cockpit, is to put together as much as you can and paint it. Then paint the other parts that would obstruct you from painting the cockpit and finally glue them to the already painted cockpit (or maybe glue them to the already painted cockpit and then paint them?)

I would favour painting the instrument panel, seat and perhaps any radio/other equipment before installation. The detail painting on these will be more difficult once installed, because your view/access may be obstructed.

Stuart