Probably biting off too much here .... ** Done **

[Dirkpitt289]

Wow, that's a pretty neat idea. It's realy original

[JohnRatzenberger]

I spent much of today futzing around with the display design and have a solid concept and a few platforms cut, but nothing to show pix of. I think I'll fake the lower deck and make an extension off that as the first platform people climb up to, but it'll be walled off with a "Gallery under construction" sign, so they climb to the next level, the flight deck.

Time to start on the interior and go back to the exterior stuff when that's done.

[BlohmWolf]

I'm enjoying this work. Keep at it.

[JohnRatzenberger]

I have been involved in other, non-modeling things and have small progress ...

[Clashcityrocker]

Don't think I could chop into one of my kits like this

Nigel

[JohnRatzenberger]

Believe me, I thought very hard about it ....

Today I got my thumb out and put a coat of interior green in/on most of it and will follow up with another tomorrow.

I also took a serious look at the actual interior parts I will use and the Eduard photoetch. From there I cut off all the necessary kit parts and cleaned them up. I need to do the front turret assembly sooner so it won't be holding up putting the fuselage together - I almost forgot that little thing

Museum staff have blanked off the wing roots, inside and out. I'll show that in the next set of photos, after the Int.Green is complete and whatever other work I have at that time.

I'm now considering a rear turret sitting on a platform and maybe an engine as separate displays nearby ....

[lancfan]

That is looking good but I think you are very brave cutting up the new Italeri kit.

David.

[JohnRatzenberger]

My bench time has been sporadic, but real progress is starting to poke its way through ....



The two fuselage halves have got their color and I have started on Eduard PE, some of which can be seen on cockpit walls, etc. The cockpit itself is working, with rudder pedals in, instrument panel started, seats working, etc. Lots of paint, probably only needing details picked out. Nose turret parts painted. And so on.

I have decided that allowing people to enter from above, then climb down to the bow compartment and out would be too dangerous, so we'll reverse the flow and have them enter the bow, look around, then climb up to the cockpit and exit out the top rear. All this may work to out advantage when we get the crew quarters and galley display ready, another year, after funding ....

[Molly-new]

Looking good John.

[lancfan]

Very interesting.


David.

[jssel]

Wonderful progress, John.

[JohnRatzenberger]

OK, we're getting there ...



Cockpit & turret parts .... The museum safety council has decided that all openings must be outlined in yellow so the visitors will be wary ... About all that is left to do here are the console levers and some parts behind the seats.





Bow compartment - more yellow including the stair threads .... The door to the crew compartment / galley will be blanked off with an "under construction" sign ...



And the two hull halves, with photoetch detail ....






Staff is having a discussion as to whether the nose turret should be run out or retracted; the latter would allow visitors to stick their heads out, maybe even run the anchor cable out and have it on the floor. The retracted turret would allow more light in also.

Getting near time to put in portholes, might be wise to put a coat of exterior paint on first ....

[PaulBradley]

Nice touch with the yellow warning stripes. Some museum aircraft also have red handrails fitted where necessary.

[Molly-new]

Looking good John, what make of paint did you use for the interior green? I have tried the suggested Revell colour but it seems too dark, your's looks the right shade to me.

[JohnRatzenberger]

Looking good John, what make of paint did you use for the interior green? I have tried the suggested Revell colour but it seems too dark, your's looks the right shade to me.

Thanks, Chip. I used White Ensign Colourcoats range - specifically ACRN28 Interior Grey-Green. It is enamel, if that is a problem.