Originally posted by davegee
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That written, I have included bits that I only know are there in each of my other four Flightline and Freewing models. I know it's there, and as was pointed out to me, you all know it's there with a picture or two. I just add what I've seen in real life, a drawing, or picture that stand out to me. I know I miss a lot of detail that others would add.
I am adding a full-bodied pilot, though it will take some modification to get the feet to the rudder pedals and the hands to the stick and throttle, but I knew the job was dangerous when I took it. The pilot I am using is Max Grueter's WWII Navy Pilot which can be found on cd-trader. I used his US Modern Jet Pilot design in my Freewing F-18C. His designs are easy to scale and can be modified in post-print without a lot of work.
As I wrote earlier, I know my cockpits are not accurate to the 1:1, but I really like working around what is already there. In the case of scale foamies, it's finding an appropriate scale or scales, removing as little structure, building as little structure, and placement issues. Alpha has said many times that their aircraft are designed to fly and that liberties are taken to achieve that goal and keep costs to the consumer as low as possible. So I just figure I am returning what was compromised to flight characteristics/production costs hoping the design team doesn't think I am a complete idiot.
I like adding back some of what he and the design folks have left to us modelers; which isn't a lot in comparison to your scratch-building projects. I still have a Pica Spitfire in mid-construction from back in the day. All in all, the scale foamies Warbirds and EDF Jets have brought me back to this hobby, so I'm one happy camper. The addition of being able to design and 3D print detail parts so easily just blows me away when I think about the hours I spent trying to build the cockpit I wanted versus the cockpit I built back in the '80's.
Thank you again for the continued inspiration, and I say that to anyone who might believe my builds take too long considering what came in the box. I know Tamms thinks I have 'totally lost it' when I show her the results of two weekends of design, 3D prints and paint work and it looks virtually the same.
Best to you and yours, Steve
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