JeroenPeters

Started cleaning up the first parts. Very time consuming and delicate work. The firewall already has 16 parts attached to it. This will take some time!

First part is cleaned. Beware: if you’re planning on using the nose fuel tank set AND the engine set. Be sure to use the firewall from the nose fuel set and not the one provided in the engine set. The latter only has detail on the front.

So i spent an afternoon searching the net for Leonard H Bartlett’s plane but couldn’t make sense of it. Serial number P7111, but i saw this plane was either 137th squadron’s SF-E or belonged to 263 squadron. Asked Gunnar and both are correct. Just found this profile in a book i have explaining it. So. This will be the plane I’m making. Bartlett’s plane, along with his signed photograph.

Got more goodies. almost ready to start!

Thnx Gunnar, in the meantime i’ve moved on to the wingtip lights. Drilled a hole on the inside and filled it woth Alclad transparent red. Added a shim to make sure the light is not flush with the leading edge. This is because it was flush with the closed slat. Since i have my slats extruded, the light should protrude.

Getting there. The instrument panel is now in. The rear of the hispano guns appear to be too long at the back, making them stick against the instrument panel. Might have to shorten these, but they won’t be visible anyway. Also the firewall behind the guns appears to be a little too wide. We’ll see

This nose section is intricate, delicate, tight fitting and precise. Just came from the cinema and sushi with one wine too many. Not a good idea to proceed.

Needed a distraction so i started on guns.

Done. The spine seam is as smooth as a baby’s bottom. Time to reapply some rivets and deepen a few panellines.

Just got this: WW2 RAF HAWKER TEMPEST A5 SELF ADHESIVE BOOKPLATE BOOKPLATE HAS BEEN SIGNED 9 HAWKER TEMPEST PILOTS RON POTTINGER 3 SQD KEN REEVE 247 SQD KEN KNEEN 41-26 SQDS DEREK TAPSON 197 SQD JOHN BYRNE 197 SQD JOHN THORBURN 80 SQD JACK HODGES 174 SQD DAVID INCE 193-257 SQDS FRANK WHEELER 174 SQD

At the moment still collecting books, reference and some more upgrades. Thnx!

This will do.

First sketch of the antenna wire fairing

Question for Gunnar. The teardrop inlet for the radio wore that goes to the TR9D radio on the model is wrong so i deleted it. First of all it should be offset to the port side so it would fit between two stringers. And the shape is off. Looking at pics it has a flat rear and seems to have a flange. A lower inset. If that makes sense. Do you have a proper drawing or photo?

Building the whirlwind next to the tempest required more room. Cees Broere said: get a second desk. So i made a corner desk. If i had the room i’d get a third desk.

Pit as good as done. One thing missing from the Quinta set is the oxy regulator on the right sidewall. I took that of the Kitsworld set.

After some matt varnish. Perfect for some additional washes and scratches. Getting close to closing the fuselage.

Busy with the HGW harnesses. This usually takes me three evenings. Almost done. Just need to drape and glue the straps into position. And then seal it all in with matt varnish, followed by a wash. The drawing shows an early Sutton harness and how it was attached. No Whirlwind but probably quite similar.

Working on the Seat going by reference material. You can see how the early sutton harness is attached to the seat. I love using the AK weathering pencils to get a worn look. The leather will get some more lighter areas along the edges.

Slowly getting there. Next up: HGW seatbelts

Everywhere and nowhere. Just scored some Whirlwind crash parts. Need to verify their authenticity if possible. Got those from Ebay.

Just got this amazing book. A real must have!

This is my favorite part. Adding life to the pit. Still a long way to go.

Slowly bringing life to the cockpit.

Started adding the Quinta decals and some washes. Lot’s more work to be done!