![]() Paint each of the completed sections, and then add them to the inside of your cockpit area. You can add knobs, switches and levers made of pinheads and strips of wire or thin aluminum. Use the templates to develop the separate side panels, and work on each panel individually until it is complete. You may have to trim some existing bulkheads to allow the templates to fit. Tape them together to form the final layout and to see how everything will fit. Cut out pieces of heavy paper or plastic to form templates for the sides, rear bulkhead and cockpit floor. Some kits are available, but you can also make the parts out of bits and pieces from the workshop. With enough room available, you can build an entire “stage” to support the instrument panel. Top Flite T-34 Mentor cockpit interior kit ![]() SE5a panels from Arizona Model Aircrafters’ kit. Separate scale instrument dial faces are also available from companies such as. You can trim them to size and make them fit a variety of different models. Some manufacturers offer custom-made panels for specific airplanes, but others make generic ones. The easiest way to outfit a cockpit is to use commercially available panels and just stick them into place. Ready made instrument panels are available from many sources and they add greatly to the realism of any scale, or sport scale model, kit built or ARF. Cut the panel to shape, and glue it into place with some spray adhesive! Print out the panel in the size you need on glossy, photo-quality paper. Take a photo of a commercial panel, or go on the Web and download an image of one. And for something for him to look at, add a simple photograph of an instrument panel. There are dozens available so pick one that’s appropriate for your aircraft. Stain and varnish the wood then add some small screws to complete the look.įor an enclosed cockpit, bringing life to the model is as easy as installing a scale pilot bust. Cut the main back panel out of lite-ply or aircraft plywood, add a front faceplate with the instrument holes cut in it, add some photos of the instruments, and sandwich the entire assembly together with a thin sheet of acetate over the instruments to represent the glass plates. Here are five great ways to add the magical details that will bring any model to life.Ī homemade wooden panel for a 1/4-scale Pietenpol Air Camper.įor vintage, open-cockpit airplanes, make your panel out of thin plywood layers. This way, you can add side panels, a pilot seat, a control stick and rudder pedals. But if you have sufficient space, you can extend it to a half- or full-depth cockpit. Sometimes, all you’ll have room for is an instrument panel and a pilot bust. You get the idea.ĭecide how much detail you want to add. Some instruments have their bezels inset and flush with the panel, while others have the entire instrument face and the mounting flanges installed on the outside of the panel. Piper Cubs with wooden props would not have manifold-pressure gauges, and an F-86 Sabre Jet wouldn’t have a magneto switch. To do a really good job of outfitting the front office, do a little research first to find out which types of instruments are appropriate for your model. ![]() Top Flite T-34 Mentor with full cockpit detail. ![]() ![]() (You did install a scale pilot figure, didn’t you?) There’s something special about a model with added cockpit details, and everyone always takes a peek inside. With so many great-looking scale model ARFs to choose from today, one of the neatest ways you can make your particular Pitts Special or P-51 Mustang stand apart from the rest is to install a great-looking instrument panel for your pilot figure to look at. ![]()
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