Construction

The dreaded start.  

Test fitting the fuselage. So far no major issues.  

The question is: Will the fit be just as good when all the guts are in? 

Fiddely bits… 

I have decided to remove the doors as these were often removed on the real planes too.  

A doorway is born.  

First problem encountered: She’s big… really big. So where she’s gonna live once she leaves the workbench I’m not sure.  

Here’s a Gee Bee for comparison.  

The kit oxygen bottles have been removed in preparation for the better Eduard 3d printed oxygen bottles.  

Sanded down and almost ready. All that’s needed now is the insulation fabric.  

Test fitting all the time.  

These bronze legs from Eduard was a massive improvement over the original legs. And they can handle more weight too.  

Wooden floor in place in the cockpit. For some reason this floor section was not included in the Eduard wooden floors kit.  

Finally some colors! The oxygen bottles sure add a splash of colors to the otherwise drab cockpit.  

Next up will be adding wires and tubing.  

The central control quadrant is more or less finished now.
On another note: The worn effect on the floor was accomplished with the hairspray technique.  

Small splashes of color here and there sure does help.  

Had new control yokes designed and 3d printed by my friend Stian Sørby. I felt this was necessary as the kit yokes were way of.

This control yoke can now be found as a 3d file over at Cults3d. Just search for B17 and you’ll find it after a short scroll. Go give him some love, and make sure to to tell him Stein sent you.  

The improvement is insane.

This control yoke can now be found as a 3d file over at Cults3d. Just search for B17 and you’ll find it after a short scroll. Go give him some love, and make sure to to tell him Stein sent you.  

All that I need to add to the new yokes are the protective skin covering at the bottom of the stick.

This control yoke can now be found as a 3d file over at Cults3d. Just search for B17 and you’ll find it after a short scroll. Go give him some love, and make sure to to tell him Stein sent you.  

Seats and control yokes installed.  

The 3d printed yokes really makes the cockpit shine.

This control yoke can now be found as a 3d file over at Cults3d. Just search for B17 and you’ll find it after a short scroll. Go give him some love, and make sure to to tell him Stein sent you.  

It’s gonna be a tight squeeze.  

Started adding electrical wiring to the tub. Next up will be the oxygen feed tubes.  

It’s beginning to get a bit cramped.  

There will likely be a few errors here and there, but probably nothing I can’t live with.  

Cocktail sticks are underrated when it comes to painting small details.  

Added a few details to the seat backs. These are mostly correct. The rest will go under "artistic license".  

Everything is better with paint.  

I sure wasn’t kidding when I said it would get cramped. Can’t imagine how it must have been in the real planes.  

Hopefully I’m on the last leg of this cockpit adventure now.  

Just some minor touch ups left, like levers and wires.  

The oxygen system is more or less done.  

On the floor I’ve added the wire channel and a mystery box for the top turret. Just a few wires, and this will also be done.