Hi again

The HGW WW1 Instrument Bezels have arrived:



They look excellent - 3 complete sets of 68 x bezels in silver, black and brass - 204 in total. The provision of different colours all in one set is really inspired.

All the best

Rowan

Looks like you're all set to keep pressing forward! Hope to see more progress soon!

Doug

Let me echo Rowan's sentiments. Nice detail and a good many applications.

Any more progress Rowan? Looking forward to seeing more!!

Doug

Hi Doug et al

I'm afraid this is more of an apology than an update - I just haven't had a chance to do any modelling for the last month, so there is no progress to report.

But... Postie has just delivered some RTV rubber and resin, so if I get the new instrument panel done over the Christmas break, I'll be able to run off some copies and crack on again.

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

I finally managed to get back to the workbench this afternoon and cobbled together a new instrument panel and compass from HGW bezels and bits and pieces robbed from old etched frets:



I'll make a mould tomorrow and run off a few resin copies if it looks decent.

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

Well, it's more years than I like to admit since I last made an RTV mould - but it seems to have worked OK:



The acid test will be to see what a casting looks like...

All the best

Rowan

Good to see you back on this Rowan!! Your instrument panel looks great, and much better than the kit part

Doug

Cheers Doug

Well, I've got some clean castings, anyway:





At least it's something to work on, and hopefully will look decent enough with instrument decals in the bezels.

All the best

Rowan

Looking good Rowan. Those castings look great. It would be good to get a 'How To' guide to making resin parts using RTV moulds. I can think of many applications for it.

Nice to see you back at it Rowan, and like Warren I'd much appreciate a how to for making a mould.

That panel is certainly nice.

Hi there

Sadly, I didn't think to take any pics of actually making the mould, but I will do next time with a view towards doing a how-to article.

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

Well, I think it's just about worked - it'll do the job for now, anyway.

Lacking a reference photo, I've pondered over the colour of the full-size panel and, in the end, gone along the lines of shots of a Bristol Bulldog and plumped for black:



With some Airscale decals for the instrument faces and placards, the result isn't bad at all - certainly closer than the panel in the replica that was the basis of the kit item:



Anyway, the plan is to finally move on from the cockpit this week...

All the best

Rowan

Will you be laying down a clear plate between the instrument faces and the back of the panel?

Hi Stephen

I'll fill the bezels with a drop of Protec Hydrocoatings clear gloss. I don't know it's still produced (I got mine probably 10 years ago at 4D Modelshop in London). It comes (or came) in a tiny little bottle and is quite thick and milky, but dries crystal clear with a high gloss finish and is ideal for jobs like this.

All the best

Rowan