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Info – 1/12 B737 cabin update Part 1 – GSE 1/200 and 1/72 a reality

Hi everyone,

It has been again some time since my last update, things have been very busy here as it is not easy sometimes to take care of our elderly. I’ve been somewhat burnt and gloomy, however work distracts me thankfully and I’ve been working hard on the upcoming restock which I predict for the second or third week of March, so no updates usually mean no time to post due work.

I am trying to increase the numbers per item, from the usual ten units to at least twenty. A week will be dedicated to finish the base parts, and two will be required for those parts resin-casted and for the photo etched.

Along the way I am also doing some modifications in the making process in order to cope with the production rate maintaining the same quality, so for example, the twobar pushbacks have now their bodies resin casted, which is similar as the AST-1 F method for its body, same body/quality just different production process.

Work on the belt loader TUG 660 “v2” has progressed forward and I expect to make a test and a finished version soon.

I plan to have the TLD ABS 1740 stairs truck handrails resin printed as opposed to resin casted, this makes the process a bit quicker but also allows me to add some more extra handrails in the set. Also, I will probably be changing the 1,5mm metal rod by a plastic one (which I may provide silvered) as the time to cut/sand each metal bar was extending a lot, the brass tubes will still be included.

Basically all units for the AST-1 F600, stairs truck and the Commander FMC15i are nearly done. Production of other items is also on the way.

So as I mentioned earlier, I plan to have a general restocking each month, so if I restock on March 18th, I will be producing again for the third week of April and so on.

As production is taking me some time, progress on the current projects is a bit slow (but steady) so this weekend I was able to dedicate it to the 1/12 B737 cabin project:

Sidewalls will come next together with the forward electronics panel (FMC). Note that the work done so far still requires detail such as screw heads (and all the panels for each section).

Regarding the 1/200 scale GSE, it is a reality as I was able to test it finally. The 1/200 scale will consist in finished GSE items though, so these will be more limited (and perhaps customizable), but for test purposes here is the first F110 next to the 1/144 version and near the USB drive for size comparison:

To my surprise, the model was able to retain all the details, including the figure, the rear engine grid, fire extinguisher and even the holes of the chocks and panel lines.

The 1/72 is also moving forward:

Apologies for the overexposed photo, details are on the engine cover despite they can’t be seen here.

Although the F59 in 1/72 is progressing well, it sure has much more work to do than the 1/200 models.

The cabin shown here needs a lot of modifications and improvements, it is merely a “mockup” to see the overall fitting. The cabin will most surely be resin casted as so is the body and engine cover. A lot of work still required on this one which I will now move on to weekends.

There is so much going on with all the projects that at times I do feel quite overwhelmed as I do not want to disappoint anybody, however I have set myself schedules and times to do things so that I can actually finish something before going to the next.

That is all for now, I will most surely be publishing more news next weekend as I progress with stuff.

Take good care everybody.
Best wishes,
Guillem

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B737 cockpit progress – end side of the sidewalls

Hello all,

I wanted to give a small update on the 1/12 B737 cockpit project. This time I have made the main structure of the end side of the sidewalls, which basically is about half of the sidewall. If I am not mistaken that compartment is the stowage for the captain and first officer luggage.

Everything done so far is just basic shape. I still have to add other details and parts, but since this has to be casted later, I have to plan ahead which parts must be glued together and which should be casted separately.

Looking at the photo with the panel at the front, you can see that the two sidewalls create a kind of curvature towards the panel. That will be the next step to do, I will create that round edge going on top of the sidewalls to meet where the glareshield/autopilot will go. Part of this edge is the window rail so it will be very interesting to see what is the space I leave behind as I am considering making the nose shell, that definitely would be a BIG challenge.

I have to say that I am using lots of references from several different sources, however, there is a source which is the main line in this project. My friend Philippe is helping me a lot during this project as with his help I am able to see things coming directly from the real thing.
There are lots of great simmers who made incredibly simulation cockpits and sometimes I do use their measurements for some specific things (mainly angles), but, I always confirm this from images of the real cabin.

I want to move forward this week with the 747 cargo project so I am already planning how to start the rear cargo holds.

Finally, the decal provider has shipped me back the 8 micron decal papers and I hope to print the upcoming new liveries for next month, kudos to him for solving the issue I explained in my previous post.

Wish you all a nice week!

Guillem

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B737 cockpit progress – starting to adjust MIP-Sidewalls

Hello all,

Just a quick update this weekend.

I haven’t had enough time for more, but I am finally starting to adjust something that was bothering me very much. I started to adujst the union between the side walls and the main instrument panel.
I have added a plastic extension so that the panel joins together with the side walls, there is another thing I must do in order to adjust it a little bit more.

Circled in white there is an area that is slightly lower in comparison to the other side, so I am also adjusting that.

The next step that I will do is to make the windows support that goes on each side so that I can have a reference point at the moment of making the glareshield.
This work will flow downwards and will end in the extension of the side walls that is yet to be made.

I am going to be working on this during this week and I hope to upload more images soon.

Thinking ahead, once the main shape of the sidewalls and the windows/railing are made, I would like to focus in one particular panel (the radio/com panel) with the idea of finishing it, with the buttons and all the other elements. Reason for this being that after this long time working mainly on structures, I want to do something different and see which level of detail I can put in it, to me it will be a guideance, an example, of how all the other areas should look like.

Wish you all a nice week,
Guillem

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Advancing little by little with current projects

Hello all,

This weekend I did a very tiny step on the current projects but it was a very good step for me to know where I am with these and what is coming next, alternatively I also have two good news.

On regards the B737NG cockpit:

I’ve finally got a piece of a composite fiber panel which is 10mm thick and that I cut down to 30x30cm, later I draw a grid of 5x5mm so that I could place all the elements of the 1/12 B737NG cockpit and start to see where everything has to go.
I am going to be using this grid for reference and symmetry since one of the steps I want to do later is to start with the glareshield and that will lead me to complete the front section structure.

Now, to hide all the rear side of the panels, I’ve considered two options; make just a flat wall or make the actual B737NG shell, so a portion of the cockpit would actually be a portion of the fuselage.
One of the things that I must keep in mind is to prevent the cockpit to have lots of shadows and therefore become dark, so I am studying every possibility and the same applies with the overhead panel. Perhaps the best choice would be to do half the shell such as a “cutaway” model and thus allowing the cockpit to have plenty of natural light.

While positioning the different elements, I realized that some work has to be done on the FMC pedestal panel and the throttle quadrant structure for them to fit better. I will actually set the center of the elements on the FMC pedestal since from it, every other panel follows.

Before I move onto the glareshield, I will finetune these unions as well as those for the MIP/sidewalls.

 

As for the B747-8F/-400F deck set:

I have been able to add  two new ribs which are fundamental to hold the deck as well as be a part of the AFT cargo holds. Now that the two rear ribs are made, I will proceed to make the last section of the deck.

I am also starting to study how the rear end wall will fit in the tail section. I am trying to avoid to end the deck with just a circular part with the shape of the fuselage, what I intend to do is create a conic effect as the wall gets smaller inside the tail cone.
This rear wall will be fitted in the fuselage section and will then fit inside of the tail cone once this is attached to the fuselage. The deck set won’t include the tail cone, so that will be cut off from the fuselage kit and placed onto the casted fuselage.

One of the things I am concerned about is that if I add a “false” cone to create that effect, the model may go “nose up”, so I am also considering using ballast towards the front section of the fuselage.

 

I am advancing very slowly with everything, perhaps I should restructure my schedule but I don’t want to leave a project for too long time or else I will forget where I left it. This coming weekend I would like to at least have the LEAP-1A engine with the panel lines engraved and complete the rear section of the cargo deck. As for the B737NG cockpit, I will require a longer “session” to do the steps mentioned at the beginning, but now that I know what do I have to do next, I feel more confident and wishing to start adjusting those panels very soon.

On regards the two good news; one is that this past weekend I have been experimenting with a filler for the polyurethane resin and I am very happy about how it performed, this will therefore save a lot of costs to produce the B737NG cockpit since I want to make the different panels and pedestals solid, saving costs with this material will also represent in a cheaper price for the product. I liked the initial test very much, so I am really looking forward to make use of this on the cockpit.

I am also considering using the filler for the 747-8F/-400F cargo fuselage, but for that I still need to do another test.

The second good news is that I am doing some tests in order to achieve the white of the decals to be more opaque on bigger dark areas. It does not mean that the whites aren’t opaque now, but that I may be able to add the white with less decal elements. This will only work on bigger decals such as tail logos or the overwing emergency exit marks.
It is something that I am still experimenting with but that the upcoming liveries will be designed having this in mind.

Wish you all have a very nice week!

Best wishes,
Guillem

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B737NG 1/12 scale cockpit – joining the MIP/FMC pedestal/sidewalls

Hello everybody,

Before the storm and rain that weather reports seems to indicate, I would like to give a small but still a step on the progress of the 1/12 B737NG cockpit project.

I am currently working on how the joint of three basic elements will work. There is the main instrument panel that will be attached to the FMC pedestal, and on both sides the two sidewalls.

This process is a little complicated because I cannot glue these three sections due casting purposes. I have placed the MIP at 75 degrees on respect the horizontal, unlike the 15 degrees that most references indicate, taking the angle from the vertical. I found it easier to find the angle on flat (horizontal) than vertical.

I have worked on the lower section of the MIP in order to find the best attachment possible to the FMC pedestal, thus at the moment the MIP has a small structure on the back with the angle that is currently holding it on position, the lower section of the MIP also aids for placement.

Joining the sidewalls will be more complex, I have to prepare well the unions specially with the latest creation of the lower section of the MIP.

Reaching this point I think it will be very important to have a floor, marking where everything goes and temporaly fitting the structures there will help to work on the joining of these structures.
So far there is no detail yet on these structures, I still have to put the different screws on the FMC pedestal etc, so I am basically working on the main shape of the cockpit.

Project will be on pause as next week I will be working on the B747 cargo set, so I am hoping to follow the schedule and work each different week with each project.

During this past week I have been very busy finishing the molds of several GSE items and I have been testing them out, therefore I will be able to restock some of these items by the end of the next week.
I also want to give a little update on the decals. Having solved the problems with the printer, now another one came that the company is currently solving as I am waiting for a replacement toner at the moment. Once I am able to finally test the decals thoroughly, I will be doing the modifications needed in every single artwork created so far, so it will be a little bit tedious and time consuming but I am looking forward to it.

Hopefully everybody is alright and getting ready for the cold of the winter those that had a terrible hot summer.
Keep you all safe please.

Best wishes,
Guillem

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B737NG PFD and ND done

Hello everybody,

I have been able to make the PFD and ND for the B737NG cockpit project this last weekend. Note that there is still a lot to do on that main instrument panel, add all the buttons, screws etc.

These screens will have a decal on them, and I would like to supply different type of decals for different flight stages (IRS alligment, before takeoff, cruise etc). I would also like to include a thin acetate sheet with the screen outline drawn to aid on cutting which later will be placed on top of the decal to create the crystal effect.

I think that before advancing into more details, I should start to make the basic shape of the autopilot panel and glareshield so that I can prepare the base of the cockpit where all the panels and structures will go.

Best wishes,

Guillem