Mitsubishi A6M5a Rei-sen by ccoyle - Halinski/Kartonowy Arsenal - 1/33 - CARD - Allied code name "Zeke"

[ccoyle]

Milestone Reached

 

The cockpit sides are complete! The only cockpit element left to install is the gunsight, which is a ridiculously delicate 3D-printed piece and will therefore be added much later. I wrestled with whether to add some more details that are not included in the kit, e.g., the elevator trim contol cable on the left side and the mass of cables and tubing on the floor along the right side (plastic kits typically have these elements molded in). I'm leaning toward not adding these details because:

• They would require a lot of extra work.
• There are no templates for making them.
• To see them, a viewer would have to pick up the model in order to peer into the cockpit's inky depths.
•  Anyone who dares to pick up one of my models risks being on the receiving end of bodily harm.

That last one clinches the decision, I think. Here are some final interior photos -- the next step is to glue the sides to the cockpit framing. 😮