[Flyerpete]

Wow...That looks awesome Don....Peter

[Keyrigger]

Thanks Peter. Hope to catch up with the group of you in St. Catharines sometime soon. Take care.

Don

[Keyrigger]

I took a few pictures of the main paint that has been done. I need to let these colours harden quite a bit before I can clear coat them. I will do the weathering on the clear coat, not the paint, to avoid unwanted streaking of the paint. I hope to get the mechanics installed by next weekend so I can have it at the KW Scale Fly-in. Take care.

Don

[Keyrigger]

The landing light now has a lens on it, made from a bit of the leftover plastic from the windshield pulled sheet. I also painted the instrument panel and added some printed instruments so it does not look so blank in there. The body has been clear coated with semi-gloss and the canopy is in the background of the panel shots. I will be picking up some narrower striping on Friday and hope to debut it on Saturday at the KW Flying Dutchmen's Scale Fly-in. Man, the schedule is completely full until the beginning of October when I get a two week break, sigh. Take care.

Don

[Keyrigger]

For the past couple of days, I have been installing windows and I am nearly finished. From the outset, this was supposed to be a Sport Scale helicopter with just enough detail on it to elevate it from the original stock body. What drugs was I on when I said that???? Today, I had the rear side windows and the lower front slider spots to finish and the rear windows went fine with only one spot needing some extra time with a bit of weight on it so settle the window in place.

The rear windows were made from the Airwolf canopy left over from that recent build and as such, had a curve right where it met the top of the window frame opening on the rear doors. I used a solar film iron to actually flatten out the plastic and it did an ok job of it. The front windows were from the doors of the Airwolf and during the fitting, I got this insane idea of making the sliders work. I should have hit my head with a 2X4 as that was the rest of the day, shot, just doing that. The main windscreen is ready with the wire strike guide installed. That will be done tonight and then I do some touch-ups to the paint and then let it dry for a day. By Wednesday, I hope to install the mechanics and get the bucket hardware finally in place. Here's hoping. Take care.

Don

[Keyrigger]

Today, I did a small amount of trimming of the canopy glue on one door post only as the rest is not worth worrying about. It is best left alone. Even on the inside, there are so few spots that oozed out, it is again, not worth trying to get the tiny spots removed. Now is the time for the last of the details to be done like mounting of the wire strike cutters. Take care.

Don

[Keyrigger]

The wire strike cutters went in with little trouble and I managed to get a few other items installed, as well. The false rear sliding windows look good and when I get the dividing line scribed in, it will really fool the eyes. Take care.

Don

[Keyrigger]

A few more details were added today and there is a comparison shot of the fixed rear vs. the sliding front window and it is hard to tell, if you take a quick glance at it, if it works or doesn't. I may push the install until tomorrow or Friday to give the paint as much time to try and set as possible. Take care.

Don

[Keyrigger]

Just a little bit more done. I found some 320 grit wet/dry paper tucked away in a drawer that I knew would work perfectly for the anti-skid matting on the top of the cabin. The only issue was if I had enough to do it but it turned out I had enough for three pieces just in case I screwed one up. They really have added to the looks and it brings the helicopter one step closer to being finished. I might put the mechanics in Thursday night or Friday morning and then head out to KW Scale rally for the day. Take care.

Don

[Keyrigger]

Yesterday, the last of the scale bits were made and all but the load hook framework was installed, That was installed today along with the chassis, which didn't go according to plan. A few changes had to be made but it worked out for the better. I will not be posting much until I return from Davis, CA. Tomorrow is Kitchener/Waterloo, then Dalton Georgia, and finally Davis, so this month is going to go so fast, I'll be spinning in my sleep. Take care.

Don