A LONG while back someone did do them, they came two in a plastic zip lock bag with a green-ish card stapled to the back, but I only ever saw one batch, bought two packets and I've never seen them since. No idea who did the castings or the originals.

Someone, possibly John Addams, did white metal FOD guards for Lightnings.  I had two somewhere, but haven't seen them for a long time,

I'm going to be honest and say that it just doesn't look right.  Think it's the base kit as it flares out in the wrong place.

Quote from: kitbasher on July 31, 2022, 06:47:50 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 31, 2022, 06:43:42 AM
Someone should cast white metal pilots, that'd help sort out the noseweight issue.

Good idea, Kit.  They'd help enhance those kit seats that are devoid of detail.

Masking tape painted the colour you want then cut into thin strips can work quite well as seat belts, cheap too 

Gondor

Quote from: Gondor on July 31, 2022, 07:17:54 AM

Quote from: kitbasher on July 31, 2022, 06:47:50 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 31, 2022, 06:43:42 AM
Someone should cast white metal pilots, that'd help sort out the noseweight issue.

Good idea, Kit.  They'd help enhance those kit seats that are devoid of detail.

Masking tape painted the colour you want then cut into thin strips can work quite well as seat belts, cheap too 

Gondor

Indeed - there's a fair bit of that happening at the mo!

This is looking VERY promising. 

Quote from: kitbasher on July 31, 2022, 06:47:50 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 31, 2022, 06:43:42 AM
Someone should cast white metal pilots, that'd help sort out the noseweight issue.

Good idea, Kit.  They'd help enhance those kit seats that are devoid of detail.

Elhiem figures do 1/72 white metal "early helicopter pilots can be used as modern civilian pilots"

The pilot for my GB Canberra is going to be the last of these from my stash.

Armoury, CMK and PJ do pilots etc in 1/72. Various types and periods.

But they're resin, aren't they?

KB, do you have a scrap metal dealer near you, you could probably pick up some lead sheeting that comes off the house roofs. I've got a big piece of it some years ago and use it all the time when needed. You can cut it with a big pair of scissors too if the bit you get is thin enough. I swap out cockpit floors and such when I have a real problem tail sitter.

Quote from: kitnut617 on August 01, 2022, 10:12:44 AM
KB, do you have a scrap metal dealer near you, you could probably pick up some lead sheeting that comes off the house roofs. I've got a big piece of it some years ago and use it all the time when needed. You can cut it with a big pair of scissors too if the bit you get is thin enough. I swap out cockpit floors and such when I have a real problem tail sitter.

Thanks Kitnut, yes I've some of the same.  My challenge is, having been rather dense and acting in haste I forgot to add the ballast, hence I'm left with squeezing ballast in through random orifices!

Not familiar with the Elhiem range, Ratty, thanks for bringing them to my attention.

And finally Lee, I know what you mean.  The curve is hidden on the Tonka, will have a think about how to lessen it.

That's why I went with the Su-15 fuselage.  Haven't done much more with it though.

I do like the concept so watching on with interest.

I ran into a nose weight issue on a Bronco build. I got around it by cutting down the nosewheel and adding a teeny tiny rare earth magnet and building up with filler to "flatten" the tyre.
Another magnet on the base (correct polarity of course ) and the nose went nowhere but down.

Some chopping on one side of the fuselage to lessen the bulge The Wooksta! commented on.

Not much taken off, tbh, but it'll allow me to produce a fuselage that's more akin to the plan view of the SARO P149 at p99 of British Secret Projects: Jet Fighters (2005 edition).

Also provides an opportunity to slightly round off some of the rather square Tornado fuselage edges.

Quote from: PR19_Kit on August 01, 2022, 09:55:47 AM
But they're resin, aren't they?

Some resin, some white metal

Minimal progress - wanting to focus on the Vickers 588 as that's much closer to completion and there's only five weeks left to the end of the GB.  Still, nose ballast applied courtesy of some cunning slipping in of narrow strips of synthetic lead into every slot I could find.  What won't be hidden in due course by filler will be behind an intake cover.

Strips of plastic sheet are being attached to the forward fuselage to lessen the bulge (see 2 August post).  One at a time, firmly clamped to the fuselage while the glue dries.  Basically the only use I can think of for a bottle of gloop marketed as Revell Contacta Liquid Special!  Shims of plastic are needed here and there on the upper fuselage prior to more filler, turning out to be a bit of a putty monster (I'm not surprised)!

Mustn't forget to spruce up the seat.

Pics to follow.