Official "I am dumb" post

John Howling Mouse · September 01, 2006, 07:06:40 PM

With a bunch of kits that are in "patient drying mode" and since I was inspired by SoD's recent Swiss Air Force video, I decided to build the first Mirage I saw on my shelf, which turned out to be the 1:48 Italeri Mirage 2000C.

At some point, I had bought an aftermarket resin bang-seat, presumably sold as the correct type for a Mirage (or did I just guess?). Maybe you really astute aviation types can I.D. the ejection seat. Pretty sure it was an Aires seat.

Anyhow...tra-la-freakin'-la, I paint up all sorts of cockpit bits, etc. and I thought I did an okay job on the resin seat.

Then, AFTER having painted the seat and deckled the kit's cockpit, I figured it was time to test-fit the resin seat into the cockpit.

Uh-uh. Nowhere near going to fit. Not only is the seat physically too wide for the cockpit tub's sidewalls, it generally seems to simply dwarf the scale of the plane itself.

I admit it: I am dumb. :dum:

Oh, did I mention that the cockpit tub on this kit also forms the nosewheel well?

Reeeeeeally dumb. :dum: :dum:

Shasper · September 01, 2006, 07:16:47 PM

Slight OT, but here's some inspiration for you JHM:

Click me

You want to click me!

Shas B)

retro_seventies · September 01, 2006, 07:52:07 PM

shhhhhhhhhhh you aren't dumb, you just optimistically trust people to build aftermarket parts that fit...sheeesh, when WILL you learn

great looking seat - just put it somewhere safe to put into your next 1/48 masterpiece - that way it'll be a nice suprise, instead of a boo-boo!

did i just say boo-boo?

what am i, like 5 years old?

time for bed i think...lol

John Howling Mouse · September 01, 2006, 08:14:59 PM

QuoteSlight OT, but here's some inspiration for you JHM:

Shas B)

Wow, that first one is pure dynamite! One of the best bits I've ever seen. What did they do, put a camera right in the drogue for those close-up nose shots?

Thanks, Shas. Why is it that the French seem to make the hardest hitting aerial videos?

They seem to DO the most with their aircraft while filming them.

Brian da Basher · September 01, 2006, 08:40:04 PM

Wow you have my condolences, Mr Howling Mouse. I'd be tempted to just saw off the bottom of that seat and sand the sides down a scooch to make it fit. What do I know? This advice comes from someone whose cockpits, until very recently, were just simple black holes. :dum:

Brian da Basher

Shasper · September 01, 2006, 09:18:47 PM

That 1st clip was made up of scenes from that french Top-Gun wannabe film, 2nd one is the real deal from a deployment to Morocco a year or 2 ago (you can see that those mudmovers almost tookout a truck)

Shas B)

Ian the Kiwi Herder · September 02, 2006, 12:19:22 AM

Bazz, dear old chum, don't worry your tired old grey-haired head about it..... here's wotcha do !

Option 1 (less easy)
Using that beautifully painted seat as a template, completely scratchbuild a new cockpit and instrument panel, and mount it on an equally scatchbuilt nosewheel bay.

Option 2 (easier)
Put the aforementioned beautifully painted seat to one side, arm y'self with lots of sprue/copper wire/plastic-card and detail the seat that comes with the kit, taking care not to make it any wider than intended.

Option 3 (easiest)
Find something else to transform as only you can. B)

HTH

Ian

GeorgeC · September 02, 2006, 02:56:22 AM

I will swap you for my Academy 1/72nd scale seat that comes with the 1/48th Hunter

Regards

GeorgeC

John Howling Mouse · September 02, 2006, 08:04:41 AM

I think I will use the incredibly dull seat that comes with the kit but populate it with one of the Monogram pilots I've already completed. Hmmm, wonder if their own kit seat fits the cockpit tub? Anh, I'll check that LATER.... :dum:

Seems a shame to waste the resin seat by shaving part of it down.
On the other hand, this kit really deserves a better interior than the kit's version, too.

Leigh · September 02, 2006, 08:56:23 AM

Oh c'mon Baz if I can tart up a 1/72 Matchbox seat I know you can add a coupla bread bag ties to that kit seat (which really isn't that bad) and make it look great. Keep the resin Masterpiece and put it in your next Bi-plane

John Howling Mouse · September 02, 2006, 08:58:31 AM

heh heh, yeah but I was kinda hoping to get this Mirage done THIS year!!

Hey, what did you use for the seat's buckles, lanyards, etc.?

Leigh · September 02, 2006, 09:14:54 AM

Quoteheh heh, yeah but I was kinda hoping to get this Mirage done THIS year!!

Hey, what did you use for the seat's buckles, lanyards, etc.?

Hey they went into my Tornado for last years "One Week Build"

Buckles a tad oversized for 1/72 but probably good for 1/48 are 34 gauge jewelry wire looks about the same dia as 10# test fishing line. Bent around the end of a pair of needlenose pliers into a "D" shape then you can squeeze the buckle in some smooth face flat pliers so it flattens out the wire.

Jeffry Fontaine · September 02, 2006, 09:55:00 AM

Leigh san,

You forgot "Option 4" which is to just paint the canopy and windscreen black or a very dark blue and call it a day. If Eddie san can get away with it, why not the "Mouse that Howls" as well?

Captain Canada · September 02, 2006, 10:17:41 AM

Geez, Baz, with all your talent this one is a no-brainer. Just hack the side walls off the tub/gear bay and scratch some new ones up on the fuselage sides.

Or build a whole new seat.

Or send $19.95 to Leigh and get him to build you a new seat. That's an amazing price, $19.95. But wait ! If you order now.....

John Howling Mouse · September 02, 2006, 11:58:22 AM

QuoteGeez, Baz, with all your talent this one is a no-brainer. Just hack the side walls off the tub/gear bay and scratch some new ones up on the fuselage sides.

Or build a whole new seat.

Or send $19.95 to Leigh and get him to build you a new seat. That's an amazing price, $19.95. But wait ! If you order now.....

But, but, I put the deckles on and everything...

As for getting Leigh to do it, yeah the price is right but, like I said, I was kinda hoping to get it done THIS year.... ang-ha-ha