Fairey River Cruiser - Today I decided to cut out the windows from the acetate sheet and glue them to the superstructure using canopy glue.

I don't know about you guys but I find this one of the most stressful parts of model boat building - it's not all fun you know!

Keeping the glue off the acetate window areas, including from fingers, which I mainly succeeded in doing and certainly better than last time, and getting the windows in the right position all added to the "fun". As did having to remove one window which was out of position and wouldn't slide, reapply the glue and then refix.

But it's great when it's done and you can take some photos, phew!

Shots with the superstructures fitted to the hulls.

Chris

Fitting the pieces into the cockpit was delayed as I had a problem with my email which took a couple of days to sort out.

Fitted the pair of doors into the Huntress which resulted in a lesson for the future. I'd selected some thin mahogany sheet which was nice and flat but once I'd put the canopy glue on it and held it in place by hand it started to warp. Held it for as long as I could but couldn't hold it flat so had to leave it. As the glue is drying it's got better and not too bad, though a little annoying. Then fitted the strips in the corners.

Lesson learnt, for the River Cruiser I just applied glue around the edges and easier to position as didn't slide around as much and the glue soon grabbed. Followed by the cappings to each side.

The dashboards won't be fitted until I've fitted the steering wheel and instruments etc. to them.

I've glued the floors into both boats using Aliphatic glue applied with an old brush to the cockpit base.

Now they are in I can start on the parts that protrude out. Cut some mahogany strip to length to cover up the gaps in the corners of the Huntress cockpit and made some cappings to go in the River Cruiser and gave them a coat of varnish ready for gluing in tomorrow, at which time I can glue the doors in place as well.

Hi thanks
Cut them from 1mm aluminium sheet with bandsaw and jigsaw and filing yes 😂
Yes wil try to make the frame from aluminium, also have 0,3mm thick that is so thin you can cut it with knife, maybe I wil use that for cockpit screen

Those are great looking windows. Assume you cut them out with a saw and then lots of filing?

Advantage of metal, as well as looking good is that the frames can be nice and thin.

I take it you are going to make the cockpit screen out of aluminium as well? Might have a bash at that myself.

Finished mine tonight

As and when I've had time I've been applying more topcoats to the cockpits. Added another this morning which hopefully will be the last.

Next job was to glue the window frames I'd painted a few days ago to the acetate sheet. I find it best to use a small cheap brush to apply the glue which can then be thrown away. After cutting the handle off of course and adding to the bits and pieces box!

Final job of the day was giving the floor, doors and dashboard for each boat a coat of varnish.

Chris

One made for the River Cruiser now. Once the glue has dried thoroughly it will be sanded down.

When I was still working and had my drawing board in the spare room one of our cats would keep me company. Daft thing would slide down the board and onto the parallel motion! Sadly long gone now.

I now use the room for my model making and have a new friend!

I've made the dashboard for the Huntress ready for the wheel and instruments when I get/make them. It's made from mahogany sheet to match the doors and contrast with the white interior of the cockpit. I do like a bit of varnished timber!

Just about to start that for the River Cruiser. As it doesn't need as many instruments etc. I'm making it a bit narrower.

Then another coat of gloss inside the cockpits.