Despite my declaration in Post #1 not to go crazy on scale details, I could not allow the innards of this model to show. Also, I needed a platform on which to place the pilot. The directions suggest making a shelf just large enough to hold the pilot figure, so why not extend that platform to the entirety of the cockpit?

Therefore, I decided to fabricate a raised “floor” both to support the pilot figure and to hide the electronics. It will end up flat black, but initially it was more of that thin, but stiff, salvage plywood that I used for the receiver shelf.


It took less than an hour to trim some cardboard to fit. Not only will this be used to cut the plywood pieces, but also to mask the electronics when I spray the cockpit interior silver.


I placed the pilot figure on the cardboard to assure that his vertical position was correct. Is it my imagination, or does he look a little apprehensive?


Using the cardboard patterns, I cut the plywood.


I must have measured twice, because the ply pieces fit.


To support the "floor" I cut 10 3/8" cubic support blocks from leftover basswood spar material, shown here glued to the fuse sides.


Finally, the plywood "floor" screwed to the support blocks with black M1.7 x 8 sheet metal screws. I expect they will blend in once I paint the ply flat black.