Sessholvlaru

I got my replacement canopy and cowl today. The replacement canopy is actually way nicer than the one it came with; much cleaner paint lines.

The cowl my Raiden came with was not the correct shade of green, it was lighter. My replacement cowl is an exact match to the fuse. Nice.

I am waiting on Tomas to get back to me about the electric retracts. That is the one thing holding me back from gluing the wings together.

I am also doing lights on my Raiden. I will be cutting out/molding new tip and tail lenses.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXDZ90&P=ML

The Raiden was a Navy aircraft and had no landing light. One less thing to worry about.

Sessholvlaru

I assume not, but will you also be doing the frame work/radio box pieces in the rear of the cockpit?

Sessholvlaru

I am going ahead with my lights. I have cut out the appropriate areas of the wing tips. The removed section will be cut further for the actual lens.

The wings are built perfectly for the lights as the tips are hollow fiberglass and there are plenty of holes to run wires through.

Lights are a RAM large scale kit.

Sessholvlaru

Idiot-proof plunge moulded lenses. A perfect fit.

Sessholvlaru

A note about touch-up paint. After spending like 30 bucks trying (and failing) to find Testors Model Masters that matched the Raiden I went to Home Depot. I gave them an aileron and they matched the upper and lower colors perfectly. They will match the paint and give you the small 8 ounce "sample" containers that are only 3 bucks each. You could probably paint the whole plane over for just 6 bucks! Don't waste your time buying tiny $7 model paints.

Sessholvlaru

I refined the chunks I cut out into frames extremely carefully with my Dremel. Now to fit the lenses into these and make the light mounts in the tips.

These RAM lights are incandescent so they do get hot. I'm not sure a styrene base will hold up to the heat. Maybe I'll use wood?

Sessholvlaru

Here's the lights base. 1/8 balsa whose grain I filled with this pine car brush on wood filler, which is the best stuff I have ever seen for filling wood. It took forever to find a close up of the tip lights on the Raiden so I could get the light in the correct location.

Sessholvlaru

And we have lights.

fockewulf37

My Feedback: (102)

Ok guys,
Trying to get this thing finished. Here are more pic's. Hope to finish up this weekend. Still need to do the head rest..

ty

Sessholvlaru

Are you doing the radio box behind the seat Ty?

I finished my tip lights at 4:00am last night. Here is a daytime close-up. I really like how they came out. They will look even better after some detailing and weathering. I am working on the tail strobe now.

fockewulf37

My Feedback: (102)

I will supply a generic box. But in the kit there will be some resin knobs that you can use to dress it up...

ty

fockewulf37

My Feedback: (102)

Tips are looking good ..

ty

Sessholvlaru

Nipped the tip.

Idigbo

Those lenses look great, I was in too much of a hurry to get mine airborne, but it will get similar treatment when time allows!! That cockpit is coming on great too!!

Ian.

n8622t

My Feedback: (8)

Looks good Sess...I may have to follow your lead I have always wanted a plane with lights and have never done it so you are giving me the incentive. Do you have any gear for the plane yet?

Sessholvlaru

Thank you. This plane is an easy candidate for lights. I don't have the landing gear yet but I have everything else. I'm told the faster Gen 2 gear won't be out until April but TBM is offering an update board to make the Gen 1's faster, so I might do that.

Sessholvlaru

Awesome shot! Any reason why you have the gear doors off it?

Sessholvlaru

Tail strobe is done. I couldn't just make a plunge mold of the rear tip of the fuse because it is not the correct shape. It needs to be much pointier than how it comes. I had to make a new balsa tip and then mold that. I did it the same way I did the tip lenses, clear Styrene sheet and a heat gun. My iPhone pictures don't do the lights justice but I think they came out really well.

Anyone know how bright these lights would have been in the full scale? This RAM system is made to operate on 8.4 volts but they are super super bright at that voltage. They look more realistic on 4.8 in my opinion.

Idigbo

No reason other than I didn't have time to make the proper doors for it. As you'll know already, the door is two piece, with the lower sliding over the upper section. Then there's the inners!!!! It will get them, I promise.

Looking forward to your next post, Ian.

Ian.

glazier808

My Feedback: (1)

I use the Ram lights on 4.8, I think they are abit too noticable at a higher voltage. Just me perhaps.

Casey

Sessholvlaru

Yeah I see TBM is now selling an electronic gear door sequencer for electric retracts. I may get that.

Do you have any pics of how you hid your aileron control horns? I am trying to figure out how to best do this...

fockewulf37

My Feedback: (102)

Hey guys I am finally finished. I should have these out the first of next week...Hopefully

Ty

glazier808

My Feedback: (1)

Very nice Ty! Jeesh thats a huge cockpit area, wouldnt look quite right without a cockpit kit I think.

Casey

Sessholvlaru

Awesome, can't wait!

glazier808

My Feedback: (1)

Hey Sess, you're lights look great. I like what you did with the tail in making your own lense. Very nice!

Casey