Spaced armour-Layer 1. This is all just blue-tack'd on. I insist on dry-fitting everything. The angled exhaust cowlings have caused the most problems to date.
Side view-Layer 1
Front view. Shows the distance from the kit to the new layer. (aprox. the thickness of the cplasticard. 0.4 inch)
Layer 2-rear and frontal plates. Most difficult part is ensuring the overlap is straight. The front plate was remade with a slight jink in the overlapping bits to get it 90 degrees to the front. (When it gets bent over)
Another view of the second layer
Rear plate bend. Cut 3/4 through and scraped away at 45 degrees so that I could bend it around the top piece.
Rear plate fitting
2nd layer for the exhaust cowling. each bend has to be measured after the last is a perfect fit - or the third 'plate' won't meet up.
Door plating and cowling bases attached
LHS - 2nd layer
RHS - 2nd layer, no door plate yet
The Three sub-assemblies for each side
Door hinge
Door hinge, scraped sprue from the rhino kit. Drilled and cut to fit.
Door mounting plate bent over and in place.
Another close-up of the hinge. I had to cut back the front face so that the door could open all the way down.
Four dress-makers pins and 8 scavenged rivets from the sides of the Rhino that are under the armour (and won't ever be seen)
Close-up of the door panel and the thin green-stuff 'weld' that I used to clean up the join
Both sides ready for priming.
