NHI Kolibri N-3, scale 1:48, scratch build

[RDN1954]

Seats moved along nicely. In hindsight I could have made other choices in how to split up the various parts, but what's done is done.
Seats and back rests are joined together, no no more soldering, but good old CA. Braces were also added and after everything was set, I did a dry fit. Those seats sure look good!

Semi completed seat:


Dry-fit of seats in model:

 

[GrantTyler]

Good afternoon Johan. What they all say……plenty accolades given and richly deserved. Some ingenious modelling Johan. Cheers Grant

 

[Peter Voogt]

Seats moved along nicely. In hindsight I could have made other choices in how to split up the various parts, but what's done is done.
Seats and back rests are joined together, no no more soldering, but good old CA. Braces were also added and after everything was set, I did a dry fit. Those seats sure look good!

Semi completed seat:
View attachment 529977

Dry-fit of seats in model:
View attachment 529979

Looks nice, Johan. Waiting for some nice leather cushion's.
Regards, Peter

 

[RDN1954]

Upholstery of the seat tested:
(I will not tell you lot what I did, it's quite shameful...)

 

[dockattner]

I will not tell you lot what I did, it's quite shameful...

Hiding something from the Admiral?

 

[Peter Voogt]

Upholstery of the seat tested:
(I will not tell you lot what I did, it's quite shameful...)

View attachment 530601

A nice basic pilot chair, Johan. Not as comfortable as in the Business Class, but ok for the pilot.
And about the process …….. you raised the curtain a bit ……..
Regards, Peter

 

[RDN1954]

Hiding something from the Admiral?

I wouldn't dare...

 

[RDN1954]

A nice basic pilot chair, Johan. Not as comfortable as in the Business Class, but ok for the pilot.
And about the process …….. you raised the curtain a bit ……..
Regards, Peter

The seat is very rudimentary and certainly not designed with comfort in mind.

(The seat is composed of 2mm polystyreen sheet, wrapped with masking tape and marked with a razor blade.The backside is black paper, also marked with a razor blade.)

I'm still not convinced about the color, the restauratiion project in Israël saw the usage of a light brown leather, whereas historic photographic evidence suggest either dark gray or black.
It might be nice to use dark grey, rather than black, in order to give the model a less tri-colored theme.

 

[RDN1954]

Well, I tried dark blue for the upholstery, instead of dark grey or black:

 

[Daniel20]

Well, I tried dark blue for the upholstery, instead of dark grey or black:

View attachment 530633View attachment 530634

Blue happens to be my favorite color but, in this instance, dark gray would possibly be better. Ha, you may get a lot of different opinions on this one.

 

[RDN1954]

Second try; I wasn't satisfied with the dark blue upholstery and used dark grey instead:

This looks a lot better, more convincing...

 

[RDN1954]

in this instance, dark gray would possibly be better

You were right...

 

[RDN1954]

A seat in anything taken to the skies needs a harness and this hummingbird is no exception.
Now you can buy harnesses of the shelf, but hey, where's the fun in that?
After searching the internet a while for examples of scratch build harnesses, I found a few options worthwhile to pursue.
I opted for a version using ordinary masking tape, cut to size and the necessary hardware made from brass wire.
Once I made up my mind, I started working on fabricating the first parts, in order to get some experience and above all to establish whether or not this method would yield acceptable results.
The straps were made from 2mm wide pieces of masking tape and the hooks and loops, or whateveryoumightcallit, are made of 0,5mm brass wire.
Below the first strap, unfinished. I'll fabricate a complete set first, before final judgment, but that first strap looks unexpectedly good:

 

[Daniel20]

that first strap looks unexpectedly good:

Indeed, it does Johan!

 

[dockattner]

Outstanding! Way to go!

 

[Dean62]

I’m just catching up Johan, this is certainly a very nice rendition of the real thing. I like what you have thus far.

 

[MThomas]

Nice work! Interesting project!

 

[Peter Voogt]

A seat in anything taken to the skies needs a harness and this hummingbird is no exception.
Now you can buy harnesses of the shelf, but hey, where's the fun in that?
After searching the internet a while for examples of scratch build harnesses, I found a few options worthwhile to pursue.
I opted for a version using ordinary masking tape, cut to size and the necessary hardware made from brass wire.
Once I made up my mind, I started working on fabricating the first parts, in order to get some experience and above all to establish whether or not this method would yield acceptable results.
The straps were made from 2mm wide pieces of masking tape and the hooks and loops, or whateveryoumightcallit, are made of 0,5mm brass wire.
Below the first strap, unfinished. I'll fabricate a complete set first, before final judgment, but that first strap looks unexpectedly good:

View attachment 530815

The dark grey looks better, Johan. And the strap with brass hard-ware looks nice, also in good contrast with the dark grey.
Regards, Peter

 

[Marquinius]

A seat in anything taken to the skies needs a harness and this hummingbird is no exception.
Now you can buy harnesses of the shelf, but hey, where's the fun in that?
After searching the internet a while for examples of scratch build harnesses, I found a few options worthwhile to pursue.
I opted for a version using ordinary masking tape, cut to size and the necessary hardware made from brass wire.
Once I made up my mind, I started working on fabricating the first parts, in order to get some experience and above all to establish whether or not this method would yield acceptable results.
The straps were made from 2mm wide pieces of masking tape and the hooks and loops, or whateveryoumightcallit, are made of 0,5mm brass wire.
Below the first strap, unfinished. I'll fabricate a complete set first, before final judgment, but that first strap looks unexpectedly

I’ve seen it done that way with airplane modellers. Good choice.

 

[RDN1954]

Indeed, it does Johan!

Your feedback was the final trigger for me to move away from the dark blue...

Outstanding! Way to go!

Thanks Paul!

I’m just catching up Johan, this is certainly a very nice rendition of the real thing. I like what you have thus far.

High praise coming from you: highly appreciated.

The dark grey looks better, Johan. And the strap with brass hard-ware looks nice, also in good contrast with the dark grey.
Regards, Peter

This first strap is exactly what I'm aiming for and it's another acquired handicraft: never too old to learn something new...

Nice work! Interesting project!

It sure is an interesting project: not nearly enough information to build it. Regardless, it's a real fun project.

I’ve seen it done that way with airplane modellers. Good choice.

That's exactly where I copied this technique from


I guess I still owe you all an explanation on the registrations on my hummingbird.
On the LH OBD tank the registration is PH-DMS, PH is used for all things flying and registered in the Netherlands. DMS are my father's initials: Dirk Marten Swart. On the RH OBD tank the registration is PH-IDB, where IDB are my Admiral's initials: Isabella de Bruin. My father's initials since he was part of the design team and my Admiral's initials because a) she's the love of my life and b) she allows me to spend an inordinate amount of time in my hangar.
Before anyone start I can't have two registrations for the same aircraft; I invoke AL-FI rights on this one...