What’s up Geeks! I know it has been a while but I’m back with an update on the Privateer. I hadn’t realized it has been almost a year and I haven’t posted an update.  A lot has been done and lets get on to an update!

After I had made all the cuts to both the Koster and kit parts, it was time to test fit everything together.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that the cuts were straight and lined up and fit the Monogram plastic pretty well! (thanks Don!). Once I had the left fuselage half done I just repeated the same cuts on the right side.  After I had done the fuselage mods, I went on to the wings.  I wanted to save the Koster instructions so I made copies of the template, cut them out and placed them on the wings and marked where I had to cut the wings. i made the cuts to the engine nacelles and test fitted the Koster vac form conversion parts. When I cut the kit nacelles away from the Monogram wing, the wing was very flexible and weak.  So, once I got the conversion parts tacked in place with super glue I added a brass rod that ran the length of the wings to provide some rigidity an d strength.  Then I glued the wings together and prepared to move on the the cockpit.

I built the cockpit following the kit instructions but I did add a bulkhead behind the cockpit to help provide some strength and to help close up the rear part of the cockpit.  I did download some WW2 pinup posters to the rear bulkgead in.  I did replace the kit seats with some seats from the Hobbyboss B-24 and added some seatbelts.  The Privateer didn’t have shoulder harnesses so I just added the lapbelts and painted the seats.  I did add some power levers with strip styrene and added some placards from the spares box to dress up the cockpit some more.