I can't wait to see this finished.

Upon further review, I've decided to alter the rear wall of the cockpit. I've got an idea for an overhead console type of thing to hinge the canopy on, and that would obscure about the top inch or so of the rear wall. I don't know yet if I can salvage the rear wall I have, or if I will want to build a new one. Either way, I should be able to salvage the parts I've glued on the wall, if necessary.

Also, I've rolled the sheet stock for the engine tubes. It's currently taped tightly to a dowel rod, so tomorrow I can remove the stock from the dowel, glue a backer strip to the inside, then roll the edges together to make a 1 1/8' x .040" wall tube. Five of them, actually.

Well, here's the new rear cockpit wall. The overhead console is for the canopy hinge. It's pretty crude, really. There are pins coming out of the side of the console, and these correspond to mounting brackets for the canopy. I was able to salvage most of the pieces from the previous rear wall, and the new configuration enabled me to add even more cool looking bits from the parts box.

Wow this is realy going to be great.

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Here's a progress report. I've taken to detailing the side consoles. First pic is of the nearly-completed starboard console, with radar and computer stations. These are very, very loosely based on a number of panels from the late 80's or so Avengers comics.

I also redesigned the instrument panel. I didn't like the design as much as I thought I would. But the real reason I redesigned it is I discovered the nose gear bay, which forms the center console in the cockpit, is off-center. Not sure where that happened, but it's too late to go back and fix now. So I reworked the main console with a multi-function CRT in the center, engine performance gauges where both pilot and co-pilot can read them, and keypad centrally located. I also fabbed up a throttle for the center console. Five engines, five throttles.

Just for giggles, here's a side console I rejected. It was to be for the port side, aft of the co-pilot's seat. I saw it as a communications console, but I got carried away and forgot the near 15 degree downward slope of the side console. Consequently, the monitors would've been pointed at the operator's navel. So this one goes back in the scrap box. Maybe I'll end up using it in another project.

loving the updates

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Wow! First time I have looked at this post and Wow! I had planned on making two ships this year and this took a lot of wind out of my sails because of the pure scratch perfection you have put into this! On the list of ships I care about this would be on the low end and you have made it into something I would buy at retail even with a high pricetag. Cannot wait for finished piece!

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dr bindy: Thanks, and stay tuned! There's more to come!

Iron Will: That's quite the compliment,and I thank you. Just go ahead and make your ships. I'd love to see them, and I'm sure the rest of the forum would, too. This isn't a competition, and there's a lot of folks on here whose work I admire, including yourself.

Frankly, there's nothing magical about my work. When I look at it, all I really see is a bunch of sheet stock and some tubing. The only thing I'm doing different than most of the rest of the forum is scratchbuilding complete projects. I just got frustrated in compromising and not getting what I wanted. If Hasbro ever made a decent quinjet, I'd be first in line with my fist full o'dollars.

That is a safe statement to make since you and I both know that no toy company is going to make a Jet that is even close to being comparable to this one.

Dremel: Oh, I dunno. I think there's some pretty fantastic resources available to Hasbro that aren't available to me. If properly motivated, I'm sure they'd come up with something fantastic. Whether we could afford it or not is another issue.

Couple more WIP shots here. I've finally finished fabbing up the side consoles, shown here with their first coat of primer. I've included the now complete main console, with its new CRT installed.

Also, I've finished the four smaller engine nozzles. I'd have loved to use the exhausts from the 1/48 Testors SR-71 Blackbird, but I only had two and no rubber/resin, so this is what I've come up with. Next, on to the big engine.

You know, when I first thought of building one of these things back in the 1980's I didn't have very good customizing skills. Thought occurs to me I'm going to have to make new Avengers, 'cause the ones I made way back when just aren't gonna compare to their ship.

I agree they have the abilities. Just not the desire.

21st century Ultimate Soldier or BBI or what ever that company is called is much more likely to do something like that and judging by the price of their helicopters something like you are building would probably be in the $120 to $180 range.

If hasbro did it they would simply modify an existing mold for the Defiant/Crusader slap $100 on it and call it good. It would not even compare to what you are doing.

That's most kind of you, Dremel. Unfortunately, you're probably right on both points; I don't think Hasbro has any desire for a high $$$ potential shelf warmer, and a comparable product from BBI or US would be fantastic, but also fantastically expensive.

I converted an Avenger to a Quinjet back when God invented dirt. It's okay, but I learned a lot doing it.

Just a small update tonight. Too much partying, too much running around this weekend to get much done. But here's the side consoles in finished paint, minus some touch ups.