A quick update on the cockpit tube, basically transferring details from the previous tube to this one....I used a piece of piping for the walkway which was 40mm diameter, so I wrapped very thin plasticard around it to bring the diameter to 44mm (a useful tip is to get spray adhesive and apply it to the plasticard, so when wrapping around the tube it doesn't want to spring off)

For the recessed areas I cut down to the original tube through the layers of card:

If you remember post 166 http://www.scalemodeladdict.com/index.php/topic,4312.msg94283.html#msg94283

when I was modifying the Jaw-box on the 1/72 FineMolds falcon

I just did the modification without explaining HOW I did it, heres a breakdown:

Firstly I didn't use a saw to remove the jaws, I used a sharp scalpel blade and sliced off a layer at a time of the area that I needed separated:

I don't know if there is a modellers name for this technique but basically its planing

Planing on this kit is slow due to the plastic being a good bit more stiff & brittle than the MPC kit.....a sharp scalpel cuts through MPC plastc quite easily.

As the jaw-box needed to be shortened, I had to find somewhere that I could try and hide where I cut pieces away in the details, another thing I would recommend is to try and mark where you are cutting and keep your marking & cutting as square and precise as possible, take your time, I tried to be as careful as possible, but I still had to dismantle the top jaw several times just to get it square, I'd learnt my mistake and the bottom jaw's mod went without a hitch.

Hope this helps anyone who is thinking on attempting this procedure.....if anyone needs to contact me, send me a PM

J