I've added the last few pieces to the area in front of the lower engines....and the underside is done!
I can't wait to put some primer on it now.
I had planned to give it a spray today, but the weather is not playing nice (storms and rain). I'm hoping to get a chance later in the week.
Once that is done, I plan to take some photos to compare against the original at the same stage of construction.
Having digitally matched all the reference photos, I know the exact (relative) locations of the camera to the model, as well as the focal distances.
I'll set my camera up in exactly the same location using the same settings to get a true comparison photo!.
In the meantime here are the latest progress shots...
I took a small detour these past few days to ID a couple of parts that I spotted in the shadows of the reference images.
I only had two photos of the mystery part, each only showing a (slightly different) partial view.
I had no clue what the parts could be, but this is where having a photo matched 3D model comes into its own.
Modelling over the reference images, I created a part with the exact size and shape of the unknown piece.
Armed with this info, I then went trawling through my kit scans and lo and behold, I found the part - an exact match!.
With those parts now completing the underside of the ship, I finally got to put the primer on
I will post a comparison with the original model tomorrow.
As promised, here is the comparison photo with the original model (at the same stage of construction).
I'm pretty happy with the match.
I continue to make minor tweaks as I go, but I think this will only end when the model is finally finished - which I hope is not too far away!
The clamp assembly covering the top armature opening doesn't appear to match well, but this is because it was later shortened to fit into the release arm that Martin Bower built for it.