Hi Craig,
You don’t know me. My post count here is in single digits. I’d say I’m a novice in this hobby except that would insult novices the world over.
I just discovered this build today and have most of the day trying to Evelyn Wood speed read through all of it. Turns out speed reading doesn’t help with gawking at photos and it certainly doesn’t help with repeatedly having to clean drool from the screen of my phone. As I said, I’m a novice, but I’d like to see if I have the gist of how you got here over the years.
1: Buy what most consider a pretty expensive kit.
2: Obtain advanced degrees in mechanical, structural and electrical engineering.
3: Open the box of previously mentioned kit. Fondle the styrene for a while.
4: Throw roughly 85% of the kit in the bin.
5: Teach yourself how to use 3D software (advanced degree #4)
6: Begin designing and printing custom parts to replace parts already in the bin.
7: Buy new 3D printer which is the size of a recliner.
8: Begin replacing previously printed parts with better versions from new printer.
9: Buy a laser cutter, learn Chinese, reprogram laser cutter in English.
10: Teach yourself how to tig weld, because why not?
11: Having completed a really nice cockpit, throw it away and start over.
12: Throw away custom nose area and start over.
13: I think you took shortcuts on the engines. I fully expected them to actually start and run. But hey…
I could go on forever. Suffice it to say that this project takes modeling to a level I never imagined possible! I can’t wait to see it finished. Thanks for taking us all on one heck of a ride!