This week, detailing masterclass looks at how you can style the cockpits and canopies of your foam board RC planes.
I just love adding character to my RC planes. Often it's the little things that can really complete a model. Be it installing a tiny instrument panel or glueing a daring pilot figure, it doesn't often take long and yet can result in your planes standing out from the crowd! Here are four quick tips.
Make Transparent Canopies
As a big shout out to Nic Lechner, tip number 1 is to follow Nic's lead and make yourself some transparent plastic canopies for your models. Many will know of Nic's great foam board designs that include a ton of scale features. Some of these also have great canopies you can make from clear plastic and card. Make sure to check these out on www.nerdnic.com when you have some free time.
Here's an nnSpitfire I made complete with a canopy. I can safely say that, although it looks fairly complex, these replica glass and perspex enclosures can be made in around five minutes. If you're building from some plans, templates will be provided making it easy to cut out the frames and transparent plastic. After this, it's a simple matter of glueing them firstly together and then to the airframe.
If you'd prefer not to bother with this, or if you really want a more complicated curved shape, you could buy a ready-made canopy. Although it may not be obvious at first, if you're scratch building a plane like a Spitfire that has RTF counterparts out there for sale, chances are you'll be able to pick up all sorts of spare parts to add to your airplane. 
Here's an FT Spitfire I built a while back that had a canopy from an old Parkzone Spitfire. I think it really completes this model and adds another level of realism.
It looks great in the air too!
Draw simple control panels
A super simple addon you can do in minutes is to draw and cut out your own tiny instrument panels from card. All you'll need are some coloured pens and a steady hand. Here's an article that goes into this more in depth.
You can style these any way you want. You could even draw a tiny radar screen! Here's a video tutorial.
If you want to do a micro FPV setup on one of your FT Airplanes, this is really a perfect detail to add to your aircraft. It helps with the emersion of being actually inside your creation.
This FT Mini Scout has been modified with a micro FPV camera to make you feel like a WW1 pilot on dawn patrol duty. It's amazing what you can build with a little imagination, some electronics and a generous helping of creativity.
Include a pilot
If you're not going to go down the FPV route, why not install a little pilot figure? If you don't have any pre-bought ones, why not make your own? I like to go a slightly cartoonish direction and draw my own. As with the instrument panels, all you'll need are a few pens and some practice. Try drawing on some scrap foam until you get it right.
I also like to add a strip of fabric to my vintage style airplane pilots to give them a scarf. The comedic effect of it blowing in the prop wash always brings a smile to my face.
Add extra details
Let your creativity run wild and add anything to your builds that you can think of. You can make simple throttle leavers and switches with ball headed pins for example. It's all about adding personality to make it your own.
Even if you're flying high, silhouetted against an evening backdrop without any chance of seeing your hard work, it's satisfying knowing that it's there. Go that extra mile and make your planes something to be proud of.
As always, let us see your airplane builds by posting them here on flitetest.com, on the Forums and in the Flite Test Fans Facebook Group!
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Article by James Whomsley
Editor of FliteTest.com
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