Spent a lot of time this weekend cleaning up and moving stuff around in the shop and my room, but I managed to get a little more done on The Thing... finished the right-hand shell frame, tacked the skin on with some self-tapping screws temporarily, and used the Dremel to
cut out the window opening. Finally looks like what it's supposed to be... sort of.







     



Couldn't resist these eBay finds: gear handle and flap handle "knob" from some sort of Piper. Less than $40 with shipping; well worth it for a little more realism.

The gear handle has a built-in detent spring, and the flap handle is drilled and tapped, ready for a bit of bar stock drilled so I can use screws to attach it.
then I just have to fab the switches...