Finally had a chance to dig into an Iona and get down to what I have wanted to build for god knows how long. I must echo what PVJ said in his WIP… this puppy is a lot of work! Having said that, I think that everyone who is just starting to dip their toes into prop building should try building one of these. As frustrating as it can be to sand, bondo, prime, swear, bondo, sand, swear etc etc… I think this is one of the most rewarding projest’s I have undertook thus far. Even more rewarding than seeing my packs come together.
But enough of my ramblings, Down to business!
First shots show the initial major sanding of the Iona body - Removing the polisher ring, the molded text, rear handle ribbs, and starting to sharpen out the front and side details. I have an unmodified Iona shell next too it for comparison.
Nest ones show the results of god knows how many ‘bondo, sand, swear’ stages. Getting it to evenly shape was a task and a half, but I found as long as I kept the halves togther and took my time with the sanding block, things came together quite well. The ribbs on the back are ‘Evergreen Scale Models’ styrene strips. I stuck them on with additional styrene inbetween each rib that was cut to the correct ‘gap size’, that way I got even, well spaced fins. After the adhesve set, I just removed the spacing strips and voila! The faceplate is on there using JB weld around the inner edges, and the Iona shell was cut out underneath to allow for electronics.
I fattened the little rim that is between the Iona shell and the faceplate by about 1.5mm, just so it stood out a little more. I did this using Bondo Bondo Bondo!
The final two are almost the same as the ones above, except after 2 ‘primer, sand, primer’ coats. Starting to look PKE-ish! 
That’s where I leave you all tonight. My Hyperdyne kit is sitting at the Fed Ex building down the road but Customs won’t let me have it yet (pricks). I am waiting till it comes before I cut the wing holes out.
Everything on this PKE so far has been built by me from nothing. The faceplate was built by me, and casted. and all Iona modifications are eithe bondo or styrene. I’ll be using SLK wings once I get to that point - and that will be the ONLY pre made part on the polisher that I didnt build or shape up from scratch.
Honestly guy’s, if you have an Iona sitting around collecting dust, and I know many of you do, Dig into it! It may look daunting, but in the end its so rewarding to see it come together. Most, if not all add ons can be built from Styrene or your choice of building material. The pic below shows you the basic pieces I used for my faceplate master…
Here are some links to piss poor quality video’s of the electronics in action. Both show the unfinished PKE in various stages of completion, from initial fitting to finally being able to close in the shell and test everything out.
Initial servo and wing fitting video
Electronics installed and shell closed for final testing
Questions or anything else welcome!
Cam
