An adjusted template. Masking tape to the model hull, traced, then a blueprint drawing was matched up in digital prior to printing and applying to sheet styrene - the dpi for the image above is higher than 72 in case you want to print it out for yourself.
Early stages. Hatch ring was made by cutting up a 626(?) button cell battery. I forget the battery size but I recall it was a 626. It was a pain to deal with even with a motor tool. Thinned putty applied around the hull. Holes drilled through.
Base gray using a non lacquer primer. Tower details aren't permanently attached yet for the most part. Mooring(?) ring in the nose was added using a bent piece of steel wire because I couldn't find the right copper wire. Handle bars in tower are copper
While trying to figure out how to approach the hatch construction, I began to paint up the hull. I had added the second mooring(?) ring in the rear of the hull using some copper wire that I had trouble finding earlier
I scrapped the earlier attempt at the hatch details. Finding a good sized cabochon for the canopy was amazingly difficult. Looking at this, the styrene tube I cut down to make the inner part of the hatch ring should have been cut shorter.
A pic of the stock hatch is on the left and the scratch built hatch I settled with on the right. The canopy shape is a bit off and I'm thinking to try heat forming something with a drink bottle.