I've always wanted to build one of these, just for the sake of the model. Like everyone else, though, I said, "They're robots(ish), why do they need a pilot?"
Well, the death ray fits in the cockpit with minor trimming and melds with the lines of the top spine like it was made to go there.
I'm not done converting yet, but I just wanted to share since I hadn't seen this done in the gallery.