[simpits-tech] What's On The Workbench

[Steve Elliott]

Hi All:
       I haven't posted for a long time but I do check the messages every
day. ( yea, I'm more of a lurker) :). I have been quite busy on my pit. What
was to be a generic pit has turned into an F16 C, largley to the information
found on Simpits. The basic pit is about 90% complete with everything
assembled including main base on casters, glaresheild, center pedestal, left
& right consoles, seat and outer shell. The whole pit is designed for easy
dissassembly. Both outer shell sides are easily removed for access to the
wiring of the switches when I get an EPIC. Hopefully I will get to that
bridge next year. I also have to take the whole thing apart to get it
outside for painting when the weather gets warmer. No yacht in the basement
here.
       The ACESII seat from Chris Van Leirop's plans is 90% complete and
installed. I made some minor changes as I used different materials. An old
32 ounce aluminum baseball bat cut to the appropriate length makes a great
oxygen bottle and I have various sized hosing to play around with once the
seats painted.
       Both left, right and center consoles with switch panels, switches and
knobs are installed. I used Martin Schmitt's plans for the measurements. By
looking at the shapes of  the knobs in F4 SP2 , I used a dremel tool to
carve them out of a broom handle and wooden dowel for two different
diameters. With grey paint and white marking lines they look good. For the
smaller knobs I used various shaped marrets. Not exact but they look ok.
Made my own switch guards cut out of thin sheet metal, bent into shape then
folded around a U shaped peice of coat hangar.Not spring loaded but they
work. Coat hangar was also used for the regular U shaped wire switch guards.
1/8th inch Masonite was used for the panels, painted satin black then with
the paint still tacky, the lettering decals were carefully pressed into
place. Very tedious but great results. A clear coat protects them quite
nicely. No back lighting at this time but someday these panels can be easily
replaced with the expensive ones.
        Rama's instrument decals were used for the instruments with CD jewel
case plastic cut out and fitted into the propper shaped bezzels which were
cut out of  masonite.
        Left to do is the MFD's and the other stuff attatched to the
glareshield. Still awaiting the release of the Cougar in Canada then I may
have to do some reorganizing of panels to embed them into the consoles. This
part worries me as I want everything as close to where it should be in the
real F16. Waiting for a nice weekend to rip everything apart, haul it
outside and get the paint on. Shouldn't be long now.
         I have tried to make this pit as inexpensive as possible by using
anything I can salvage. I drive truck for a lumber company so I have been
able to get most of my pine and spruce out of the free scrap pile :). The
biggest layout so far has been for the switches, but by only buying three or
four a week over the course of the winter, I am allmost finnished buying.
         I don't have a digital camera so I am waiting untill the basic pit
is done then I will take a bunch of pictures, have them proccessed to CD,
then get my son to setup a little web site to post them.
         This has been a real learning experience as I have never done much
wood working and have no electronics no-how at all. I have a feeling that
when I get that EPIC thing, my posts may be very frequent.
         There are many other people whose web sites have provided me with
excellent ideas but I can't remember them all right now. I would like to
thank them all and especially my wife for putting up with my new hobbie.

Later all.
Steve
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marv RR" <mdebeque@woh.rr.com>
To: <simpits-tech@simpits.org>
Sent: Monday, April 22, 2002 6:55 AM
Subject: [simpits-tech] What's On The Workbench


> Well, I, too, have been busy unpacking from the move and working fast and
> hard to get things up and running.  I like your idea of everyone posting
an
> update.  I look forward to hearing more from the rest of the members - so
> chime in!
>
> So, what's on the workbench?  Actually, the workbench is on the workbench.
>
> I've been busy building benches, actually 5 of them.  Four are used for my
> computer and electronics bench.  The last one is in my machine shop which
I
> just got operational yesterday afternoon.  The machine shop required a
total
> remake of the room and I erected new walls, ran two 20 amp services,
> painted, laid tile (glue fumes gave me laryngitis), and installed
florescent
> lights.
>
> My first project was a Non-maskable Interrupt from Maria.  She needed a
way
> to bond a strap to a new tote bag she had just made.  After a careful
> inspection I recommended a rivet (I just happen to have some for my seat).
> So, I used the lathe to spin off a tool to smash rivets.
>
> My cockpit is spread all over 600 square feet of finished basement and
this
> week begins the reassembly so it can be used again.  I have many new
parts,
> but they will have to wait while I begin the cockpit redesign.  Yes,
> generation 3!  Seems that many of the real parts I got are actually
slightly
> different in size than what dimensions I used for building my cockpit.
> Unfortunately, the side consoles and shell are not compatible with the
real
> parts, so, I'll rebuild it again.  :-/
>
> Lastly, I just bought a new old lathe.  It is a 9" South Bend Model A with
> all of the trimmings.  It was built before I was!  It looks like it is in
> very good condition, but I will have to see how it performs and see what I
> might have to rebuild first.
>
> Marv
> --
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Simpits-tech mailing list
> Simpits-tech@simpits.org
> http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
> To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above
page.  Thanks!