Sharkfins A-10C pit (WIP)

[sharkfin61]

And then, the journey begins....

 

For the moment, I'm planning to go just for the front console (plans from dimebug and Flim).

 

Simple left and right console are already made, just to support the TM throttle quadrant and mouse/keyboard/checklists.

 

As I don't have access to a cmc machinery, I will try to cut it with my saws/routers. We'll see if it will work out right.

Edited January 30, 2021 by sharkfin61

[Neo47]

Keep ´em coming... :thumbup:

 

Good luck buddy and take care of your fingers. :smilewink:

[sharkfin61]

Sharkfins A-10C pit

 

...

 

 

 

Good luck buddy and take care of your fingers. :smilewink:

 

 

 

Hi Neo47, long time - no see :-)

 

 

 

Had the first (no not really) encounter with "kickback"ing piece of wood.

 

Was so glad That I was wearing a leather apron. :cry:

Edited June 10, 2020 by sharkfin61

[RightStuff]

Hi Joe,

glad to see you back on stage! :)

 

Good luck with your project:

Keep us informed.:thumbup:

[sharkfin61]

:) Wilco

[sharkfin61]

OK, day two of the adventure.

 

Found out, I bought too much material, shifted one digit of a width to the right :doh:

 

Results as shown:

 

(Btw. is the any function to rotate the thumbnail pictures?)

Edited June 4, 2020 by sharkfin61

[sharkfin61]

Another day (well actually 5 hours) of taking part in the challenge. Nice side effect, I can finally work with a lot of tools from my woodworkshop and make something more than woodworking jigs :megalol:

 

I hope, tomorrow I will finish the instrument panel, top cover is already done. Glareshield will be next.

Testdrive if my 27" and my Saiten rudders fit in.

Edited June 5, 2020 by sharkfin61

[Stang]

Great work Sharkfin61,

 

You're making fast progress, keep it up!

 

I am linking a tool below that you will come to love with Cockpit work, if you don't already have it.

 

Its a set of Snappy Tools Quick-Change 5-Piece, Countersink Drill Bit Set with Rotating Depth Stop.

 

You can drill your clearance holes by Screw # size, and cut the countersink at the same time with a depth STOP, so you don't over drill the Countersinks. Less than 50.00 and works great with all woods.

 

Also, with MDF and Plywood's, if you use a good wood glue, the joint will be stronger than a mechanical fastened joint, once the glue sets up. I like Gorilla Wood Glue, but any wood glue will do. Just be sure you don't need to take it apart after you glue it...once its set, its done.

 

The link for the Tool Set is HERE

 

Keep up the great work! :thumbup:

 

Stang out

[sharkfin61]

Thank you Stang!

Nice tip with the countersink, however they don't sell it to my country (anymore, I guess :music_whistling:).

I'm using another one. To be honest, I was too lazy or fuzzy to set it to the right depth (looking at my picture of the base-plate).

What I like with your proposed tool, is the ability to quick-change the hex shank drill bits.

I'm still in the process of deciding which parts to glue and wich to connect mechanically. The cockpit has to be moved into my work room/ home offfice. At the moment, I think I will go for screws and bushings to keep it more maintainable.

 

Do you have any tips on painting the mdf sheets? I know the difference in color between end grain and the rip cut can be tremendous, despite using primer?!

Edited June 6, 2020 by sharkfin61

[sharkfin61]

Short update:

 

Sunday was all measuring, scaling, sketching, erasing, printing and throwing away day.

Again, I realized, if you press on too much at a high pace, sh.t will follow.

 

Today I managed to finally cut out the instrument panel with my jigsaw (MDF is a real dustdevil), by now I'm sure, my Christmas wishes will concentrate on CNC and laser cutters :music_whistling:

 

Next thing was to fit my screen in....

Ok, the 31", that arrived 3 weeks after ordering was too big (as expected).

My son was quite astonished, when I showed up in his room, proposing him a certain hardware update in exchange for his (my old) 27" display. He was very willing to comply disassemble his setup, to free up space for the new toy.

Unfortunately the next draw-back was just count the corner. When testing the display fit still in my garage, it turned out, the bezel was way to thick to fit behind the panel.

So I finally ended up, buying a brand new display with almost zero bezel in our local computer store. From that point on, clouds began to fade and the sun ("HELIOS" in greek language ;) ) rose up again.

So, the basic parts of the front console are almost all done and fit together. Now the sanding/ painting phase will follow. Next will be the outer bezels/cover for the instruments, made from black coated HDF. The poor man's CNC (my jigsaw and circular cutter) will rise up to new fame.

(note to myself: need to buy more printer paper and ink for the plans, yes more paper. And empty the dustbin....:doh:)

 

Oh yes, pictures:

(And for those who take a closer look, yes I will sand and route it down...)

[sharkfin61]

Well, things were a little bit delayed, but that's the way the aircraft industry is working.

 

After sanding the front panel, priming it, letting it (impatiently) dry and adding the first coat of grey paint, I tried to see how deep I can cut my fingernails with the help of my drill press in conjunction with my circle cutter. I can state at this point: it cuts. :doh:

 

But I managed to make a first sample of the glass pane and bezel for the instruments. Looked nice, an all black rim with black Phillips screws. (in a kind of Ricardos "Horse of War" style :thumbup: )

 

And while I was working in my garage, the mail drop a package from Ama.....:

 

The 3.5" display for my CDU.

[sharkfin61]

Two new friends arrived today, BBI64 and BBI32,

 

All MFD parts painted, drying in the garage.

 

Looks like it's gonna be a long evening, outing and building the instrument covers.

[sharkfin61]

Day 15

Today I sanded the main instrument panel down to the wood again after I did the mfd cut-aways with my router. Much cleaner now, put on the filler, drying now.

Small draw-back but worth the work. The too small cutter holes for the mfd's were something that was also very annoying in my last version of an instrument panel with my playseat setup (always seeing the outer rims).

[sharkfin61]

Progress so far: test drive with Helios complete, up and running (took me almost a whole day to configure Helios and viewports working together).

 

 

 

 

Now with my personal profile

 

 

Over the last few days, more and more parts for my CDU/Aux Nav panel arrived.

Now I have to learn soldering and looking for my magnifier lens :)

Edited June 27, 2020 by sharkfin61

[sharkfin61]

Some soldering last night:

 

 

 

 

The CDU is evolving, slowly but surely.

[sharkfin61]

Also my consoles are at an early stage:

[Deadman]

Looking very nice great work!

[sharkfin61]

Looking very nice great work!

Thank you. My only problem with them is how to fix the aluminium square tubings as the dzus rails on it. And to connwct the frames from the square tubings without welding. Maybe I will put a 3mm layer of MDF on the consoles first.

[Deadman]

MDF sucks worthless material if your going to use Dzus rail you need a metal console

[sharkfin61]

You're definitely right, birch plywood will do the job a lot better. I just need something underneath to support the longitudinal aluminium square tubes between the frames.

 

Meanwhile I'm going nuts with the soldering of the resistors for my CDU :cry:...:doh:

[agrasyuk]

 

Meanwhile I'm going nuts with the soldering of the resistors for my CDU :cry:...:doh:

 

that will be special kind of FUN. enjoy the process :D :music_whistling:

[sharkfin61]

The fight with the deamons of electricity was won, although the war is still on....

 

LET THERE BE LIGHT!

 

[sharkfin61]

At least the lock-down has had something positive for my progress with the CDU panel.

 

It's up and running! 

 

After my troublesome approach with the Leo Bodnar Board and the LED lit switches, I took the plunge into the world of sketches and re-designed

the whole panel. Thanks to @Crosshairs for his work on the CDU/AAP sketch. 

Although I miss the back-lightning, the new switches fit way better and the matrix array saved me a lot of soldering. Maybe I stick with just 

flood light inside the console.

So, last mile to go with installing the CDU and the AAP into my (carpenter wise half-done) right console. 

Still one week off, so did I hear anybody say ... ARC-210?

 

 

Here is the movie snippet:

 

IMG_9036.avi

 

Soooo happy! This will be a good year!

Edited January 2, 2021 by sharkfin61

[sharkfin61]

While I'm still waiting for a 3.2" lcd display for my ARC-210 that is working with my MEGA2560s or my UNOs (last two items I ordered where either wrongly advertised and therefor too big  or didn't run on Arduinos), I used the time today to progress with  my AHCP. I will glue on the printed transparent foil on it.

So curious to find out, if the print is black enough when it is finally sticking on the panel.

My need for a Laser engraver/ milling machine is getting stronger and stronger....Cutting the acrylic sheets with a chopsaw worked but cutting 5mm plastic with the electric jigsaw isn't really fun. 

Things to do:

- drilling the holes for the LEDs and solder them in

- soldering the wires to the switches

- encasing the panel to rise it at least 22mm (TFT behind the main console)

- connecting to the BBI-32 (overdue for 5 days, thx to BREXIT)

 

 

[crash test pilot]

I used this display for my cdu and plan to use another one for my arc-210:

 

https://www.ebay.de/itm/3-5in-ILI9486-Control-IC-TFT-LCD-Display-Module-320x480-for-Ar-Mega2560-16-Bit-R/133455625846?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649