Starting over... Vidar's 737

[vidarf]

JWS: exactly what I deserve....... Thanks, buddy!

PNP stuff is awesome. Expensive, but you don't have to spend hundreds of hours building the tiniest thingamabobs. Although it is fun to do so, I would rather spend my time "flying". Oh well - it is a hobby after all.

Efe, you touch on a very important point. I _have_ to be organized, because I have to consider the backlighting on the overhead. My MIP, from FDS and with IBL panels, was _far_ easier to wire up. And I will go for the Plug and Pray products for the pedestal, that's for sure!

Anyway, it is fun to have started building again!
I'll update this thread as building progresses, but do not expect frequent updates. It takes tiiiiiiiiiime!

[notgotaclue]

I think that as the hobby develops into an industry (as it has in the past 5 years) we have more people buying parts that are pretty much plug and play. And I'm not criticizing these people, all the power to them. But as this happens, the cockpit building of our days where you were lucky to get panels from a company much less the interfacing and coding starts to fade away. To many new builders in my opinion this becomes old school and much less appreciated.

I am afraid that is the society we live in, eveyone wants things NOW and are not prepared to put in the hard work - I include myself in this.
I could learn how to interface a to b and programme c to work with d, but I prefer to pay an extra few pounds and know that I will receive a working PNP module, rather than spend weeks trying to get something to work.
All respect to the people who build their own MCP or EFIS, This does not interest me and I prefer to buy them ready made and spend my time and efforts on things that I get enjoyment from.
Allan.

[Efe Cem Elci]

I am afraid that is the society we live in, eveyone wants things NOW and are not prepared to put in the hard work - I include myself in this.
I could learn how to interface a to b and programme c to work with d, but I prefer to pay an extra few pounds and know that I will receive a working PNP module, rather than spend weeks trying to get something to work.
All respect to the people who build their own MCP or EFIS, This does not interest me and I prefer to buy them ready made and spend my time and efforts on things that I get enjoyment from.
Allan.

As I said Allan, my aim was not to criticize anyone for how they take part in this hobby but rather to hypothesize as to why there is not much interest generated in the forum for these "old school" building threads.

[notgotaclue]

As I said Allan, my aim was not to criticize anyone for how they take part in this hobby but rather to hypothesize as to why there is not much interest generated in the forum for these "old school" building threads.

Hi,
I didnt take it in any way as a critisism (i probably spelt that wrong), I was just putting across a reasoning behind why PNP is so popular on a personal level. I find the threads where people describe how they put together overheads, tq etc very interesting. Some of the home made TQ are spectacular and the time and effort put into them must be immense. I wish I had the necessary skills to do the same, but I dont.
The guy who made a car into a simulator was brilliant and so unique and just shows how mental we all are.
As I said, I enjoy reading the "how to" threads, I dont really comment because apart from the usual "that is great" reply, I would have nothing else to add or contribute.
Allan.

[vidarf]

Some of the big holes in my overhead are now occupied by gauges!



Click on the image for more info.

The overhead is REALLY starting to look good. But - does anybody have any ideas on how to make the glass inserts for the gauges? I could cut them from plexi glass, but that's no small undertaking! Vaccuuforming has also been considered, but that's a whole new ballgame.

[vidarf]

All the gauges are mounted!
I managed to make the lenses too. Not too hard, but a messy an tedious job! But it's done now.



(click on the image for the whole shebang)

Some minor detail work on two of the lenses, and it's done! The aft overhead and the backlighting is next after that. And that's all there is for the overhead panels! YAYY!

[vidarf]

Finally, all the gauges are mounted and ready for use:

(click on the image for the details).

A little detail work, and it's all completed - for the gauge part that is. On to the AFT overhead and then the backlighting. Oh, and the start switches. Does it never end???

[vidarf]

I feel like a woman! Detailing!
Or - how to create a realistic look by attention to small things:



Click on the image for further details and more on the topic.

What do you think? Madness or a good idea?

[vidarf]

Two different updates this time. Click on the images for the full madness.

I started building the cockpit sidewalls:



And here's a few words on the backlighting and pedestal flood light I'm working on:



More will follow!

[fsaviator]

Very nice, Vidar. Looks great!