727 painted. First coat anyway. (lots of pictures)

[Michael Carter]

I finished filling and sanding, installing the forward window trim, and several small details on the bottom half today.

It ain't perfect, but I sure am happy with the way the bottom half turned out. Now on to the upper window trim and the utility section over the aft window.

It's been a long road from this:

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/boeing722/727MIP.jpg


To this:

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/boeing722/cockpit047.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/boeing722/0168623.jpg


The paint is oil based and is still very wet. It probably won't be fully cured until Thursday when a second coat will be applied. You can't see it in the photos, but there are several streaks with white showing through in spots.

The paint leveled fairly well, but a light sanding is going to be needed before the second coat is applied. I don't even know if it's the correct color, but it's close enough for me.

Wish I had photos of the other side, but it ain't there! :D

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/boeing722/cockpit045.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/boeing722/cockpit044.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/boeing722/cockpit043.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/boeing722/cockpit042.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/boeing722/cockpit041.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/boeing722/cockpit040.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/boeing722/cockpit39.jpg

[Philb737]

Nice job Mike,;)
Where did you get the eyeball vent?

[Michael Carter]

Thanks Phil.

That is a SteinAir vent Boeing part from Aircraft Spruce. $90 anodized or black. Shipping $6, a lot less that a fricken cable from NewEgg.com

[Matt Olieman]

DAMN that looks good Mike!!!! Looks FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :)

Matt Olieman

[carlos hermida]

Nice pics and good job, Mike! btw I love the 727 engines sound, for me the most impressive when it takes off ;)

[Michael Carter]

Thanks guys. :D:D:D I can't believe it looks nearly like it's supposed to. I'm starting to think I really do have a 727 in my basement.

I wish I could sit in it, but the paint is still too wet and I don't want to bump it.

[737NUT]

Looks Good! I need to post some updated pics of my 727 as well. Need to do an online 727 formation flight! :)

[Michael Carter]

Thanks man!

An online formation flight would be great! I've had my new system set up since November of last year but still haven't downloaded the IVAO software or Teamspeak programs for on-line flight.

Details, details.

I got so fed up with the French contollers not being able to understand their english that I gave up flying out of, or into de Gaulle all together. One of the requirements of IVAO, as in the real-world is to be able to speak, read, and understand the english language to be able to contol.

I can verstehen the Austrians, Germans, and Swiss, but I try and steer clear of France except for overfilght. Even the Czeks and Italians are better than the French.

Thanks for the nice comments. How's your's coming along?

[project 727]

Michael,

Your Boeing 727 Simulator goes far beyond the hobby of flight simulation and cockpit building.

It has evolved into a Wonderful Exhibit of AVIATION ART in which the SCIENCE AND ART OF AVIATION can be simulated!!!" ;-) ;-) :wink:

CONGRATULATIONS CAPTAIN !!!
Joe Maldonado
PROJECT 727
www.xsn.net/project727 (http://www.xsn.net/project727)

[Michael Carter]

Thanks Joe. That means a lot coming from the man with the best 727 simulator on the planet.

I was a real challenge to get it to look like a 727 on the inside. I still have much to do on the upper half. But I'm pretty satisfied witht the bottom half.

Thanks for checking in. ;-)

[blueskydriver]

Mike,

Nice work you got going there. You mentioned the right side aint there. Well, I have some of the items that could help you for that side, as well as other areas. The parts came from the 727 Shell I got last year.

I have the items in a box and I know I am not going to use them. There is also a few parts I did not get out of the shell yet. If you're interested in them please PM me and I'll send you some photos...

John

[Michael Carter]

Mike,

Nice work you got going there. You mentioned the right side aint there. Well, I have some of the items that could help you for that side, as well as other areas. The parts came from the 727 Shell I got last year.

I have the items in a box and I know I am not going to use them. There is also a few parts I did not get out of the shell yet. If you're interested in them please PM me and I'll send you some photos...

John

Hi John,

I'd be interested in them if the other side of the sim was there, but unfortunately I can't build it. I have a chimmney in the way right about at the middle of the FO's side of the instrument panel, and a wall that comes off of that for about for inches that leads you to where I'm typing this.

I'm grateful to have what I've built so far, and thanks for the offer. I'm sure there is another 727 builder out there somewhere who needs those parts.

The parts you do have that are for the left side I doubt would fit since the simmulator is not to spec. It might be an inch off or three inches off. At any rate, I'm too far into this for real trim parts now.

I would have liked to see you post a few months ago though. I would have jumped on the parts then.

[Westozy]

Good stuff Mike, it looks great,

Just a thought - a few months ago I installed black curtains to the side of my sim which blocks out the "outside world". I can't see any part of my studio when operating the sim and this was a really big improvement with regard to the sensation of motion. It has quite an impact and I wished I had done it sooner. It's still a push on until the other two projectors arrive and I install surround vision but still highly recommended.

Gwyn

[Michael Carter]

Thanks Gwyn, I was thinking about that earlier tonight while up close and personal with the forward windscreen support. I'm seeing too much room paneling.

I was thinking of using black taffeta or a light polyester to hide the corners of the monitor since it doesn't quite stretch the width of the windscreen.

I'm eventually going to install 1/2" plexi into the window openings, but I think draping a black covering material over them would be even better than glass.

Thanks for looking Gwyn.

[brianwilliamson]

Gooday Mike, that is one beautiful job you have done. It never ceases to amaze me of the great talents that we see on this site. keep up the good work.
I must see if I can locate one of those airvents for the A320.
Cheers.........Brian W

[Shawn]

That looks incredible, very well done. I've only just started building my cockpit and seeing what's actually possible is very motivating. It must be great getting so close to completing (are they ever actually finished?) what looks like years of work. My glare shield comes back from the upholstery shop on friday and I'm like a kid at Christmas, I can't wait to see it on the panel. :p

[QF6228]

Man that looks good mike well done! So much for a guy that was not up for the Idea of an Inclosed flightdeck....Look at you now! One of the best.

Damien

[Michael Carter]

Thanks guys.

Shawn, anything is possible, even for unsupported aircraft. Your only limits are your imagination and desire.

I'm glad that this does show what is possible and hopefully keeps those still wanting to build a shell or even just starting on their sim motivated and enthused about the hobby.

Sometimes when something doesn't work, you just have to find another way of doing it until it does work and do it the best you can.

[Tomlin]

Sometimes when something doesn't work, you just have to find another way of doing it until it does work and do it the best you can.

Yes, this is so very true. Even if it means you have to go back to school to learn software programming! :-)

Boy, I hope I can find someone to help me along here! (:{}

[phil744]

Wow, your 727 is coming along in leaps and bounds, well done looking ace:D

[Padraig]

Its really nice to see something other than A320`s and 737`s all the time, you have really done a great job on that one I must say. It looks just like the real thing. Fair play to you :D

[Matthijs Borgdorff]

It looks amazing! That must be one heck of a trip to fly in that! Honestly, amazing work! Like was said earlier, a true work of art! :D