Building a 737NG mip?

[HondaCop]

Ok, besides the fact that I cannot afford a nice looking mip a'la Flyengravity, I need pointer on what I need to keep in mind when building my own.

I have all the diagrams available including the CAD version of it but I have the following questions:

1. Wood or metal?
2. Thickness of panel?

I plan on taking the CAD diagram to my local CNC machine shop and need to know what special instructions I would need to tell them about. Thanks for the help guys. Hopefully this will get me started on the right track.

[jongas]

Ok, besides the fact that I cannot afford a nice looking mip a'la Flyengravity, I need pointer on what I need to keep in mind when building my own.

I have all the diagrams available including the CAD version of it but I have the following questions:

1. Wood or metal?
2. Thickness of panel?

I plan on taking the CAD diagram to my local CNC machine shop and need to know what special instructions I would need to tell them about. Thanks for the help guys. Hopefully this will get me started on the right track.

Hi,

I am just finishing my 737 MIP - will post some pics tommorrow.

I used a 3mm Aluminium sheet - it looks great and was easy to work myself.

Once i had primed and painted I attached panels i purchased from hispapanels. I cut out holes so they sit on the panel 'hollow' so they are easily and effectively backlit

This was attached to the main structure buuild from 18mm MDF - once painted this looked better than I exppected

No downsides to this that I came across.

Good luck

Jon

[B763]

I suggest acrylic glass, it`s stong, easy to shape and after all easy to finish with all deatils you want.

I dont know how big your MIP will be, but make it in parts, just like real 737NG.

B763

[HondaCop]

Looking forward to your pics! I guess I will tell the CNC machine to round off the edges to give it a more sleek look. As for the cut outs, which need to be done? Obviously the PFD, ND, Eicas, landing gear lever and standby instruments are a given, but which other cutouts I need them to do? I do plan in installing addon switches, rotaries and knobs via addon kits.

[Michael Carter]

Yes to the above, but don't forget the screw holes. Some are countersunk and others are flush for pan head screws.

Screw holes for mounting the standby instruments. These actually hold a constricting type mount that squeezes the instrument the tighter you make the screws. You won't be using these, but you still need the screw holes.

[Carlos Corona]

I´m building my own in MDF...try it!! is easy:

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/modelatino/HPIM2088.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/modelatino/CIMG0029.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/modelatino/sim14.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/modelatino/CIMG0032.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/modelatino/HPIM2094-1.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/modelatino/CIMG0030.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/modelatino/CIMG0022.jpg