Cessna 172 Replica Production

Hi Chris

Excellent work as always mate! Keep it up!

Put me down for a flaps lever! I'm interested!

Cheers,

Alex

Chris

Is there any special reason you want the chassis in "exspensive stainless," just looking at the prototype with the acrylic chassis surely has to be better, why hide the incredible work you have done here for us fellow simmers, isnt it better to see all the mechanical parts working in harmony, i for one enjoy that sort of thing and im sure there are others out there who feel the same "or mabe i'm just sad" and off course it must be a cheaper opption.

Paul

Here is the original prototype where the chassis was cut from mild steel. Unfortunately this is the version that had a multitude of errors hence why returning to the acrylic chassis.

http://www.simbits.com/img/flaps_3.jpg

After two weeks in a dry environment it looks like this...

http://www.simbits.com/img/flaps_4.jpg

It is not possible to use acrylic because the flap lever is spring metal like the original lever that bends into the notch positions. When it bends there is lots of stress on the chassis so the acrylic bends too (not good)

Stainless is expensive but there are alternatives such as aluminium or just paint the chassis to protect it.

Today I bought some acrylic glue so will attempt to make a new acrylic chassis but this time there be no bending, just cutting the sections out seperately and sticking them together. Will post results this evening

Chris

Thank you for the explanation Chris i didnt realize it was spring metal point taken about the stress, then would it not be better to stick with alluminium as this will be lighter material to keep the weight to a minimum and cheaper than having the metal chassis painted or powder coated.
Which ever way you go i want one

Paul

Quote:

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Originally Posted by webitman

Thank you for the explanation Chris i didnt realize it was spring metal point taken about the stress, then would it not be better to stick with alluminium as this will be lighter material to keep the weight to a minimum and cheaper than having the metal chassis painted or powder coated.
Which ever way you go i want one

Paul

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my gut feeling is to go with aluminium. It will need to be a good tough grade to be strong at only 1.5mm thick.

Chris

Is there anyway you can use a thicker aluminium say 2-3mm for the strength and countersink your fittings, providing your design allows for this.

Paul

Here is a better prototype fresh out of the laser cutter. This time I just made snap fits and glued it to get the correct dimensions.

http://www.simbits.com/img/flaps_5.jpg

http://www.simbits.com/img/flaps_6.jpg

If anyone would like to pre order one of these then please pm me. Raising a few quid now will help pay for the chassis cost to get it complete. I also have a design for a pitch wheel mechanism that would be next on the table.

Chris

Excellent, have sent you a PM.
Les
P.S are you going to supply without servo as i have plenty floating around spare.

Hi Chris.

How much do these cost?

Cheers

Alex

Chris

You can put me down for one of these.

Please let us know what the cost will be as some of us will have to save hard.

Are there any more updates on the displays.

Paul