Printable View
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Hill
Ha! Yep, and Nixon was giving his resignation speech!
I'll dig up a bitmap and send you a .jpg of it. Thanks. Probably won't be really soon. I have a couple of other projects on the front burner, but I'm not forgetting about it.
Well, a long weekend here and despite losing one day to work, the tools took a hammering!
It was good to finally get the fuselage off the paper and onto some wood. The plans needed a fair bit of “managing” as they came in a single sheet of paper. That meant that the various sized frames had to be traced out and from the plan after it had been cut up, making some bits harder (having to join plan bits together). Someone more organised may have worked backwards from the biggest bits to the smallest, hacking off sections as he went……I didn’t. Two reasons, really. First, hey, I’m just not that organised. Second well, er..see point one……
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../SIMG_3658.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../SIMG_3654.jpg
The seat frame, the frame behind the instrument panel and the plan. The seat frame was extended at the bottom to be square as it is the rear frame of the sim. This forms the “feet” and is rationalised away by the fact that there is a wing at the bottom anyway. The IP frame is the correct curve at the bottom. I will probably build a “wing stub” on the left side (for mounting the sim) and leave the right side with the curved base.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../SIMG_3661.jpg
The seat frame is, at the moment cut fully rounded…this was going to be the frame at the back of the radio compartment but that made the sim too long. So now that top area will be cut down to the right shape and the angle aluminium frame above will form the canopy frame above the seat back. I actually formed it around the top of the seat frame with a rubber mallet, so it is nice and smooth and even.
I just need to cut a pattern (or Tracey will) for a curved aluminium plate to rivet onto the side which needed to be cut to allow the angle alu to bend.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../SIMG_3655.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../SIMG_3663.jpg
How not to draw a pattern on to wood, measure twice, cut once…but probably best to remove the markings of the first (unsuccessful) measurement. …the firewall (front frame of the sim) also with “feet”. The spars on the side are the “main” spars which run the length of the sim, through the bottom of the instrument panel line. There are two more which will run either side about 8 inches from ground level.
The Instrument panel full mock up is next to be made because this will determine the placement of the main spars (which are not on the plan I bought) as they pass through a small “notch” cut in the bottom edge of the panel.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../SIMG_3660.jpg
Cardboard pattern cut by my wife to be used for mapping out the short frames that make up the cockpit area and door. There are now two of these which will be cut up into the smaller sections that brace the actual cockpit seating area and mount most of the equipment.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../SIMG_3659.jpg
All of the pieces from this weekend. (the silver objects are the bracing plates..I have to make the cockpit in two halves to fit through my doors.
A couple of detail shots to finish…the start of my IFF switch and destruction buttons unit and my brand new shiny fire engine red boost gauge. The flash made the metallic paint look blotchy and pockmarked. It is actually silky smooth after spraying a priming coat and four red coats over the already painted aluminium bezel but looks “bulky” like the original bakelite bezel was.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../SIMG_3651.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../SIMG_3652.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../SIMG_3667.jpg
All in all a satisfying weekend’s work and proof for the wife that I don’t just spend money on parts!
.
Looks great Tony! Always good when you can save some money on the project.
I can't wait to see this after it all comes together. ;)
Looks real good Tony.
Thanks Guys! The real work starts now I guess.
I also got news from Gwyn that the rudder pedals are done but I'll leave him to post pictures of them..they are STUNNING!!
regards
Darryl
.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Hill
Well, what can I say?
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/d...rudders_02.jpg
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/d...rudders_03.jpg
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/d...rudders_05.jpg
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/d...rudders_06.jpg
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/d...column_028.jpg
Gwyn
Gwyn, marvellous work. I am constantly in awe of what you are building for me.
I send pictures and they turn into reality.
To show everyone how good this really is, here is a photo of the real thing…..
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...e10cockpit.jpg
I told you the man was a maniac!!!
Inspired by Gwyn, I couldn’t leave the pit alone last night after work. When you are on a roll, I guess it is better to keep going. I decided to ditch the wood IFF Destruction and Control Unit and build it from aluminium instead. This required a few extra things…firstly I had to draw a pattern (unheard of) secondly I had to cut metal (NOT my thing) thirdly I had to fold and file it (bloody impossible for me) lastly, I had to get over my pathological fear of working with metal, drilled into me by a sad old man who liked nothing better than to crush young boys in his class.
Here are the results, with which I am pleased enough. Just do me a favour and don’t compare them to Gwyn’s work above!
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../SIMG_3669.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../SIMG_3670.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../SIMG_3672.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../SIMG_3671.jpg
It is now all primed and ready to be painted that sickly cockpit green colour that I will have to have the local paint supplier mix specially for me.
Baby steps…..
Darryl
.
Man that look absolutely great Tony!
The rudder pedals by Gwyn are awesome too. He IS the Master of Mechanics.
Michael,
Cheers for that. It really did take a fair bit for me to pick up a hacksaw...but the next piece, the "spare globe holder" will be easier to build but have three cutouts. I will have to improve on those, as they will need to be perfectly round to fit the light holders.
Using aluminium will significantly improve the realism of the sim though, so.....
thanks
Darryl
.
Hi all,
Here are some more progress shots of Darryl's plug'n'play flight controls. I plugged them in the other night for a 10 minute test flight and found that the ailerons were reversed...doh! So after a quick modification to the roll potentiometer mount it was ready to fire up the Merlin again. The Sidewinder software made it so easy set up and I've been flying "Darryl's Spitfire" every night since the controls have been working. It's been so long since I've flown anything but the 737 it has been great fun, the helicopters were great with this set up to. Another job that I won't want to hand over!
Front damper and rudder bar pivot point. (The timber is a temporary footing)
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/w....php?file=3844
Brake switches and yaw pot drive
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/w....php?file=3846
Pitch pot drive and adjustable yoke travel stops
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/w....php?file=3848
Roll pot drive and the 'black box' which houses the Sidewinder joystick circuit boards.
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/w....php?file=3850
Door closers used for centering, they work much better than I expected which was very pleasing. Note the grey stoppers locked to the rods which keep the column in the neutral position. When the column tilts, the damper rod that isn't being pulled slides freely through the stainless brackets fixed to the column.
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/w....php?file=3852
This is an airworthy replica spade grip supplied by Darryl, it is really heavy and the chain had to have large springs fitted for self centering.
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/w....php?file=3854
Almost finished, it just needs the brakes and chain guard finishing before Darryl's paint job ruins the shine!
Gwyn
OMG Gwyn, that is one of the most professional looking mechanisms I've seen in a long time. I have got to get a look at this baby before it travels to Bunbury!
I'll see you Sunday.
Ken.
Ruins the shine? RUINS THE SHINE???Quote:
Originally Posted by Westozy
Those Fokkers will see me a hundred miles away if I cruise around with all that silver glinting in the sun....might as well paint the whole cockpit bright yellow. ;)
No, I'll go for that horrible sickly green thank you very much. No nasty cannon shells messing with your fine engineering that way!
:D:D
Looking great Gwyn. Looking forward to Sunday.
Ken,
I recon if we BOTH tackle him at the same time, we might just get it off him...
cheers
Darryl
Oh, and yeah, those fokkers IS Messerschmidts!!
LOL!! Darryl, you distract him with another tricky hardware request and I'll chuck your lot in the car!! :D:D:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Tony Hill
Ken.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kennair
I have this other idea: we build this giant wooden BADGER simulator and..........
oh, never mind......
.
LOL! Love it, another Python fan!Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Hill
Ken.
Looks real sweet. That's a very similar design to what I'm working on for the Lanc...in fact I think I'll have to "borrow" a few ideas there....bwuahahaha!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kennair
You're both using coconuts, it's only a model!
Gwyn
Quote:
Originally Posted by Westozy
It's people like you what cause unrest!
Well, a frustrating Saturday still fiddling with the Oil Temp. I now have 3 different templates but each has its strengths and weaknesses. I still have another couple of avenues to pursue this week.
But Sunday made it all worth it.
I met up with Gwyn and Ken and got to see the controls in action. Due to some quick thinking on Ken's part (a quick recitation of "The Dead Parrot Sketch") Gwyn was distracted long enough for me to have a go! :p:p
The controls are unbelievable. Quite simply stunning.
I took up a copy of Tony Bianchi flying the MK I and after showing the guys some serious aeros in the sim, we watched the dvd just so Gwyn could see how close he had pegged the setup. The aileron controls are very accurate with a set of near perfect square rolls and cuban eights being achieved after only 5 minutes feeling out the inputs. The square rolls were an absolute delight to fly and all that was missing was the sensation of hanging upside down in the straps when half way round. The stick feels like a real aircraft joystick and responds very much like the stick in the Extra...exactly what I was looking for.
I am seriously sold on the "broken" stick arangement and can see why the Brits used it. I can't undestand why more aircraft designers didn't follow suit, the Spitfire and Hurricane being the main, if not only, aircraft to use it.
Ken then had a go and after a nice approach and landing, took off and demonstrated what could best be described as an "upward rolling half cuban spinning stall turn with a double pike". I believe it is "patent pending" :D
After that (and a disasterous foray into helicopter operations by Ken and myself) we took off to Bullcreek for a look at the resident Spitfire 22. Gwyn's connections got us into the museum for the right price ;) and also got access to the left and right sides of the Spitfire for photographic purposes. Unfortunately we couldn't actually get in as there was manequin firmly holding that territory.Some good scaling and detail photos had.
The afternoon concluded with a nice lunch and dozens of flying stories at the cafe overlooking the main runways at Jandakot. A very sullen, sulky Darryl then departed without the controls (on the rather thin premise that ALL pots have to be connected for Gwyn to build and calibrate the throttle:roll: ) :) :)
Various prizes are to be awarded for the day:
Gwyn..best Helicopter flying
...Best overall Spitfire Controls Build.
Ken..best Controlled Flight into Terrain (Bell Jetranger)
...Biggest B^$7^#& (for his aircraft carrier story).
Darryl..Best choice of vehicle (you know that Ford makes them now, Gwyn)
...Best "almost collection" of secure documents previously left behind
at a flight school
cheers guys for a great day!!!
TONY er.....Darryl
Thanks Darryl for a very entertaining expose on the afternoon, and I thought I just rocked up for lunch!
Seriously though I can vouch for the incredible craftsmanship of the spitfire controls. The combination of Gwyns skills and Darryl's attention to detail is going to result in a very authentic build, and after hearing how dedicated Darryl was (is) to his F16 pit, you can bet the Spitfire's going to be a doozy!
Thanks again guys,
Ken.
Sounds like a great afternoon of simming.
Hope to see it in action soon!
Thanks Michael,
Ok, I got the camera charged and a couple of recent progress pics.
The “Danger” flap on the IFF completed:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1..._3713small.jpg
Panel work. The temporary panel is out of 3mm hardboard. It is OK for test fitting but too weak for the final product. We will draw a detailed measured plan off this and send it for laser cutting in 3mm aluminium.
The real plan here is difficult to get cut because it is in Imperial (and everybody here speaks that metric crap these days) and the gauges from Flight Illusion are slightly different size to some of the real ones. It was a useful guide though.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1..._3712small.jpg
And my temp:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1..._3708small.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1..._3710small.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1..._3709small.jpg
The Blind Flying Panel cut out is also not quite right but the coreldraw plan for cutting will have it marked correctly and the BFP covers it anyway.
And finally …a very frustrating night spent masking, painting, stripping, repainting etc the gunsight buldbs….until I was ready to smash them for the untidy edges…..THEN I found a few pictures of real ones
And they have untidy edges anyway. So here they are, finished for better or worse.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1..._3711small.jpg
This weekend is hopefully to be spent assembling and truing up the fuselage section.
Cheers
Darryl
Hi, not much time today but thought I’d give a quick progress report:
The cast of characters..these are the port side ribs and frames (ex the top part of the actual cockpit area. Visible are the instrument panel, instrument panel spacer, instrument panel main support frame, front wall, rear “seat” wall and the U shaped ribs.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...H/aMG_3718.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../aIMG_3717.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../aIMG_3719.jpg
My home made jigs for truing up the framework.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../aIMG_3720.jpg
The starboard side substantially put together and trued up. The only thing left to do is the front firewall needs fitting to the longerons once they are cut to final length..that is tonight’s job.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../aIMG_3714.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../aIMG_3715.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../aIMG_3716.jpg
More to come. Over Easter I should be able to get the cockpit framework just about complete..that is the plan anyway.
The weekend’s work plus 4 warning placards etc made a few weeks ago.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...aaIMG_3721.jpg
The first three are printed on plain paper and then glued to aluminium plates and sprayed with sealant. The last is on laserlite, black over silver, which is self adhesive
And put onto another alu plate.
More of my crap glue joins, they will be cleaned up but I wanted to avoid diagonal nails etc which will show on the finished “painted metal” look finish.This meant cutting slots for the joins and using a heap of glue which will be sanded away from all but the hollows of the joins.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...aaIMG_3727.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...aaIMG_3725.jpg
The instrument panel baseline is on the datum and therefore determined the position of the top longeron.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...aaIMG_3726.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...aaIMG_3723.jpg
The bottom one was placed by educated guess and a bit of extrapolation from GA drawings. It is also placed to provide a good base for the seat supports I have to build in, which will be hidden under the seat and not at all “original” or accurate.
Finally, the finish of the Easter work:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...aaIMG_3722.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...aaIMG_3724.jpg
The seat back frame needs to be further shaped and this is marked but not done. Then a large triangular armour plate covers it anyway!
The hardest thing was deciding on the shape of the hollows in the frames and cutting them out. The plans only had the outside shape of the frames and the same shape on the inside (ie gave a thickness only) but that is not how a real Spitfire is shaped. A lot of pouring over drawings and photos late I "trial and errored" its ar$e until I got something I was happy with.
Next step is to build the upper cockpit walls and the door on the port side.
The other instruments from FI are “nearing completion” so hopefully not too much longer. Once I have them I can finish the IP pattern and get it properly cut out of 3mm Aluminium.
Very pleased just now :) :)
It's almost flyable! Sweet. I think you probably got the thickness fairly correct from drawings I've seen, so it looks good.
What are you going to use for the armor plate on the pilots seat?
Thanks Mate,
Yes, she will be flyable, at least to a basic level very soon. I just have to convince Gwyn that the controls have actually finished their "extensive pre-release quality assurance assessment and implementation testing phase" (read : He gets bored playing with them :D:D:D)
The armour will just be an MDF sheet. I am not planning on getting shot at for real!!
Darryl
This is starting to look pretty cool. I'm interested in watching the progress of the build. :)
Thanks Mate,
Last weekend I ended up RL flying and building was put off. One full day comming up this weekend which should see some major additions go on to complete the starboard structure and maybe some seat work. Port side I still have to decide how I am going to do the door.
Darryl
Darryl, that Spitfire is f****** awesome! Great Job! If you ever want to part with the CAD files, let me know. My 'bot 'll make quick work of them. ;)
g.
Hi Darryl,
I'll be starting the throttle quad next weekend and finishing off the flight controls soon after. Ken and I are planning on flying a C172 to Bussleton to deliver your parts and visit Darryland when it's all ready to go!
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/w...le=3854&size=1
Gwyn
Any possability of you making and releasing CAD files for the build? Looks great.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BHawthorne
What is this "AUTO CAD" of which you speak? :)
Sorry mate, strictly a pen, paper, cardboard cutout sort of a guy. I would not have the first clue of how to create a CAD drawing. The shapes, apart from the outside curves, are all done by eye, carpenter's pencil and a lot of "spit, wipe off, redraw". Although I have very little ability to actually work with wood, I have always been able to look at a pile of it and form a good picture in my head of how it will look made up. The real challenge to then make my limited ability approximate what I saw in my head.
I would be happy to give someone the information and measurements to put a drawing together..if that is enough? Photo's of bits with some measurements drawn on in MS "Paint"? Copies of GA drawings etc?
Let me know if thta would help.
Gwyn,
Legend!! I'll look forward to it. It is a pitty the aerobat is gone, otherwise I would quite happily torture you both for hours :p :p
Darryl
Some small progress, I still need to take pictures of the starboard upper cockpit wall taking shape.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...panelandUC.jpg
AND a sneak preview of the throttle...I hope Gwyn doesn't mind but it just looks SO good I couldn't keep it to myself....
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../SpitTQ002.jpg
.
Oooohhh....cool. Where and how is the pot going to be attached to the throttle? Just out of curiosity cause I had some serious problems figuring out my own.
Tony just out of curiousity how in the world do those gunsight thingys work that are shown the pic the 3 silver balls that look 1/2 black 1/2 silver.
Tim
A10 Thunderbolt II
Cresent,
Not quite sure where the pot will go but Gwyn tells me it will be on the quadrant somewhere. The mixture and prop pitch are going to go on rods, forward through the instrument panel frame running to linear pots.
Tim,
The bulbs work by shading all the light forward and up through the silver portion and onto the reflector glass. Simple and effective. I am still considering whether to use the 12 volts and relays for the lights or replace the whole lot with LEDs driven directly by the Phidgets card.
I was hoping to have photos of the upper cockpit structure but have found that although I worked off the real plans, they are wrong for the placement of the ribs above datum in the cockpit area!! Can't believe it but several dozen photos prove it. I am not pleased!! When the damage is repaired (and when I sober up and when I stop strangling small animals!) I will rip it all off and start again. It's days like this I really wish I had listened to what my mother told me when i was a child.....
Darryl
Ok, a little later than I'd hoped but here goes....
The upper starboard structure (there is a u shaped hood slide that goes on top of the aft section that is still under construction)
This has been rebuilt to match up with the actual plans for the door on the port side...a whole drama there with unreliable GA drawings.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...H/IMG_3768.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...H/IMG_3769.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...H/IMG_3770.jpg
The instrument panel was going to be plasma cut but I thought I would have a go first..if I $&^(&*^ it I can always get it plasma cut later...
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...H/IMG_3766.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...H/IMG_3767.jpg
The holes were cut by scribing the correct size circle with a compass, "gang drilling" to within 1 mm of the circle (there is never a gang drilling assembly around when you need one, so I had to do that the old fashioned way with a compass, a centre punch and a single drill bit!) , cutting out with a jigsaw and then hand finishing until the gauge surround fit snuggly into the holes. This had to be done slowly and carefully because the gauges actually poke through the holes from the back...so nothing covers any mistakes.
It is not perfect but it is close enough....only 10 instruments, two indicators, three switches, one flap valve, one oxy regulator hole and one gunsight shade slit to go....total time on the BFP and cutting the IP blank, so far, six hours!:oops:
And the wood BFP fitted with the instruments.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...H/IMG_3765.jpg
More soon hopefully
Darryl
Hi Darryl,
Nice to see some project not common here and yours looks very interesting.
You have make very good work there.
Cool :D
Wonderfull!!!
Thanks Guys,
I should have some more progress to show by the end of the week,
Darryl