A couple of weeks passed and I didn't write something new. But that doesn't mean I did nothing!
As one can see on the pictures, many things happened. (Compare the pics on the post before)
The throttle console is one of these things where I had some doubts if it will come out good. But now, with some fresh paint on it, I am quite confident. Sometimes I ask myself how I made that. I had to make the sheet metal around the left front corner new because it was missing. I had to attach some sheets around the lower edge because the "colleagues" in the Dominican Rep. have not been very careful with the cutter. The rear part had to be re-attached because it was cut away during the disassembly of the cockpit.
Sounds simple in these few sentences... but it isn't! I'm not a tinsmith, I'm a computer hardware techie... but with a bit oil and metal in my blood.
Well, the mechanical part of the work is almost done. Some more parts have to be cleaned and painted and that's it... half the work is finished.
Half the work? Ah yes, the electronic part comes after that and it will be a bit complicated. potentiometers... breaking the throttle levers mechanically.... switches...levers...auto pilot...reverse lock... gear lock solenoid... etc. etc.
After a short pause I had some time to work again a bit, I have a door now! Push the pusher and come in...!
That's how it looks inside. A bit bald and woody. But that will change, I promise!
I bought a 1000pcs pack of pop rivets and aready used almost the half of them... Click...pop...tingling... With such music you don't need a radio.
10 square meters aluminum sheets, 300 wood screws and 500 rivets later it looks like this. If you ask how I will get the seats through this narrow door, you have a good reason to ask. On the left side I will make a "service door" but I have to cut it out first.
And that's 2 1/2 months later.
The masterpiece is finished! I think I can say that without exaggeration. In no other part of the cockpit I invested so much time and work and I hope that will not be necessary anymore.
A new part is ready to be connected - the wing flaps lever. First I feared to have not enough space to install the four reed switches (magnetic switches) but during the disassembly I had the idea to simply glue them to the cover next to the lever. Then glueing a small magnet to the lever itself and finished is the job.
There is some friction.... The throttle feeling is already perfect because I mounted the friction rollers. Aluminum discs and leather, pressed together by a spring. Why leather? Because the first cars had brake pads made of leather and I had nothing better in my workshop. And it works wonderfully. The potentiometers are still missing and178 other parts until the throttle console is finished.
Master and slave.... The one is a dual core Pentium 4 with 3 GHz. The other a Pentium 3 with 700 MHz. I admit these are quite unequal twins but each one fits to its purpose. The faster runs the Microsoft flight simulator, the slower some additional software for the instruments.
And there is always one who is crazier than yourself...!
A couple of weeks passed and I didn't write something new. But that doesn't mean I did nothing!
Beautiful but without a function... the trimmers. I will not convert them to work with the simulator. They are looking good and that's fine.
