Abominable snowman, or my dog playing in the snow?
And as winter hits in earnest, a little formation work gets put in.
Here we go. Pull the old panel, take everything off, and cut it apart. Now we're committed to rebuilding the panel.
Practice makes perfect. I'll never be as good working metal as TJ, that takes years of experience and talent, but if I can be competent and get his respect I'll be happy.
I spent an inordinate amount of time deciding on the layout of the landing gear lights, but it's something I honestly find fun. (Another shameless plug for XPanel software, great program.).
I probably voided the warranty by doing this, but I didn't like the ACI eFlap mounting plate, so as both a challenge and solution I decided to make it recessed and cut individual openings for each pushbutton. Wish I could change the color of the buttons, but at least I'll be able to find them easily.
And for the wing panels. I got tired of fumbling under the panel for the Dynon USB extension and decided to mount it on the left wing panel, while on the right side I wanted to add a USB charging socket for phones, cameras, etc.
Instead, using my new-found metalworking skills, I'm just going to take the old USB extender and mount it into the panel above the switches.
At the same time, I've been working on the front bulkhead. Paper template first,
transferred to some old foam for fitting. Anther thing that seems easier than it was, I'm sure there's a trick to making paper templates from a complex curve, but if there is, I didn't find it. All good.
Next step will be to glass it in, one of these days when I have time. I'm basically copying the new SeaRey's design, I'll have the battery hanging off the front and the relays on the back, the ELT will be somewhere on aircraft right behind the bulkhead.
A long time ago I had put the seatpans in with Rivnuts, when I burned out working on the panel I took a day and replaced the rear seat mounting tube with a new one.
Now we're seriously digging into the electrical. In a classic case of "You don't know how much you don't know until you realize how much you don't know.", while building the wiring harness I did not make a detailed list of the wiring, so it's time to go back and make one.
I got to fly this last week. 23 years ago I started out flying ATRs from a gate nearby that no longer exists, it's been a long, strange, wonderful trip.
But really, it's not about the planes, it's about the friends you make along the way. Gator, James, and me at the wrap party for Sun 'n Fun 2019. The t-shirts say "This ain't Oshkosh", which is an informal motto among the volunteers at Sun 'n Fun, and the shirts are available here, with all proceeds going to charity.
And the gang.
And as winter hits in earnest, a little formation work gets put in.
Here we go. Pull the old panel, take everything off, and cut it apart. Now we're committed to rebuilding the panel.
Practice makes perfect. I'll never be as good working metal as TJ, that takes years of experience and talent, but if I can be competent and get his respect I'll be happy.
I spent an inordinate amount of time deciding on the layout of the landing gear lights, but it's something I honestly find fun. (Another shameless plug for XPanel software, great program.).
I probably voided the warranty by doing this, but I didn't like the ACI eFlap mounting plate, so as both a challenge and solution I decided to make it recessed and cut individual openings for each pushbutton. Wish I could change the color of the buttons, but at least I'll be able to find them easily.
And for the wing panels. I got tired of fumbling under the panel for the Dynon USB extension and decided to mount it on the left wing panel, while on the right side I wanted to add a USB charging socket for phones, cameras, etc.
To fit the USB ort into the panel I needed room, one version was to change the orientation of the switches from horizontal to angled up along the curve of the glareshield. Failed experiment, adding the USB port made the panel crowded, and the angled switches did not work in a simple flow so the idea was junked and we went back to the horizontal switch layout.
Instead, using my new-found metalworking skills, I'm just going to take the old USB extender and mount it into the panel above the switches.
At the same time, I've been working on the front bulkhead. Paper template first,
transferred to some old foam for fitting. Anther thing that seems easier than it was, I'm sure there's a trick to making paper templates from a complex curve, but if there is, I didn't find it. All good.
Next step will be to glass it in, one of these days when I have time. I'm basically copying the new SeaRey's design, I'll have the battery hanging off the front and the relays on the back, the ELT will be somewhere on aircraft right behind the bulkhead.
A long time ago I had put the seatpans in with Rivnuts, when I burned out working on the panel I took a day and replaced the rear seat mounting tube with a new one.
Now we're seriously digging into the electrical. In a classic case of "You don't know how much you don't know until you realize how much you don't know.", while building the wiring harness I did not make a detailed list of the wiring, so it's time to go back and make one.
But really, it's not about the planes, it's about the friends you make along the way. Gator, James, and me at the wrap party for Sun 'n Fun 2019. The t-shirts say "This ain't Oshkosh", which is an informal motto among the volunteers at Sun 'n Fun, and the shirts are available here, with all proceeds going to charity.
And the gang.
