A-4Simpit

A-4K Skyhawk Simpit NZ6202

* Update Feb 18th 2002 *
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Feb 18, 2002
Dragged the old beast out for a photo shoot. (I really need to buy a digital camera! can't rely on the generosity of friends forever....)

So whats new since the last shots?

Canopy bow - correct location and dimensions (was too low and waaaay too far forward)
A few more details on the seat (emergency restrait release and survival pack)
Built a steel frame to keep everything square and rigid (Galvinased U section beams, welded)
Added castors to allow me to move the thing from where it is stored out into the workshop to, err, work on it :)
First of the instrument panels are temporarily mounted, they still need a heap more holes punched in them, but they do allow me to test fit other components, and to build the structures behind the panels.
Good news... well 3 bits actually!

Tara and I have bought a house, so the A-4 gets a permanent home in a custom built room in the garage
Russell and Clarkey *STUMBLED* onto a guy who has 2, yes 2!!! EPIC cards, one of which will be living in the A-4!!!
Clarkey (I *MUST* buy you a Beer mate!) found a source of small LCD displays which will (hopefully) drive my 2 cockpit displays....

Oh and sorry about the sloooooow loading time. Didn't want to mess around with thumbnails and stuff....too busy building this thing :)

I *DO* like this shot :) The canopy bow and front screen support finish the lines of the A-4 IMHO

The first of the panels are in place, still a lot more holes to be punched in the aluminium (all the scribled 54's are where the 54mm holes go... just haven't got there yet) The MDF shelf below the panel will be removed once the rest of the forward structure is built.

Another look at the panel, this time with the glareshield mock up in place. The bad fit of the glareshield is due to some dimensional changes on the upper panel. I will need to make a new cardboard template before I make the final styrene version.
You can also see the new canopy bow, stainless steel strips over laminated 3mm MDF, real strong and looks the part :)

Rear end of the pit on it's new steel frame. You can see some of the cool toys in the background... makes pit building easy with these kinds of tools on hand <g>

Front on (although I *must* learn how to stand straight with that damn camera! The new windscreen frame adds something to the look. The strip of MDF at the front will be replaced with a full height contoured panel (with an access panel for the miles of wiring to come...)

Last shot this time... The front again (duh) without the glareshield. You can see the back of the panels (see it says "back" thats how I could tell...) and more of the relationship between seat/canopy/panel.