Well, finally got started on a shell. This is the Flightdeck Solutions old wood ribbed shell. I picked it up from someone who wanted to get rid of it and am working on piecing it back together my way. I am going to remake the window frames as I wasn't happy with the ones that were with it and as some of you know this is tricky but having the basic shape really helps and hopefully will have them done in the next week. I decided based on advise from Ivar to try and angle it into the corner of my room and it worked out perfect. This will allow me to have a 6-7ft radius screen going around the nose for the projection and I hope to get 180-225 degree wrap around with TH2GO, NTHusiam, and 3 DLP WXGA short thow projectors. All in good time.
Due to the way the shell fits in the room the outside will never be seen which means that I wont feel the need to finish it (phew....). Afterall, it is the inside perspective that really matters!
You can see my co-pilot Don Harrison in one of the pictures. He was kind enough to come over and give me a helping hand. He also brought beer! With his help what you see was accomplished in about 12 hours of total build time.
My plan is to finish the windows then the top. It will be able to break down into 5 pieces (two sides, top, and two back walls). Next I will work on interior panels, placing the MIP, pedestal, seats, dual linked real rudders, and my yoke setup. Finally I will finish it off with the glorias FDS overheads, CDUs, and CP Flight MCP and Efis units.
Scott
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PS-Full size pictures here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/orionsbelt/sets/72157622388681607/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/orionsbelt/sets/72157622388681607/)
Hey Scott,
Glad to see you are at the point that you can start on your shell . . that is going to look great. Looking forward to seeing the interior components installed.
That looks great. Much better than mine turned out... Good luck!
Warren
Looks Great!! I had one of the first, maybe even the first wood shell from FDS years ago and gave up after about 2 weeks! lol
Keep up the good work! Looking forward to seeing the progress.
Mike Leavy
Wow that's one hell of a jigsaw Scott, but looking great. Must be satisfying, not to mention inspiring, to have the shell from the start. Reminds me of Ron's L45 kit. Incidentally what's your room size and the shell footprint?
Ken.
Quote from: Kennair on June 13, 2010, 09:37:19 PM
Wow that's one hell of a jigsaw Scott, but looking great. Must be satisfying, not to mention inspiring, to have the shell from the start. Reminds me of Ron's L45 kit. Incidentally what's your room size and the shell footprint?
Ken.
The room is 12ft wide (3.65m) by 16 ft (4.88m) long. Ceiling height (except for vent duct area) is 7.5 ft (2.28 m).
The base frame you see the shell sitting on is exactly 8ft by 8ft square (2.44m sq). The back wall of the shell is a little wider than the platform (approx 9ft) and as you can see the back wall almost touches the ceiling. Platform floor height is about 9 inches so shell height on top of that is about 81" tall (2m).
It is tight but should work. Toughest part will be getting projectors squeezed in right above and aft of the windows on the ceiling. I will likely use the BenQ 782st's that Ivar used or InFocus 1503's and throw distance (screen radius from TQ) will be about 6 ft.
Scott
Looks great Scott. That's a lot of work in a short time.
Can you get the MIP through the cockpit door?
Quote from: Boeing Skunk Works on June 14, 2010, 03:44:15 AM
Looks great Scott. That's a lot of work in a short time.
Can you get the MIP through the cockpit door?
Thanks Micheal,
Yes, just fits...door is 26" wide and MIP is 22" wide...phew....
Looks very good Scott.
Cant wait to see the shell covered and painted.
:)
I have the same problem John. I have been checking everywhere. I called Projector People yesterday and they are checking into it for me and are supposed to get back to me next week. Looks like these are in very short supply right now. They all want to push the 772 or 776 which of course are not the same. I think this is just such a new model that it may be a while before we can get them here. Other option is to try Canada but I am not sure how much import fees might be.
:(
Scott
I may go with the Optoma EX525STs instead. They are XGA but I think that they will still work out fine according to my drawings and calculations. I would just have to move them back about 6 inches from where the BenQs would have been.
It looks very good!!
Congratulations!!
Regards / Per Alm
Thank you Per
I hope you enjoyed your stay in Chicago when you where here.
I am on vacation this week and just got back in town yesterday. Had a chance to get back in the shop last night and make more progress working on the upper shell piece including the overhead frame hanging. I managed to get both overhead frames fitted along with brackets for the safety latches which work perfectly. I have to do this very carefully with lot of planning as I have to fit the authentic eyebrow window frames and overhead panels next.
Today I will work on finishing up the window frames and attaching the upper to the lower and shell back wall. After that I will need to await the arrival of the FDS MIP and CDU bay I have on order as everything else in the cockpit really will need to rely on that for placement. This is all exciting seeing things take shape finally. Long way to go....
Enjoy
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Larger pictures here:
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Scott
Looks very good Scott.
Wish I installed all my components before I covered the shell. Would saved me several hundred hours of work.
:)
I can see now how that would make it difficult. Still, yours is the standard by which many of us build :-)
I am not sure if I will even cover mine at this point but I figure I will decide once the inside is done.
Scott
Fantastic work Scott... that is growing up nicely :-)
Wow Scott.. Looks real good! Almost time to sit in it and make flying noises!! :idiot: :D
Good God that is a tight squeeze in there, but as the others have said, it looks amazing. Great stuff.
Trev
Hey Scott,
It is awesome seeing your project come together . . I think you have found your true love (aircraft that is) Looking forward to seeing the shell/interior come together! Looks great.
Thanks guys.
This is getting fun for me now. I am still hoping to squeeze projectors in but it is very tight for sure. My biggest issue may be the soffit that protudes from the ceiling right in front of the windows. Very little space to squeeze the projectors. Definitely have to be BenQ MP782St's in order to get the throws right. If those dont fit then plan be will be 5 32" LCD monitors using dual TH2Go's or 1 TH2GO and 1 Wideview computer but trying to avoid the later.
Trevor, have you progressed at all on your monitor setup yet?
Scott
Oh Scott, your going to be in fine shape.. As for me, building has halted. I am probably moving in the spring. In the meantime I will continue with my projectors.. Hopefully I will get to at least do some flying this winter..
But I will keep you posted.
Trev
Scott,
Welcome back man, looking great. Can't wait to get over and see it.
This weekend may be out but how does next weekend looK?
Don
If you are working tonight I may be able to get over for a little while, maybe even tomorrow night if that works. My wife has an event at her work today but it's outdoor. If it gets rained out early maybe I can make it.
I'll call you if it works out.
Don
Looking good Scott! Enjoy watching a project come together. They never end, ask Ivar but you are headed in the right direction.
Can't wait to seee more pics.
Simply Awesome.. Does anyone make these rib kits anymore??
Well the main framing is now complete and after having fit in the overheads I was getting ready to start installing shell linings and interior but then decided to paint the framework first. Currently I have painted with Kilz White primer so it will protect the wood from any mildew (some was already on it from the previous owner's basement). Next I will paint it all Boeing gray (if there is such a thing...lol). Once painted I will paint the floor with Porch paint which will later be covered with flooring. Then the real fun begins.....fitting all the liners and parts. I believe also I should be recieving my MIP and Glare from FDS this week so I am really excited that things are slowly taking shape.
Here are the progress pics....
Scott,
Looking good! Truthfully, I prefer the wooden shell. It looks so much better than the new one FDS sells. You scored getting that.
Warren
Looking good!!!
About to order my MIP and CDU base, can't wait to start stuffing it!
Great job Scott. Looks way better than aluminum sticks welded together.
Very nice Scott,
What about the Yacky Green primer.... ::)
JP
Scott,
Looks great!
I have been lucky enough to see Scott's work in person and I cannot begin to say how high the attention to detail is. His wood working skills are fantastic. Scott, still planning for Friday looks like we will have a lot to do if we can pry ourselves away from the temporary flying set-up and the sim-A stuff!!!!
Don
Quote from: jackpilot on August 18, 2010, 05:01:07 AM
Very nice Scott,
What about the Yacky Green primer.... ::)
JP
Home Depot Apple Green my friend, Apple Green. Works a treat for that color.
Hey thanks all. I appreciate the comments. I thought about the green but right now I have been considering leaving the outside uncovered and thought the green may look somewhat weird from the outside. Hmmmm.....lets have a vote! Green or Grey?
Also, a little surprise showed up at my door today.......Can anyone say FDS MIP/GLARE/and CDU Bay!!! Yippie!!!!
Thank you Peter, Steve, and the crew! Yes, Don...come on over...lots to do (if we dont spend the whole night flying the temp setup lol)
Scott
Well, I think that it really depends. Green looks good but I went with Gray. Much cheaper and in the long run you wont see it anyhow (seeing as both you and I are of the same mindset that we will focus on the interior and hide the outside vs. trying to make the outside look like an airplane too.)
Quote from: XOrionFE on August 18, 2010, 06:20:31 PM
Hey thanks all. I appreciate the comments. I thought about the green but right now I have been considering leaving the outside uncovered and thought the green may look somewhat weird from the outside. Hmmmm.....lets have a vote! Green or Grey?
Also, a little surprise showed up at my door today.......Can anyone say FDS MIP/GLARE/and CDU Bay!!! Yippie!!!!
Thank you Peter, Steve, and the crew! Yes, Don...come on over...lots to do (if we dont spend the whole night flying the temp setup lol)
Scott
Nothing wrong with flying!! Flying is why we do the work supposedly but (me included) get so wrapped up in the working, we forget why we are working and slowly lose intrest. You need to fly to remindyourself why!!! I just made that up!! :D :idiot: Have fun!!
Speaking of which....
My set up is also part here , part there, but I can fly the "computers part" with an Ace yoke and my dear TQ plus a few buttons on a "rudder" joystick
Yesterday I flew from LGAT (old Athens) to Istambul International at FL290
NO CDU (except for radio tuning), NO AutoPilot, NO AutoTrottle..100% manual including SID & STAR, crosschecking airways and waypoints with two VORs. Managing descent with the X3 rule......and having to go around (not being under ATC) before making a kiss landing on 36R, nicely trimmed at Flaps 30....WHAT A KICK!!
Wondering sometimes why we spend so much time replicating /buying all this crap that makes any flight a boring redundant experience, turning dials and watching the beast fly itself...
Sorry for Hidj-Hacking the thread. :laugh:
Jack, you are absolutely right. Flying is what fuels the building and the best flying is the real flying...
On another note....Anyone looking at building a shell like this should ask around to see if anybody on these forums has an older FDS shell kit like this because there may be some out there that could be bought still. However, I will also say that it is A LOT OF WORK. In hind sight I think if I could rewind I would probably just get the FDS Steel shell. This is because as I learn more about how FDS stuff is built, it all just works....period. Everything I have recieved from FDS is so well thought out and engineered it really takes the guess work out and saves a lot of frustration. Does it cost...well yes....that is a given. For me, my time is precious and it is worth it. Anyway, am I plugging FS..Yes. Trust me when I say money well spent. Pictures of MIP coming soon.....
Scott
Quote from: XOrionFE on August 19, 2010, 08:24:16 AM
Jack, you are absolutely right. Flying is what fuels the building and the best flying is the real flying...
On another note....Anyone looking at building a shell like this should ask around to see if anybody on these forums has an older FDS shell kit like this because there may be some out there that could be bought still. However, I will also say that it is A LOT OF WORK. In hind sight I think if I could rewind I would probably just get the FDS Steel shell. This is because as I learn more about how FDS stuff is built, it all just works....period. Everything I have recieved from FDS is so well thought out and engineered it really takes the guess work out and saves a lot of frustration. Does it cost...well yes....that is a given. For me, my time is precious and it is worth it. Anyway, am I plugging FS?..Yes. But trust me when I say money well spent and just want to save others time and aggravation if I can. Pictures of MIP coming soon.....:-)!
Scott
Looking good Scott, im itching to start my build, hoping my shell will be delivered next month :) :) :) child with new toy me :)
Thank you Phil,
Check this out guys.....I cant even believe how perfect this fit into my shell even though it is the latest FDS MIP and their first Shell. I am ecstatic ;D
Wow Scott.... Very nice! For some reason I don;t see a ton of flying getting done tomorrow night.... ;) :D
Man...looking forward to making that trip up there one day Scott!
Quote from: XOrionFE on August 19, 2010, 08:24:16 AM
On another note....Anyone looking at building a shell like this should ask around to see if anybody on these forums has an older FDS shell kit like this because there may be some out there that could be bought still.
Your work has prompted me to do just that. Excellent work Scott.
Thank you Sean and it would be awesome to see another being built. Hopefully someone has one and can get you going. It would be nice to have a few of these being build together.
Scott
Well thought I would post some updated pictures. Visuals are done of course (see other thread) except minor tweaking of Nthusim so time to get back to the SHELL! :-)
I have the whole frame now painted grey and have just about finished the ceiling liners and overhead frames setup. Starting to look like a real plane finally and I am so happy that I now am about to start mounting the MIP and overhead panels. The plane hopefully will be airworthy within a few weeks!! ;D ;D ;D
Here are some pics:
Scott
Most of us go by stages....busy at building smthg and then a few months idling and contemplating the next stage....Obviously you are in a frantic building phase...impressive. Do not let the steam pressure fall :laugh:
Congrats. Very very nice job.
JP
Thank you Jack
Yeah, I want to get back to flyable at least. That means MIP and Yokes anyway but at this stage, the yokes, pedestal, TQ, and seats are all pretty much ready to mount. I need to put together and wire the MIP this week (have a SYS4 card on the way this week from FDS for the MIP). I couldnt resist putting it back in the cockpit for another picture :-)
Amazing that the distance from Glareshield to the overhead is 9.5 inches. I think in reality it is supposed to be like 8.5 but hey....what is an inch....I am ecstatic that it came together this well. I am saving the aft of the cockpit for later as I will do the circuit breaker panels (with the decals your making) and probably a jump seat. Needs to be flyable first though.
Scott
Looks great, Scott!
Man, do you EVER EVER sleep?? That is some fast amazing progress there. Really looks fantastic. Can I borrow some of your motivation? :D
Maurice
Hey Scott,
Really nice seeing it come together for you . . I know it must be an awesome feeling to have finally found the one! (737) :idiot:
Very impressive. Looks great!
Warren
That does look great. Really great!
Simfest at Scotts!!! LOL
Thank you all for the kind words. I have a lot of inspiration from all of you here on this site and appreciate all the help I have received. All will be welcome when done to fly if ever in the Chicago area.
BTW - has anyone else checked out Michael Carter's awesome guitar jam session on You Tube? Nice playing there Mike!
Scott
hi
Do you have details of dimensions of the 737 cockpit shell.
Thanks
Here you are
http://www.markuspilot.com
David