Shell MIP Move

[Ed]

Hello Fellow Builders,

With my shell and liners due any day now, possibly tomorrow it will be busy times. The sim currently resides in my spare bedroom upstairs. Waiting patiently in the basement is the base.
My question to those who have been here before me. What would be best to do first, build the shell on the base or dismantle the MIP move it onto the base and build the shell around it? 

[blueskydriver]

Hi Ed,

Happy to hear you're about to take the next big leap with your sim!

In regards to your question, I believe most folks put the shell up first and then they put the MIP inside because it would be hard to get to the nuts and bolts on the inside of the shell that are behind the MIP. Although, if you did the front portion of the shell first, then put the MIP inside, then do the back of the shell last, it might workout. However, by doing the shell installation anywhere near the MIP you take the chance of dropping or bumping into it with a piece of the shell sections or parts. Some of those parts are heavy and/or have sharp or pointy edges, which would easily damage items on your MIP.

What are you using for base material, wood or metal platform? Will you post some pics in this new thread please? I ask because seeing what you're planning will make it easier too answer your questions...

John

Edit: I removed an irrelevant question.

[jackpilot]

Build the shell on the base and bring the  MIP in

[Ed]

Hi Ed,

Happy to hear you're about to take the next big leap with your sim!

Thanks John

In regards to your question, I believe most folks put the shell up first and then they put the MIP inside because it would be hard to get to the nuts and bolts on the inside of the shell that are behind the MIP. Although, if you did the front portion of the shell first, then put the MIP inside, then do the back of the shell last, it might workout. However, by doing the shell installation anywhere near the MIP you take the chance of dropping or bumping into it with a piece of the shell sections or parts. Some of those parts are heavy and/or have sharp or pointy edges, which would easily damage items on your MIP.

All good points. I will do the shell first. As to the irrelevant, yes I ordered the black powder coated model. Too much winter left to consider painting myself. FDS had my order ready before I actually got home form work, so had to delay the shipping date. The estimated delivery was for today but due to a winter blizzard (which you may have got a taste of as well) the highways closed for a day so my shipment has probably been delayed. FDS was awesome to deal with, kept me informed every step of the way. I can't say enough good about this company. I think total wait time was roughly about a 6 weeks for shell and liners. Two weeks earlier than Peter had quoted me.[/quote]

What are you using for base material, wood or metal platform? Will you post some pics in this new thread please? I ask because seeing what you're planning will make it easier too answer your questions...

John

Edit: I removed an irrelevant question.

For the base I used 2 X 6 for the frame 3/4 inch plywood (good one side) for the top and casters on the bottom. I used a patchwork type design to make base cover easy to remove for maintenance . For now painted with 7011. The design is from Nick's site (Thanks Nick!) http://elephantair737.blogspot.ca/p/sim-base.html

Removed a line about having trouble adding a picture. It did add it:)

[Ed]

Build the shell on the base and bring the  MIP in

Thanks Jack. 

[jackpilot]

Check this old post, also try to install the overhead in before the MIP assembly.
(more elbow room...)
Once the MIP is complete and wired, slide it in on teflon pads. Fits right in.

http://www.flightdecksolutions.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3995&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=27

[Joe Lavery]

Jack, that link seems to be broken!

[jackpilot]

Problem seems to be the FDS forum.
probably temporary. Will follow up

Works now...

[Ed]

  What a great and informative thread.  Thanks Jack !!!

[Joe Lavery]

All working now Jack...

[Ed]

Well, it was -24C and a windchill of -35C yesterday morning at 10am when the shell and liners arrived. The packing was unbelievable, bubblewrap, foam and a mountain of cardboard. Not a scratch on anything though. Very impressed.

Daughter in law took one of the pictures from her vantage point next door, she said I looked like a kid on Christmas morning standing by the truck waiting for the offload.

The other picture shows everything stranded at the end of the driveway. The driver had a 1500 lb electric skid mover and we lined up with the driveway.. took a run at it with me pushing as well...but it soon bogged down in the snow   That was it for the truck driver..too cold he said..and was gone.

Ended up pulling it up the driveway a little closer to my door with my truck. Now I have everything in my basement waiting to assemble

[blueskydriver]

Can you hear Ed's big sigh of happiness? I do because he just got his FDS items, and I had that same sigh...albeit, without all the snow...you go Ed! HOORAY!

John

[jackpilot]

Thanks for sharing....your excitement !
Snow/cold here too
Jack

You will see: hard to take your time with the shell but you have to in order to make a nice job. Feels like building a real airplane.
Post pics.

[Ed]

Hi All,

John, you read my mind Thanks for the vote of encouragement

Jack, I am experiencing exactly what you mean. Wanting to finish but resisting the urge to go too fast.  Most things have fit like a glove .There's a few holes..and I mean just a couple that I cannot line up for the life of me no matter how much pushing and prodding I do. Nothing torqued yet. So not sure if I should just just drill them out even or leave them. I dont think they are critical spots but rubs me wrong to leave them out.

This is where I'm at now. Slowly moving along.

[jackpilot]

Do not tighten yet
The most critical are the roof panels over the OVH, things get into place when the whole structure is built.
Once assembled and tightened  it is as rigid  as a stone block.
Been there.. so ask questions if you feel like it.

[Ed]

Do not tighten yet
The most critical are the roof panels over the OVH, things get into place when the whole structure is built.
Once assembled and tightened  it is as rigid  as a stone block.
Been there.. so ask questions if you feel like it.

Thanks Jack.  Everything finger tight at the moment. Hope to get to the roof structure today. No other questions come to mind at the moment. Starting to look like a cockpit now

[jackpilot]

You may have to loosen one panel to ease the fit of the next one and then tighten both at the same time. The back arch will align the sides perfectly.

Once finished you will have to cut out some access panels (from experience) I,ll tell you then.
Take your time to make it perfect.

[Ed]

You may have to loosen one panel to ease the fit of the next one and then tighten both at the same time. The back arch will align the sides perfectly.

Once finished you will have to cut out some access panels (from experience) I,ll tell you then.
Take your time to make it perfect.

Hi Jack,

Well I have all the pieces of the shell in place however I have about 8 holes that I can see half a hole that refuse to line up to accept a bolt.  I have everything loose, in some places there are some fairly large gaps . I wonder if I start tightening down now, from the nose back that closing these gaps might give me the full holes that I need or will that make things worse.? Six of the half holes are in the last two small pieces that attach to the arch. The other 2 holes are at the bottom of where the front and side windows join the nose. Have enclosed some pics.  Your thoughts please.

[jackpilot]

Looks good.
You have inevitably small offsets but the sim is not pressurized anyway
At some point I remember having to use longer bolts and things got pretty well aligned by tightening, If you have a few semi aligned holes disregard them and  drill a new hole through both lips (an inch away from the original holes) to have a good clean grip.

[Ed]

Thanks for the advice Jack. Going to start tightening from the front and if things dont close up I'll get out the DeWalt She's definitely a beauty.. be awhile before flyable though

[Trevor Hale]

She's definitely a beauty.. be awhile before flyable though

Building is 3/4 the fun though, and in this cold we are having.......... better not to be outside doing house stuff LOL..

Looks great!

[Ed]

Thanks Trevor I totally agree, building and flying is a great mix. We're going to get a slight break in the weather and then right back into the deep freeze again. Hauling that skid into the house in -35 windchill was enough outside sim work  to last me the winter

[Ed]

Hi All,

I'm looking for the width of the FDS MIP.  Now that my liners are sitting roughly in place it would appear my  homemade MIP is going to be too wide to fit. My home made MIP is about 1545 mm  in width and it looks like the distance between forward front edges of the side panels are quite a bit narrower than that.  Could someone with an FDS MIP  get me a measurement of the width of the FDS MIP if possible so that I know how much to trim off mine in order to get a good fit between the liners.? 

[fsaviator]

1524mm measured across the kick-panels.

Hope this helps.

[Ed]

1524mm measured across the kick-panels.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Warren. Exactly what I wanted. I'm close but looks like I'll have to nip a little off when the snow melts