Cockpit building

[towerguy]

just testing something please ignore

[towerguy]

been a while and not a lot of progress

does anyone know why the photos from fsfiles.org don't show anymore?

cheers

[deaneb]

A few days before the end of 2021 I took delivery of a Fletcher cockpit I have only just got myself sorted with an online image hosting, so have not been able to share pictures. Those who know me while know I have a long association with Fletchers and Cresco's having designed them for flightsim since FS98 days. Now having my own is kinda the cream on top!

This section is from ZK-CKA, built in 1964 as a 300 hp model and retired in 2015 as a 550hp turbine with Super Air. This belonged to Brandon Reade, who had it running as a Cresco sim pit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMAcHFAop0A

It came with all the Fletcher bits, but none of the flight simulator controls or panels so formed a good base for me to start from scratch. I had two goals in mind:
1. To restore it as best as I can back to a standard 400hp piston Fletcher cockpit
2. To enable it to be flown using MSFS as the software, with either a large screen or VR headset providing visuals

This is the cockpit as received. I will add more picture in additional posts.

[deeknow]

Wicked Deane !!! didnt realise you had that mate, so COOL looking fwd to seeing the build over coming years

[deaneb]

The first task was to get rid of a lot of corrosion and grime hiding under the paint. Lots of time wedged into tight spots, with a wire wheel on my cordless drill, a scraper, sandpaper and cans of primer paint. Don't get me started on the price of paint!

There is a lot of work to do, and I do not have a lot of spare time due to working away from home every second week, and the fact I spend my Sundays at Omaka working on a P-40 restoration!

[Naki]

Whoa nice sim cockpit!....and car!

[deaneb]

With the corrosion and priming out of the way it was time for a good coat of 2 pack green. This is the colour most Fletchers were painted in. Once that was done I made some floor boards and test fitted my rudder pedals. I have also run some dummy rudder cables to match where the originals would have run.

[deaneb]

The last few months have been spent fabricating a section of rear fuselage and a stub wing. the former means I have some structure to hide control mechanisms and also something for the canopy to slide over (if I ever obtain one, or make one). The stub wing will provide something to step on to get into the cockpit.

The ribs and frames are made from 18mm MDF and covered with 3mm MDF in some places. Lastly its all skinned with 0.025" aircraft alloy. Pop rivets are used to join alloy to alloy and upholstery nails where alloy skin is attached to MDF.

[deaneb]

In the past two weeks I have started painting the exterior. Did I mention the price of paint......ouch!

[deaneb]

A drawing I have made of ZK-CKA in all her schemes over the years. I am painting her in the 1980's James Aviation colours