Darick's Sonex #1646

[Darick]

Al, that was Steve, from England, that posted that comment.
However, your plan to add a scalloped handle to just one handle is a good idea.

[Darick]

I cut out the seat "sling" holes with a dremel tool cut off wheel. It took a lot of time but the results were very good. Followed up with filing the edges then 100 passes with 220 sandpaper by hand.



Angles were bent on a friends 48" brake. I'll finish putting the piano hinges on it today.

[Darick]

Thanks to Bryan Cotton, his photo album page 42. I waited until the frame under the seat was complete to locate the seatbelt attach angles.

[Bryan Cotton]

Too bad, now you don't get to make nifty tapered shims! Only kidding, glad to have been a good bad example!

[Darick]

Seat is now in place.

[fastj22]

No excuse for not climbing in and making airplane noises now.

[Darick]

For inspiration I couldn't resist doing a quick mock up. The instrument panel is made up of paper cut outs of the instruments I've purchased. Seats are velour.

[SonexN76ET]

Darick, your panel plan looks good. Just as a point of reference, due to the slant of the panel forward and the bottom cross tie and rivets, you won't be able to use the very bottom of the panel for switches or gauges. Just take this into account when you are fitting your template up with your switches and gauges. Make sure you give yourself room behind the panel. The only reason I mention this is because I squeezed a bunch of things into the lower part of the panel when I was doing my initial designs only to learn later that they would not fit. But, it looks like you are on the right track.

Thanks,

Jake

[Darick]

Thanks Jake, I appreciate your overview and suggestions. Today I worked on the panel crossbar and I see what you mean. I will probably have to move the switches up a bit.
I'm going to add a 2" wide additional aluminum strip across the bottom like many other guys have done. But instead of putting switches there, my plan is to put a row of auto type blade fuses at that location. I've seen fuse boxes in groups of 4,6,10, etc.that would fit nicely, if mounted flush in this 2" strip. I'll be working on this idea as soon as I figure out how many fuses I'll need.

[Darick]

Like many others, I've added a bottom piece to my instrument panel.
Before picture.


After picture. I'm drilling the pilot holes next, but not riveting it until the instruments are installed.


The weather is warming up and I will have to rig the wings soon.