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Gunner's Pit
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 6:52 pm
by Gunner
I felt that this deserved it's own thread independent of the "Desktop pilot's photo thread", the "desktop" description doesn't really fit this one
Wednesday, my ACES II kit finally arrived! The only complaint I could possibly come up with is the time it took to get here...a little over a month, but well worth the wait. The entire kit is cut on a CNC router, and all you have to do is glue and screw.
After only about 8 - 10 hours, (That's 4 - 8 hours for most, nobody is slower and more meticulous than me)here are a few pics of my progress:
I will post further photos as I complete the seat, for anyone interested in one of their own, the links are:
Pics of kit:
http://www.pbase.com/tejay/updated_aces_ii_seat
Website:
http://www.insidethecockpit.com/
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 7:31 pm
by Rhino
Does that come with upholstering or will you do that yourself?
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 8:47 pm
by Gunner
Rhino wrote:Does that come with upholstering or will you do that yourself?
Gotta take care of your own pads, I found a real seat pad on ebay for $85, will probably have the back made for me. Everything else is included except glue and screws.
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:42 am
by Ells
That's a lotta screws, good job so far.
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:26 am
by Rhino
Next order of business for Gunner is to build it inside a titanium "tub" so he has the comforts of an A-10 pilot. "Its a long way, to tipperary!...."
Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:04 pm
by Talon
Wow. That's some kit Gunner and looks like you're doing a pro assy, just make sure the pads are made of real good stuff due to the amount of time we all spend sitting in them.
Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:44 pm
by Gunner
Rgr that Talon,
The butt pad I got is the real thing mfg by Oregon Aero & it's pretty nice. I hope so, for what they charge!!!!
I found the website of their main distributor, they want $1,540 for the pad I picked up on ebay
http://www.coastalaircraftparts.com/F16.php
Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:50 am
by Burner
$1540 for some padded cloth... and we wonder why our taxes are so high
Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:07 am
by Gunner
Almost as much as a toilet seat
Actually, when I was doing my searches, I found a bunch of research on compressability in ejections and it looked like they spent $$$$ on R & D. I guess when you consider the relatively small market, they have to recover that somewhere. I just can't figure how I got mine new in the wrapper for $85
Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:16 am
by Lawndart
Bootleg!
Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 11:39 am
by Gunner
I was kinda wondering... he had Rolex watches for $54.99
...I did consider that, but can't imagine someone going to the effort to do a knock off of an obscure brand like Oregon Aero
Anyway, I'm not that concerned with compressability in an ejection - unless I put in that skylight I'm thinking about.
Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:29 pm
by Gunner
Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:43 pm
by Lawndart
Very nice Gunner! You've been busy and it shows. Where (or how) are you planning on mounting the Kitty?
Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:04 pm
by Gunner
Pretty much just what Red Dog has done, minus the upper panel and glare shield...
http://www.viperpits.org/smf/index.php?topic=537.435
Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:45 pm
by Lawndart
Wow, that's an impressive pit!!!
Are you planning on using a
ribbstick mod with that or other? How would you mount the FSSB if you inted to keep it? Also, what about elbow and forearm support (arm rests)?