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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 :wink:

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. :wink:

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:

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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. :D

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!...." :lol:

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!!!! :shock: I found the website of their main distributor, they want $1,540 for the pad I picked up on ebay :shock: :shock:

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 :roll:

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 :wink:

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:16 am
by Lawndart
Bootleg! :lol:

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 11:39 am
by Gunner
I was kinda wondering... he had Rolex watches for $54.99 :lol: ...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 :roll: Anyway, I'm not that concerned with compressability in an ejection - unless I put in that skylight I'm thinking about. :lol:

Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:29 pm
by Gunner
Week 4 update...
I AM SO SLOW! I overbuild everything I make(I made a subwoofer that weighs over 250 lbs). I know I went overboard with reinforcement, but my intent all along with this seat was to be able to strap myself in tight, and I'm no lightweight. :oops: My thinking is that I can maybe reduce the PIO that comes from working the throttle in precision maneuvers...we'll see.

Anyway, I'm about ready to skin the back and seat pan, so I'm getting close! I wanted to show off the detail in the headrest, I spent a lot of time there.

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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...:wink:

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)?