Cockpit Assembly

It's been a productive week.  We are between semesters at the A&P school where I teach, and had the week off.  In last week's post, I mentioned the stripping and prep of the interior seats and panels.  This week I got them painted and installed.

Here are some pictures of the progress...

Seats and panels in the paint booth

Cover for control stick interconnect/torque tube

All the interior panels, seats and other misc. components were put in the paint booth for paint.  I used a urethane paint, slightly flattened to reduce gloss, in a gray color that matches the original.

Once dry, it was time for assembly.

Baggage compartment

Installing eyelets

Here's the cover for the control stick torque tube previously made.
















The baggage compartment, installed behind the pilot's seat was next.  A panel with an access door will be installed after covering and final assembly.











The seats and other panels have eyelets that facilitate lacing in the cobra-grain leatherette material (the same used on the seat cushions).  I have dies that fit into my rivet squeezer that I use to install these.

Left, rear panel

Rear seat

Front seat and other panels installed

 All the panels then seats could be installed.  Basically, the arrangement is as follows:  In the rear cockpit there are aluminum panels on the lower half with the leatherette material laced on the top.  The front cockpit has the leatherette material from top to bottom, from the seat to the firewall.

Radiator shutter control

Pitch trim control

Here's the rear seat installed.  The cutouts at the bottom are for the rudder and elevator cables.



















Front seat installation.













With the panels and seats in, some of the interior controls could be mounted.  This is the radiator shutter control.  Still need to run the bowden cable from it to the radiator.















This is the pitch trim control.  









So next, I need to finish running all the controls to the engine and front of the airframe.  Specifically:

• Tach cable
• Magneto switch wire
• Oil pressure and water temp
• Choke control
• Magneto advance/retard control
• Fuel shut-off valve
• Radiator shutter control

Once this is done, I can lace in the remaining leatherette material.  Then, the fuselage will be ready for cover!