Goldmember
12-29-2009, 04:16 PM
Since I like curvy shapes, I was wondering how to make the bottom of a 737 pedestal out of MDF. If you look at the pedestals on the market, they either cost over € 600 or have a fake bottom which only consists of quarter round edges of the front and back panel.
I don't think my solution is unique or rocket science but because I couldn't find it documented, I thought I would share the idea. Total cost of the pedestal: around € 35 in material and 1 day of elbow grease. We took the measurements from Markus Pilot but corrected that for the width of my OC radio's: 145mm wide.
1. Make little edges, just deep enough to enclose a piece of bendable plywood (don't know the proper English word but here it's called buigtriplex)
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/data/620/IMG_3450.JPG
2. Place the plywood in one of the edges
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/data/620/IMG_3451.JPG
3. Bend the plywood so it clicks into the opposite edge
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/data/620/IMG_3452.JPG
4. Ready. You don't have to glue or screw because the plywood springs into the openings.
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/data/620/IMG_3453.JPG
Important tip: first stick in the plywood and later saw the quarter round edges. It depends on the exact size of the plywood how it wil curve. A millimeter difference gives a different curve. We took it apart to make the photo's after we had done that.
Some more details, apart from the bottom.
5. Notice the back panel being 8mm higher than the front panel. That is because it has to line up with the upper side of the instruments, otherwise dust will collect in the opening between the instruments and the metal strip that goes on later.
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/data/620/IMG_3454.JPG
6. We used a 15 mm wide T-shaped aluminium as frame for the instruments. It hangs in a piece of wood. 20mm would be ideal but our local hardware store didn't have that.
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/data/620/IMG_3457.JPG
Result before painting. We'll have to finalise the metal strip of cause. And yes, we also haven't got the seats yet :D
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/data/620/IMG_3458.JPG
I don't think my solution is unique or rocket science but because I couldn't find it documented, I thought I would share the idea. Total cost of the pedestal: around € 35 in material and 1 day of elbow grease. We took the measurements from Markus Pilot but corrected that for the width of my OC radio's: 145mm wide.
1. Make little edges, just deep enough to enclose a piece of bendable plywood (don't know the proper English word but here it's called buigtriplex)
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/data/620/IMG_3450.JPG
2. Place the plywood in one of the edges
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/data/620/IMG_3451.JPG
3. Bend the plywood so it clicks into the opposite edge
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/data/620/IMG_3452.JPG
4. Ready. You don't have to glue or screw because the plywood springs into the openings.
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/data/620/IMG_3453.JPG
Important tip: first stick in the plywood and later saw the quarter round edges. It depends on the exact size of the plywood how it wil curve. A millimeter difference gives a different curve. We took it apart to make the photo's after we had done that.
Some more details, apart from the bottom.
5. Notice the back panel being 8mm higher than the front panel. That is because it has to line up with the upper side of the instruments, otherwise dust will collect in the opening between the instruments and the metal strip that goes on later.
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/data/620/IMG_3454.JPG
6. We used a 15 mm wide T-shaped aluminium as frame for the instruments. It hangs in a piece of wood. 20mm would be ideal but our local hardware store didn't have that.
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/data/620/IMG_3457.JPG
Result before painting. We'll have to finalise the metal strip of cause. And yes, we also haven't got the seats yet :D
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/data/620/IMG_3458.JPG