Geedee's P-51D Cockpit Project

Geedee said:

Ok...can't wait until after Cockpitfest to let you know what I've been doing to my babe.

You guys make it very very hard to not post updates when I'm trying to surprise you, when you post your encourament

So...wot 'ave I bin doin ?

First off, I have now installed the Pilots armor plate. Obviously original armor plate is both as rare as Dick Turpins rocking horse droppings, very heavy and bl**dy expensive. Weight is a deciding factor reagrding my '51 as I need to be able to move her around on my lonesmome and adding a hundred weight of armor plate is going to make that very hard work and sweaty to boot !.

So, I've cheated a bit and got a local metal supplier to make up the plate in 5mm Black Steel. The original is near enough a half inch thick and there is no way I work with that, using 5mm at least it looks the part while still providing a fair bit of rigidty. Now the original armor plate is in three sections and welded together. I dont have any welding gear and to keep cost down and simplify things, I got them to make the main section in one peice and then bend it to the correct angle. Once that was done, I rivetted the smaller section in place (this would have been filled with weld on tyhe original....I've filled it with chemical meatl and smoothed it down to replicate the welding !). Then it was time to mount it on the chair. Yet again, I have had to differ slightly from the original in that to fit it to the seat I am using (remember its a chopper seat !) I have reduced the overall width to fit in side the seat rear support. All other dimensions are as per NAA originall drew them up.

My seat now weighs ... a huge amount ... and is a two person lift to get in and out of the fuselage to avoid banging and scratching the paint work.

The pic taken from behind the 'pit looks as though the armor plate is too high...its not... its the angle the piccie was taken at !

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I've also started on the IFF Radar control box. I havent been able to find the drawing for this puppy, so I've started to make her to fit as per the photo I am using for a guideline. still got a fair way to go before I'm happy enough for it to be fitted.

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I have also made the elevator trim wheel. Ok, its made from wood abut will do until I can source an original one. Had some fun making this one but am quite pleased how its turned out....
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And I've also made good start on a throttle quadrant. Again, because I dont have the tools /skillset to do small radius curves, I made a smaller angle Ali plate and rivetted this in place. Once filled with some chemical metal and painted up, it looks quite reasonable I think. The actual throttle twistgrip is a simple piece of wooden yard-broom handle cut to fit. I will be looking at fitting an 'after-market' motorcycle throttle twist grip setup to give a better look and enable me to connect with a cable to the gunsight range dial.

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And finally, I installed an undercart lever from a Harvard on teh trim console. Its not quite the right size, but as I have said on many a time previous, it will do until I can get an original. so, here's what the left hand side now look like.

I have two weeks off now on leave, to try and finish off and install a few more items before Cockpitfest. I have a few more surprises planned but I need to make sure I can get them done before I post any more updates rather than say its going to happen...and I'm beaten by time / weather / cost etc.

Once again, huge thanks for your patience, support and for reading this far... couldn't have got this far without you

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