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| Feb 29, 2004. Mike Bice runs Timsco Corp (Ph#
903-935-5251) and is a well known
fabricator of high quality custom instrument panels for airplanes. His
shop is located at the David Wayne Hooks Airport in Spring, Texas which is a
short distance from my house. He has made them for just about every
type of airplane. He spends a lot of time making them look really
nice. However, this will be his first hovercraft instrument panel.
While he will use most of the same processes he uses for airplane panels,
for this application the panel will be longer and thicker than what is used
in airplanes. The panel is .100 aluminum and about 56" long by 12"
high. This section was cut from a 4 x 8 sheet. The rest will be used
to make gas tanks for the hovercraft. |
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| Given the panel is kind of large, Mike let me help today.
Normally he charges more if I help.... He copied the curve I made for
the mock up wood panel onto the sheet and then "corrected" my curve to
make it symmetrical. After the curve is marked, the panel is cut with a metal
shear. The edges are then filed to the final size. |
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| The bottom of the panel is bent in a brake to make the panel
ridged. I will make a wood backing frame to screw the panel into.
The end height is about 10". The panel will have a GPS map display, a glove
box, and various engine and related gages (and a horn button!). |
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| March 3, 2004. Test fitting the panel in the craft.
Needs a little trimming but is looking good. |
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