Hi Gang,
Time for an update... Didn't have much motivation this weekend but I did get somethings finished up and some much needed things started! And away we go...
Finally finished up the new black boxes for the cockpit entrance capstone
Bolted in place and painted the bolt heads black
And done...
I like them!
I was close to finishing up the new foot well greeblie. I like how it turned out but... Purchased a nut coupler for the handles
Finally bolted into place!
Slightly weathered with a dusty paint brush
MDF spacers on the backside
Bolted into place
Time to mount the LED lamp
Closer
Painted the base silver
Thumb screws
I thought these would add some visual interest - they're just a bit too big
Plus it split the wood
I've decided to move away from the two large foot well greeblies. As I mentioned, they are too big for the area so I'm focusing on something smaller and slightly resembles the coils that I created for the cockpit entrance.
The sister foot well greeblie base
In its basic configuration. I really like how they turned out but just too big...
I think I'm going to focus on this shape for the foot well area! I have a few ideas working in my head
A few images of the panels Samantha finished up!
I then used a Allen bolt to keep the Kirby Hoses in place - sometimes you gotta keep it simple.
It was then time to tackle an area I was NEVER really satisfied with - the upper greeblie panel. There are so few images of this panel from ESB that I decided to take advantage of the TFA 360 Pano and use that for reference. So... I removed all the greeblies... YUCK!
Out to the trash! Most of these greeblies were broken from the dogs playing and jumping on the panel...
As I mentioned there has been a lack of motivation. As a result, the trays I made were slightly messed up so I made new ones using 1/8" MDF instead of the 1/4"
Filler
Primer
Its all in the details
I was just about to add paint when I realized... I messed up again! UGH... I have to redo one of the trays. However, the look of these trays got me thinking what the originals might have been. The hole looks VERY similar to a small TV tube and the basic shape reminds me of the old portable TV / Radio combos from the 70s. I wonder?
I cut 2 LARGE panels that will fit over the ugly looking upper panel. These panels also serves as practice - all the mounting holes are there for most of the new / existing greeblies and all the new LEDs
If I do this right... Cockpit Ver 2 will have everything done on the laser cutter (and CNC) and there is NO MORE guessing
These screens are a perfect example. I laser cut these and the mounting holes are already cut not only in the screen but in the new main panel as well
When the laser cutter works... she works!
As you can see... no more guessing and everything aligned. However, I really should have made the two large panels into one... I'll take new measurements and recut
Holes for LEDs
More round 5mm LED holes
The panel will cover that mess! I'll sand, paint to match, drill the holes necessary for the LEDs in the old panel, add pin stripes, clear coat and then mount! Sounds easy, right?
New screens getting primer and paint
I really wasn't sure whether the laser cutter would cut all these holes without issue
Upper panel screens
Love the details!
I then cut 4 new Volvo panel screens (these screens took 1 hour and 10 min ea to cut on the laser cutter!)
Speaking of the laser cutter... We've realized that the laser cutter controller board memory is questionable (among many many thing). We can't cut simple files like a circle and square. The file has to be extremely large and complex enough to purge the controller board memory. It's really odd! But at least we found a work around until the new controller arrives.
Still lots to do... just need to dig deep for motivation.
That's it for now... Stay Tuned for More!