Avionics platform under forward deck

[fwellman@att.net]

Guys, thanks for the pics and info. You both have given me some good ideas. Much appreciated.

[jamesmil]

45B963A5-91DC-455B-8794-3CD5BADAB76F.jpeg

Kind of hard to see but I used .090 Lexan as a tray .

[tomkk]

Here's a link to my build photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/HvV8XnPvk7fcZD778 My avionics work starts about 2/3 down, a little before the engine work but mostly after the engine build. I'm not sure but I think I used 0.040 aluminum for my shelves.

[fwellman@att.net]

Hello all,

These threads about the avionics deck are quite old, and the photos referenced are no longer available.

I'm a little stuck on the tray.

Does anyone have pictures of their avionics tray to share? Also, I'm not sure what thickness or type of aluminum would be best for the tray, 0.63 6061 t6? Any information at all would be very much appreciated.

Thanks
Fred

[danweseman]

also no need for a permanent spacer. just slide some in during drilling. and remove after its drilled.

[danweseman]

at the sides the flange can go up if you want, or down . a extra .025 will hardly mater. I would go down at the firewall and panel though

[PlaneDan]

Yes, that seems like the way to do it. The attach strip is riveted to the fuselage under the skin. Perfect.

[Tony Spicer]

So, I am wondering, does the fold that Dan stated, slide between the skin and fuselage, and all get riveted together?

Tony, thanks again for you Picasa, it is priceless.

Yep, that's what he meant. But there's another piece that goes between the skin and cage:

https://picasaweb.google.com/tonyboytoo ... 5826272802

Starting to get pretty busy behind that piece of skin, which is why I drilled into the cage. You could bend the ends up and tie them into the boot cowl attach strip.

Tony

[PlaneDan]

So, I am wondering, does the fold that Dan stated, slide between the skin and fuselage, and all get riveted together?

Tony, thanks again for you Picasa, it is priceless.

[Tony Spicer]

Thanks Tony. That is exactly what I meant. I assume that you could even cover the entire area if you either were not concerned about rudder access, or provided for a removable panel to allow for that access.

Will you be riveting this to the frame. I think I see where you have drilled and dimpled. Did you make this panel or get it from SPA?

Dan,

See my Picasa for details on how to make the platform. The diagonal tube across the middle is slightly higher, so if you want the platform to be flat, you'll need to put a spacer along each side.

My Panther will surely crash and burn, as I drilled into the cage three places on either side to rivet the shelf in place I also drilled 315 holes in the bottom of the cage to attach the bottom skin.

Tony