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Where are you hiding your switches? - 7/10/2003 2:42:09 PM   
NE0



Posts: 1170
Joined: 7/30/2002
From: Newark, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Curious as to where most of you are "hiding" your switches on your warbirds. I seldom see external switches on the nicer warbirds, and can't figure out what you're doing with them?

I've got 2 switches, 2 charging jacks, air system fill valve, air pressure gauge, fuel fill dot... I think that's it... I can't figure out where to hide this stuff so it doesn't ruin the scale appearance?

I've been told that you need to keep your kill switch for the ignition external and "easily accessible" for emergencies (on gassers) but I never see those kill switches on warbirds. When I went to the Toledo show, I didn't see one switch or filler valve on a single warbird! Are warbird builders compromising safety for appearance?

I know some guys hide them behind access hatches. But, the two storage hatches on my SBD are half way between the cockpit and the tail on each side of the fuse. I'd hate to have to run all that wiring and airline all the way back there and double back up to the front to complete the loop.

Neo

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SWITCHS - 7/10/2003 6:00:17 PM   
p-47 razorback pilot



Posts: 827
Joined: 6/5/2003
From: austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		good question... am building a byron corsair and trying to figure that out myself, have same number of switchs...hope someone helps us

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hiding switches - 7/10/2003 6:32:36 PM   
ww2birds



Posts: 324
Joined: 2/5/2003
From: Potomac, MD, USA
Status: offline 		I have seen three techniques successfully to hide switches.

First, and you mentioned it already, scale or scale-like hatches with magnetic catches. On my Aerotech P47, the ignition on/off and charge jack is under one such panel on the font of the fuse right behind the cowl. I leave it open during startup for fast access in case of emergency.

Second, on my Yellow Zero, I "hid" the ignition switch and chage jack under the top lip of the cowl so that it is visible only from the rear of the plane, and easily accessible to the helper during start ... and invisible elsewhere. Worked out well on that plane since there is about a 3/4" gap between the cowl and the fuse at that point.

Third, on my Bearcat, the canopy area is removable with two of the BVM spring loaded pins, and all the switches are inside .. and we leave the canopy off while starting .. of all three approaches, this one is the most "questionable" since access takes a few seconds if the canopy is put back on...

And, on some of my "to fly (alot)" vs. super-scale warbirds, the switches are mounted in the fuse sides per std practice...


Dave

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Where are you hiding your switches? - 7/10/2003 7:41:56 PM   
foxx


 

Posts: 594
Joined: 10/28/2002
From: Somewhere in the west, USA
Status: offline 		Neo this is what the black magic is all about. On Fw190-D9 I have everything under the gun-hood.

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Where are you hiding your switches? - 7/11/2003 5:50:51 AM   
NE0



Posts: 1170
Joined: 7/30/2002
From: Newark, OH, USA
Status: offline 		ww2birds,

Thanks, makes sense. I think I'll be in the same scenario as you were in your "second scenario" with my kill switch. I've got a similar gap between my firewall perimiter and the back edge of my radial cowl. I might just set up that switch there.

Still not sure about the air system valves and radio switch. I might even be able to "hide" the radio switch in the gunner's radio compartment when I build the cockpit up. Kinda ironic... puttin' the "radio switch" in the scale gunner's "radio compartment"?

Foxx,

You tricky devil... so that's why they call you "foxx"?

What about your gas filler/fuel dot... same place? Seems like you might risk getting gas in/on your switches if so??

Neo

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Where are you hiding your switches? - 7/11/2003 5:52:34 AM   
t_burley



Posts: 2609
Joined: 1/11/2002
From: Bakersfield, CA, USA
Status: offline 		BT Jug, not finished, just roughed in...

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Todd
Meister, Aero Acc., Sierra, Glennis, Get Stencils, Shinden, Warbird Colors, Fliteskin customer

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Where are you hiding your switches? - 7/11/2003 5:56:50 AM   
randocommando



Posts: 43
Joined: 6/26/2003
From: Brandon, FL, USA
Status: offline 		In my Pica FW190D I mounted the switches in the cockpit. I made a sliding cockpit and hid the switch and recharge plug in back of the pilots seat.

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       Post #: 7

Where are you hiding your switches? - 7/11/2003 6:11:04 AM   
NE0



Posts: 1170
Joined: 7/30/2002
From: Newark, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Burl,

Cool! Thanks for the pic (I'm a "visual" person). I've got some of those hinges you're using. What about that latch?

Awesome looking planking job... how'd you form the door for the hatch?

Neo

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Where are you hiding your switches? - 7/11/2003 6:22:48 AM   
t_burley



Posts: 2609
Joined: 1/11/2002
From: Bakersfield, CA, USA
Status: offline 		thanks NEO, I knew you would appreciate pics
The planking was..well, a pain in the arse! but well worth it!
The door is actually the planking? I decided where I wanted
the hatch, marked it, and cut it out. I CA'd the back side for some strength, and attached the Sonictronic hinges as shown. I can snap more pics if nec.

The latch is from BVM. I was on there site one night looking at cool carbon fibre stuff, and ordered a few things I didnt need
Well, I found a "need" for one of the parts I ordered!

works very well. got the main idea from a good ole British bloke back east from his website originally

Todd

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Todd
Meister, Aero Acc., Sierra, Glennis, Get Stencils, Shinden, Warbird Colors, Fliteskin customer

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Where are you hiding your switches? - 7/11/2003 6:27:23 AM   
t_burley



Posts: 2609
Joined: 1/11/2002
From: Bakersfield, CA, USA
Status: offline 		closed............

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Todd
Meister, Aero Acc., Sierra, Glennis, Get Stencils, Shinden, Warbird Colors, Fliteskin customer

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Where are you hiding your switches? - 7/11/2003 6:28:29 AM   
t_burley



Posts: 2609
Joined: 1/11/2002
From: Bakersfield, CA, USA
Status: offline 		open.............

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Todd
Meister, Aero Acc., Sierra, Glennis, Get Stencils, Shinden, Warbird Colors, Fliteskin customer

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hatches - 7/11/2003 6:39:05 AM   
fw190d9



Posts: 507
Joined: 12/15/2001
From: Seguin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		NEO, Here is a link to page 3 of my 109 build up. I built 2 seperate hatches for switches. The one up front is for the ignition kill switch. It is in the scale location for the oil tank filler on the full size. The rear is for the radio switches and air fill. It is in the rear hatch location on the full size.
http://www.homestead.com/evoshangar/me109page3.html

I also have this same setup on my spitfire:
http://www.homestead.com/evoshangar/spitfireII.html

Evan Q.

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Where are you hiding your switches? - 7/11/2003 7:01:33 AM   
barnyard



Posts: 186
Joined: 6/22/2002
From: Brick, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		I like the hatch setup, but went to BVM website and couldn't find the latches ot hinges. Did I miss them? Or are they not listed on the WEB?


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Where are you hiding your switches? - 7/11/2003 7:26:48 AM   
t_burley



Posts: 2609
Joined: 1/11/2002
From: Bakersfield, CA, USA
Status: offline 		go to "accesories", than to "accesories" than down to carbon fibre molded accesories

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Todd
Meister, Aero Acc., Sierra, Glennis, Get Stencils, Shinden, Warbird Colors, Fliteskin customer

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Where are you hiding your switches? - 7/11/2003 7:57:51 AM   
chuck l


 

Posts: 936
Joined: 11/21/2002
From: Fort Myers, FL, USA
Status: offline 		What is the web address for BVM?

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Where are you hiding your switches? - 7/11/2003 8:00:44 AM   
t_burley



Posts: 2609
Joined: 1/11/2002
From: Bakersfield, CA, USA
Status: offline 		bvmjets.com

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Todd
Meister, Aero Acc., Sierra, Glennis, Get Stencils, Shinden, Warbird Colors, Fliteskin customer

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Where are you hiding your switches? - 7/11/2003 9:32:53 AM   
Devo