Building the 1/2 cockpit structure of the P51 Mustang

Once the main instrument panel produced (cf. previous post), I started the challenging task of assembling the structure, made of laminated wood, aluminium sheets (for the fuselage, just like the marvelous Reno warbirds) and of course 4 rollers to allow junior flying around the flat chasing Zeros (well, not too much I hope).

Here is prototype 001, which got me the eternal love of my neighbors (hammer bangs, electric screw drivers bzzzzz, etc.)

Below is a pic from the beast front side, with wind shield made of PET, supports of aluminium with lots of tiny screws & bolds just to test my psychological resilience...

A 3/4 view of the inside. The gun sight (k16 for the experts) is not final yet, neither the compass at the bottom of the instrument panel...

A larger shot that allow to figure out the dimensions of the cockpit: 80cm long, 50 wide, and 85 high... still fitting through Parisian flat doors!!!

The mirror polished aluminium fuselage nicely reflecting the lights...

and to get Mom's approval: "it's only as big as a chest of drawers!"

A 1/2 cockpit replica for kids?!

Who never imagined oneself flying its own "Warhawk" or "Mustang" over burning Europe or the Pacific seas?
For this dream to come true, depending on age, some turned to legos, model building, and later to flight simulators (and of course real flying lessons when possible).

But after all, why not building a realistic airplane cockpit for kids? Adults do create a more immersive play experience by building physical cockpit sims around their computer/flight simulators (see all "pit" builders)

Based on this idea - a downscaled, simpler version of these sim "pits", I started designing a 1/2 replica for my kids. And let's be aspirational: based on the king of WWII, the North American P51 Mustang!

I started with the insturment panel, hand-drawn in Illustrator (antiquary CS2 version), then got in produced in HIP (High Impact Polystyrene) in Poland! After a few nights on Illustrator and some back & forth emails with the printing/cutting company in Poland, there it is!

Out of the 15 or something instruments the main panel sports, I made 9 functional, i.e. having a real needle that you can turn with your hand. Other smaller instruments just have the needle pasted on the instrument... Actual size of this panel is 40 x 20cm..
Now let's turn to the cockpit structure!