Wood is pretty

[tlandrum]

OK, this may be a very strange question.... but I love wood. I love working with it, and I love the look of it. I am going to be very sad to cover up all of the beautiful work I did on my ribs (because that I all I have finished). (Who knows, maybe they will come out with a clear fabric covering by the time I am ready to cover )

My question is... where is (or can be) the wood be exposed?!? I have seen someone who had the center section bow out of mahogany, and kept it exposed. I know I have also heard some parts inside the cockpit made out of mahogany, just because it is a beautiful wood. So can someone tell me what areas I should look at building out of mahogany, or at least laminating some mahogany in, purely for esthetics.

Thanks,

Tre'

[dougm]

Hi Tre,

Areas that some to mind for exposed wood could be:
Cockpit floor (maybe a nice veneer? Or some decorative molding around some of the openings?)
Front Cockpit Instrument panel/Glove box
Rear Cockpit Instrument panel
Any rear cockpit switch panels or maybe where you mount a radio?
Turtle Deck bulkhead right behind the pilot's seat
Control Stick handle
Trim tab handle
Handles for Throttle, Mixture, Carb heat


Hope that helps,
Doug

[mtaylor]

Another place for wood is the control stick itself. I used a baseball bat turned down on a lathe. I like the feel of the wooden stick over a grip.

I agree, wood is pretty!