Anything welding

Solid lol I'd fuck anything up gluing-wise

If I can't weld it, run a root, hot pass, followed by cover passes then nope

 

@Bivouac

"Any excuse to use the table"





This is the only thing my table did cut today

 

Gotcha, the idea of an adjustable stand with a couple directions that it can be adjusted in (up / down and fore / aft) seems like it would be a fun design project too

 

So, only because I've never done such a thing I will do it just because.

I'll give the base the ability to swing down flat or pitch up to a specific amount as that could be useful for throttle manipulation.

I would have to find a nice knob (that isn't expensive) with a threaded insert in order to allow the tightening and loosening for adjustability.

 

seems like you need to break out the CAD.

Cardboard Aided Design
https://www.hagerty.com/media/maint...the-science-behind-cad-cardboard-aided-design

 

I’d love to see you CAD a roll cage, bed rack, tube bumper, or anything else with weird bends and round

 

Nothing wrong with cardboard aided design

 

the best part about cardboard is that it can be had for free. so it's a virtually unlimited design medium.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=3vKRHjEQ1D0

need break it down to 1-dimensional fundamental shapes. in this case, you're trying to deal with the curvature of the roof. cut some long strips, tape together as needed, get the curve to follow the roof, then transfer to your workbench, where you can more easily play with the bends needed to make it work.

another option i've seen guy's do is to take a 10' stick of angle iron(for rigidity), hold it straight and level above the truck, then pull measurements every few inches to the truck. again, transfer to a solid working surface, and then adjust bending as needed.

but that said, most roof rack designs will keep the rails straight for a flat mounting surface, and will adjust the dimension of the spacers between the body and rail to make up the difference of the body curvature.

 

A lot of old prerunner dudes used to use this to get their bend radius / location for their cages

https://www.bend-tech.com/software/

Then they went to solidworks and other heavy duty CAD programs beyond that

 

I saw the first iteration with the "single" stick. The next mod added the entire cockpit!

 

Oh noooooo cockpit not for another year or so

That'll be done with extruded aluminum for ease of modification/assembly

CNC table will allow me to make "attachment plates" not to mention adding a little personalized flair

These stands will work for the meanwhile as my desk doesn't support a joystick and throttle comfortably

Friend said they look like nice end tables so they could just end up being that once they're retired from flight sim duty

 

problem with the latter , and a lot of companies do it, is a few things.

1. you can still see the huge gap from the side and how it progressively gets bigger closer to the windshield you get. I hate that.

2. Because of that, the forward facing roof lights are always so “high” on the 4Runner from the front. Like a 2 story hotel. (Black arrow)

I want the lights to be more low and almost in front of the windshield some (red arrow)


So I’m just trying to find a way to pull it off and make a roof rack that makes my heart happy and maybe even a couple others so I can sell em.

 

@weldertaco

Have you considered using flat bar for the sides and use the tubes for your basket in between them? Few guys on YouTube went this route for diy racks.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ndODRWqdWDg

Or rolling the tube to match the contoured roof? You could tape some high density foam to make the gap you want and make rolled tubes that match the roofline like you said you like.

Obviously this is much bigger tube than you’d be using, but it might work.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gTSqFYBtzYI

This guy has a lot of good tips too. His c pillar tube seems kind of similar to what I think you want (thicker and on the wrong side of the roof obviously haha).

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_LbI71X2NOU&t=1589s

 

For @koditten and @Drainbung who didn't know what the controllers were for

 

Glad to see your living up to my prediction !!

 

Making this for a friend to give to his Dad who is retired AF. Not happy with it yet, so this one is going to flea market sale.

I take credit for about 60% of the design at this point as some else had posted the original version. I can never resist modifying them though. I am going to re-do the right half and some small things on the left.

It came out nice as far as cut (16 gauge always does!), but I just think it's kinda boring.

 

Nah I hate hate hate the flat bar roof racks. They just look cheap, flimsy, and like there’s no heart in them. Just another bolt together kit that everyone and their momma has.

However rolling is a good idea and I’ve been thinking about it but wasn’t sure how to tackle it with the tools I have yet lol.

 

Being an AF guy myself I like it, critiquing it the bottom of the AF symbol is off. and maybe try rotating the aircraft to fly a little more to the right towards the ends of the flag, and I drop some of the aircraft, two is plenty for the size of the piece. Also maybe leave a little more the flag at the bottom.



Edit, you might want to inquire what kind of airplanes your friends dad worked on or flew. Those shapes kind of look like British Tornado's. You might be able switch out the shape for the correct type that he served with or at least a US jet.

 

def fix the AF symbol. Heres another idea, more definition on stripes

 

That looks like the flag/file already available on the fireshare and someone added the jet on top of it