Hey Gary,
Thank you, but I wouldn't say I've mastered Solidworks by any stretch! I had played about with Freecad (open source) which has some similar funtionality so I understood the basics and I've still only really used the basics. I do love the sheet-metal functionality and I've used it to make patterns for the cabin heat parts that I'll cover in another post.
The overdone fuse panel is going in the glove box. I lose the storage but the Boeing/Airbus look will be hidden! I was going to use the automotive blocks, in fact I planned to have a rear fuse block for the avionics remotes which are behind the rear baggage area. At about EUR15 per 12-fuse block, they're a no-brainer. However, my inspector got a bit squirelly about going all the way to automotive parts in a classic aircraft. I got the feeling it was more a philosophical objection than a safety one, but I figured "pick your battles".
While it is current IAA & ILAS policy that permit aircraft are VFR day only, the tech committee at ILAS have been looking for an opportunity to move to IFR. LAA in the UK has had several projects IFR certified by the CAA which while it is a completely separate jurisdiction, it is a useful precedent for us. All the instruments have redundant backups (as the EFIS does it all, the separate DI and AHRS are electronic and I'm keeping the analog ASI, Alt, VSI and tach) and the electrical system has 2 batteries, one of which feeds the endurance bus only. I'm going to put a heated pitot on it which EASA requires for IFR (going for the Dynon AOA pitot) and see if we can push the envelope. That will be on the "spare" switch in the layout below.
I actually bought DPDT 3 position toggles for the piano keys and didn't update the schematic, so the landing/taxi & landing option is a possibility. I'm considering putting LED wig-wags on the jury struts like you see on experimentals and ultralights. I like the huge increase in visibility they bring with the side to side motion effect of the alternating lights. I'm thinking to do the up and down thing with Nav Only UP and Nav & Strobe DOWN, etc. Not finalised yet. Can't get the panel cut as the metal shop is shut down thanks to Covid-19.
I considered the Zenith but after flying a Super Cub knew I wanted a taildragger and then considered several kits including the Bearhawk Patrol. However, they are all big money and multiple years before flying; I felt it a lot for a complete beginner. When the 170 came up on barnstormers I grabbed it and considered it in effect a factory quick-build kit. I really like that the permit system allows this. I would not have felt comfortable ripping out and starting over if I was using certified equipment at 3-4 times the price, not to mention the A&P bill would have made it prohibitively expensive. The end result will have a lower resale price than if I had kept it on the N reg but not more than the increased cost of certified avionics, nav/com. engine monitor, etc. and I have no intention of parting with her anyway!
G.
