I received the new nut plate jig in the mail from Aircraft Spruce, and I finally finished the console. I could have taken a photo of the panel before I installed it, but there will be plenty of opportunities to check it out as I begin the avionics portion of the build coming up soon.
As a reminder, I went with a thicker aluminum for each side of the console than recommended by Safari. It may be complete overkill, but I wanted to provide a very stable platform for the pod, and I wanted the top face to be solid for the switches and levers that will call it home. I also know that the console will get kicked and abused as people enter and exit the helicopter, so I think the thicker sides will hold up better than a thiner wall. Anyway, here is the finished look:
