Brief Description: GIB Control Stick PTT & footwell nutplates
I completed the upper stick Delron plug by inserting it into the stick and using the pin to hold the plug in position. I then marked the stick locations I wanted to put two screws in to hold the plug in place. I drilled and tapped through the stick and plug for the 4-40 stainless screws and inserted them.
Next I moved to the bottom plug with the female pins. This plug will sit in the lower half of the stick weldment. I made the lower Delron plug to sit on the stick attachment through bolt and when the upper stick is inserted the male pins would fit into the female pins on the bottom plug. When I tested it out I found that the pins were "too sloppy" in the holes and that made it a little difficult to get the upper male pins inserted into the lower female pins. This was due to having to make the counterbores in the lower plug big enough to accomodate the "ears" to stop the pin from going into the plug too far. I had bought an assortment of 12' Delron rods of various diameters for having on hand. I found the 3/16 rod and went in the shop to make a sleeve that would center and hold the female pins centered in the holes. The sleeves worked perfectly. Upon inserting the upper stick again I found it mated perfectly!
I went to the fuselage and assesed the wire routing and noticed that I failed to put nutplates into the rear footwell holes for the 8-32 screws so I began drilling for the nutplates before calling it a night.
