MarcD
Full time elf
We have finally started work on our sleigh as the feature item in our 2013 display. We're using the same Winfield pattern that AussiePhil used, although we've shortened the body vertically by about five inches to make it easier to get into for the kids. The plywood arrived yesterday and the first piece has been marked out ready to cut as per the attached photo.
The feature of the sleigh will be a dashboard full of gauges, switches, knobs and lights. Everything will be wired up to a 12V power supply by an auto electrician friend. The idea is that the kids will be able to pretend they're controlling the sleigh (my wife even wants to add a set of reins). We made a rough layout for the dashboard back in January (see attached PDF) and haven't decided on a final layout as yet. A lot will depend on the availability of things.
That's turning out to be the hard part. I need a piece of aluminium sheet to mount everything into and it seems to be really hard to come by. I can buy a whole 2400 x 1200 sheet, but it's like $150 and I really only need a piece about 600 x 300. Or I can buy two small sheets from Jaycar, but then I'd have a join in the middle. If anyone has any suggestions to source this in Brisbane or can suggest an alternative, I'd love to hear from you.
The next problem is gauges. I visited a gauge repair shop down the road and they use everything as spare parts. The only other thing I can think is to visit a wreckers. I'm probably going to look like a complete dick asking a wreckers for old gauges for a sleigh. They don't need to actually work, they just need to light up when connected to power and look presentable. So I'm open to suggestions on this too.
Any and all advice is most welcome. I'll continue to post photo's of the build as it progresses.
The feature of the sleigh will be a dashboard full of gauges, switches, knobs and lights. Everything will be wired up to a 12V power supply by an auto electrician friend. The idea is that the kids will be able to pretend they're controlling the sleigh (my wife even wants to add a set of reins). We made a rough layout for the dashboard back in January (see attached PDF) and haven't decided on a final layout as yet. A lot will depend on the availability of things.
That's turning out to be the hard part. I need a piece of aluminium sheet to mount everything into and it seems to be really hard to come by. I can buy a whole 2400 x 1200 sheet, but it's like $150 and I really only need a piece about 600 x 300. Or I can buy two small sheets from Jaycar, but then I'd have a join in the middle. If anyone has any suggestions to source this in Brisbane or can suggest an alternative, I'd love to hear from you.
The next problem is gauges. I visited a gauge repair shop down the road and they use everything as spare parts. The only other thing I can think is to visit a wreckers. I'm probably going to look like a complete dick asking a wreckers for old gauges for a sleigh. They don't need to actually work, they just need to light up when connected to power and look presentable. So I'm open to suggestions on this too.
Any and all advice is most welcome. I'll continue to post photo's of the build as it progresses.