Building an aviation theme bar.

[mirrodie]

I do like to work with my hands when I get a chance. So right now I am planning to build an aviation themed bar. I need a pace to store the liquor and serve guest but also incorporate my hobby.

I figure I had a bunch of models and AA paraphernalia that I could use , perhaps build shelves into it the front of the bar. Also, the top table part of the bar, instead of aviation, I am thinking of throwing a model railroad in there (very small of course) to showcase my LIRR stuff.

But I need ideas. Got any? I have a few AA items I can use in the design. Flagship wings, Plaques. Some smaller die cast models. The Concorde seats and flask are off limits though.

Also, if anyone has some duplicate AA items (signs, etc.) they are willing to part with, maybe it could go into the design. I would love to maybe discuss trades or buying that sort of stuff.

[Ari707]

you can laminat the items into the bar top

or make it like a shadow box with a clear top

[mirrodie]

For the bar top, (meaning the flat surface upon which I can put drinks, I'm conceptualizing a shadow box-like look, maybe 4 inches deep. In it, thinking of an oval HO scale track (or dogbone) with maybe a little runway for the small diecast 400s.

I like hte laminating idea. Though I am having a tough time picturing it.

[MORS-AB-ALTO]

The varnish idea is a good one for some of the flat items you might have Mario. No worries about someone breaking the glass or things shifting. You'll have to say goodbye to ever touching whatever memorabilia you encase in it and once it's done it's done.

Not sure if you intend on incorporating a keg tap into the bar, but I do remember seeing a bar during my travels that had a tap operated by a throttle quadrant. I have quite a few of them and maybe once I get the basement finished I'll rig up the same.

[T-Bird76]

Mario check Ebay, you'l fine a TON of airline stuff, just one search on American comes up with an unlimited amount of things you can buy to jazz up your bar. What I'd do for a bar top would be a granite top with a runway down it.

[mirrodie]

A u shaped might be an idea......runway and railway possibilities!

Liking the wet bar idea with an area to latch up a keg of Grolsch to.

Of course, only the elites will be served Johnny Walker Blue.

[RDU-JFK]

For some reason I'm envisioning oxygen masks hanging down on the sides of the glasses. That would be sweet!

[Ari707]

I remember Home depot having some type of varnish that they covered a penny with and you couldn't feel the penny through it

[moose135]

I can't find it online, but sometime last year, I saw a show on Discovery, or TLC, or one of those, about a company (really just a handful of guys) who take old aircraft parts and create furniture out of them. They take rudders, wing sections, etc., from planes in the boneyards that are about to be cut up, and make tables out of them. I don't remember their name or anything, but that would be cool (but expensive!) One piece they made was from a DC-9 horizontal stablizer. They climbed up on it, cut out a section, then added legs, polished it up, and installed it as a conference room table at some biz jet charter outfit in Texas. It ended up really looking sharp!

[mirrodie]

You are remembering MotoArt. IIRC they tried also to have a show about their company. not sure how it did. I have been following them for years.

They do a nice job but their pricing is just off the wall. You can save a ton of money by finding the right people, buying a dc-8 rudder and then process the heck out of it til you get the polish you want.

http://motoart.com/html/about.htm

As I said, a great idea and a great product, but having spoken to some guys who do siimilar activities near FRG, moto is just a bit too pricey.

[PhilDernerJr]

Your bar would need airline glasses, airline plastic cups, napkinsa nd whatever silverware that would be necessary.

I think you can easily get get airline seat cushions to go on top of stool,s too.

Soem airline signage and you're set. Shoudl be a piece of cake.

Where's this going though?

[Ari707]

plenty of dishes silverware etc on ebay

[Ari707]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pan-Am-Pan-American ... dZViewItem

here is your lighting....

[moose135]

You are remembering MotoArt. IIRC they tried also to have a show about their company. not sure how it did. I have been following them for years.

They do a nice job but their pricing is just off the wall. You can save a ton of money by finding the right people, buying a dc-8 rudder and then process the heck out of it til you get the polish you want.

http://motoart.com/html/about.htm

As I said, a great idea and a great product, but having spoken to some guys who do siimilar activities near FRG, moto is just a bit too pricey.

Those are the guys! Thanks for the link. I do remember that they weren't cheap, and you're right, I guess you could find someone local who could do that sort of work for you. I do think something like this would be cool to have:

http://store.motoartstore.com/707wltbl.html

[lijk604]

You are remembering MotoArt. IIRC they tried also to have a show about their company. not sure how it did. I have been following them for years.

They do a nice job but their pricing is just off the wall. You can save a ton of money by finding the right people, buying a dc-8 rudder and then process the heck out of it til you get the polish you want.

http://motoart.com/html/about.htm

As I said, a great idea and a great product, but having spoken to some guys who do siimilar activities near FRG, moto is just a bit too pricey.

Those are the guys! Thanks for the link. I do remember that they weren't cheap, and you're right, I guess you could find someone local who could do that sort of work for you. I do think something like this would be cool to have:

http://store.motoartstore.com/707wltbl.html

Name of the show was Wingnuts. It didn't last too long unfortunately.
Interesting what they did, but I guess it just didn't have the huge appeal that crab fishing does. It's really hard to get critically injured making furniture.