Can ya guess what it is ?

That shelf is really just a rudimentary flat rack. It can only barely be seen in this photo from inside the original (looking from the rear fuselage forward to the cockpit): https://airandspace.si.edu/sites/default/files/media-assets/NASM2015-03265.jpg

It was just a basic rack for holding maps/documents. More clear views of it can be seen in these photos of John Norman's accurate recreation:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull/26151617482/sizes/h/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull/25929262940/sizes/h/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull/26244064385/sizes/h/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull/27020641395/sizes/h/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krislhull/26177789321/sizes/l/

Some more great detail photos of the John Norman recreation can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=28505201@N07&view_all=1&text=NYP

What might be confusing things is that there is also a separate wooden frame structure behind the seat onto/into which the flare tubes are mounted (as can also be seen in the photo linked to at the top of this post), with which some beams extend outward toward the walls of the fuselage as well. Note too the spare bungee cords on the right side of the cockpit of the John Norman recreation, which is exactly the same as can be seen in the original as well (the bungees are used for the landing gear shock absorbing).

https://dpa730eaqha29.cloudfront.net/lynnwoodtoday/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/DSC04981.jpg
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn....Md6KKEHR3iH8LMMU05MgtXvnCE9Jj4A5A&oe=6244580C

So it's just a flat vertical rack ? interesting...

Thanks for all the links ! its very much appreciated.
 
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