Cockpitbuilders.com

Hi All,
First off a big friendly handshake and welcome to  the fastest growing Cockpitbuilder's Website on the web. Please try to understand the site is still going through tremendous amount of growing pains and improves a little everyday. With that said, please try to be patient as well as running a normal man's life, which includes making ends meet, Trevor is doing his utmost in his spare time available, to bring all of us a wonderful haven where we can ,ask questions, learn from each other, make new friends, talk about this unique and amazing hobby among other things.
So we don't miss anyone that may join our membership, part of our (SOP Standard operating proceedures) of the site, prior to any posting, please visit this location first, just put a quick line or two, including your first name (last is optional), age (optional), what country, type of A/C your building,RL pilot, Years in building and anything else you'd like to share with us about yourself. This gives everyone an excellent way to meet you and no one gets missed in the process as the site begins to grow. So please, if you notice a guest, posting in the site somewhere and has not formerly and properly introduced themselves, just give them a friendly and polite reminder to go and visit the introduction section here. Please remember, these new members are guests, so treat them respectfully and in a very positive manner.I look forward to this are filling up imeasurably in the not so distant future.
If you are an old timer, or member whos been around a long time in a previous site and have decided to join us, also leave a few lines,so the new people can know who you are as well.
Thanks in advance Guys and I look forward to a really awesome flight sim and cockpit building experience in our new home, thanks to Trevor and his undying love and determination for the hobby. ;)

Tim
A340

Evening all.

Hopefully most of you will know me, Been building a 767 cockpit at home for as long as I can remember must be close to 12  years!! Never got much done though!!
Im a real world pilot with @ 7100 hours, with 3 Type ratings. No im not weird I just got into flightsim and cockpit building before I got to do it for real :-)

Evening Chaps,

Recruit number 11   ;)

Think you know who i am? well i hope you do....

Well, my name is philip Lambert, 28 going on 48 years old, started sim building just after i left school in 98 from wood and bits of things lying around, let be honest it was crap so 10 years later decided to give it another go, trying to build my favorite aircraft wich is the 747 but keep getting pulled back to the 767, but now ive seen the 747-8 im quite tempted by that, but i may just say sod it and build both lol

I think you all know what i do best anyway, good luck with the new site :)

Phil!!!! Rhys!!!! Wow its so fantastic and great having you guys on board. This is so perfect my good mates are finally joining us! That is such great news. Anything I can do guys to make your stay better than ever, besides entertaining you with god save the queen using armpit farts, ill be glad to. (Better than real ones lol ) But all jking aside it is so really great to se you boys.

Tim
A340

By the way,
For anyone coming in new, just to let you know, Phil is one of the most gifted men ever to grace the flight simulation cockpitbuilding hobby.Very few men in this hobby have the talent that this man does. Men like Ivar in Norway, Bob Reed and Joe Cygan in US just to namea few, Gwyn in australia and Phil and Rhys in UK are truly gifts to this hobby.These guys are the master craftsman tha take this hobby to new levels of excellence. Thats not saying that those not mentioned are not skilled, far from the truth, I just dont have enough space to include the immense amount of talent we have in this hobby. James Price,Mike,John Boe, Trevor,Maurice, Jack the list is truly endless.But Phil is truly special in the way he ha mastered panel design this man can make a fully duplicated Airbus or boeing overhead , so its indestinguishable from real thing. a true master craftsman and Im proud to call him my friend. Just sayin :)

Tim
A340

Quote from: phil744 on September 11, 2009, 03:25:37 PM
Evening Chaps,

Recruit number 11   ;)

Think you know who i am? well i hope you do....

Well, my name is philip Lambert, 28 going on 48 years old, started sim building just after i left school in 98 from wood and bits of things lying around, let be honest it was crap so 10 years later decided to give it another go, trying to build my favorite aircraft wich is the 747 but keep getting pulled back to the 767, but now ive seen the 747-8 im quite tempted by that, but i may just say sod it and build both lol

I think you all know what i do best anyway, good luck with the new site :)

and another one...

Stef, also known as dnoize on other forums...

42 years old....behave like a 22 yr old though....so i fit in with rhys and phil :-)

building a 737 and a cessna 172, real hours in a Grob, Cessna 172 and Pipers, never continued to make it to my PPL though....

I thought it would be cheaper to build a sim.....boy was i wrong...lol...so thinking of picking up my ppl again.

I think the 737 i'm building now is the 3rd or 4th....lost count....

havent been working on it for ages..... been too busy building for others :-/
Picking it up now working on various parts simultaneously (motorizing a real throttle, interfacing real columns, building my shell.

Part time team member of a vendor in this bizz.  Full time job next to that to make a living...LOL

I've seen quite a few names here i allready know...


now.....wheres the beer ;-)

Stef

Hey Stef,
Great to see ya, hope all is well with family. Looks like business is good. Nice to see. Glad to see you joined. Beers in the fridge lol service is on you though :)

Tim
A340

Wow..  welcome to all you guys...

Seems I have a small background image issue here to fix..  :)  OOPS... More hard work Tim..  I will get er fixed tomorrow I hope :)

Trev

Gooday All...........looks like I have seen a few of you chaps before !!
Regards................Brian W.

Hi all. Tim where's morry? Havent seen him post.

Anyway, brissydave here, hope you are all going well guys.

Trev, tim,stef, a big halloooo!

Trev, I should have read between the lines as per our emails:-)


Dave
Flight-facsimile

Quote from: brissydave on September 14, 2009, 02:19:17 AM
Hi all. Tim where's morry? Havent seen him post.

I'm here. Been super busy selling my house & 'supervising' the build of new house. Will be 'homeless' for about 4 months (living with my brother actually) while new house is completed. And then the 'real 'fun' will begin...building everything my wife wants me to build and building my workshop & re-building sim. Will have to 'negotiate time 'allowances'  ;D

Maurice

Hi Gary here. Been building for many years. I want to say thank you to Trevor for buliding this site and also Tim for pointing me over here. I have to say that Im extremely pleased to see Tim with renewed energy as after the absolutely riduculous debacle that happened on the other site I thought we may have lost you from the building scene forever. Very happy to see thats not the case.

Gary

No thanks required Gary, It's just great to have you back in action as well. 

Howdy All

I'm Henry, 48 years old, live in Mississauga, Ont (few minutes from Toronto Pearson International Airport .... airshow was in town last week and sat out on the deck watching the Cdn Snowbirds, Blue Angels F-18s, F-22, F-86, among others flying overhead). Currently building a 767 (with some of Phil's panels).

Henry

Welcome Henry...  Good to have you here.  I am sure the airshow as always was worth every beer you drank watching it :)

:cheers:

Trev

Hey Brian,
Good to see ya mate. Thats terrific your joining us. Any new pics of the bus?

Tim
A340

Hey guys,

Though I haven't posted for a long time on "the other forum" I'm still lurking around :)
For those who don't know who I am, I'm a Dutch FS nut working (slowly) on a ERJ-145.

Hey dutch,
Welcome mate long time no see, great to have you. Pull up a chair :)Thanks for the intro :)

Tim
A340

Hi there... hadn't noticed this topic, so just posting to say hello. I'm Luis (31), 'ludwig' or 'luisgordo' on other forums.

I've been building an A320 for more than 4 yrs now, though I had to disassemble and store it overseas, as I recently came back to the US on a permanent basis. I am however continuing development of the Instructor Station...  ;)

Gary!!!!!!!
Ya made it mate lol thought you go lost, between the front page and FDS somewhere lol :) So glad your here. Thanks fer joining.
Definitely a great place to hang for sure :)

Your mate
Tim
A340

Quote from: Garys on September 14, 2009, 05:07:00 AMHi Gary here. Been building for many years. I want to say thank you to Trevor for buliding this site and also Tim for pointing me over here. I have to say that Im extremely pleased to see Tim with renewed energy as after the absolutely riduculous debacle that happened on the other site I thought we may have lost you from the building scene forever. Very happy to see thats not the case.Gary

Hi to all
I am Dennis (or Den to my friends).  I am 56 years young and live in Hull in east Yorkshire, England.

I am a life long airoplane nut, having flown R/C most of my adult life.  Got into flight sim about 10 years ago .  Have a generic pit which can be Ga or Heavy depending on how I feel based on 2 pcs, FSX, TH2G and 5 screens (currently- but dont tell the wife!), and several Go flight modules.  Currently into adding controls, mainly home made to BU 0836x to increase the realism. also use FSUIPC's button screen on a touch screen, the aim again is to  to add to the realism by not using the mouse at all if possible once the flight is set up.

Den

Hey Den,

Welcome to Cockpitbuilders.  Glad to have you here.  I would like to see pics of your setup, so feel free to attach them to a post, or upload them to the gallery.

Best regards,

Trev

Hi Guys,

I guess most of you will know me from other places.
I moved houses last year in August, and have spent all of this year commuting to Gent Belgium to sort out my company's biggest logistics operation, so have not had time to rebuild the ERJ 145, which is in various bits at home.
Hopefully, this winter will let me get everything back together.

Looking forward to meet some of you at Leystad.

Hey Paul...  Fantastic to see you..  Wish I was still going to FSWeekend, but thats ok, maybe next year.. 

I hope you get your cockpit back together soon..  I am sure you are going to rework some things when you re-assemble it.. (give you a chance to change a couple things)

Good to see you again.

Best regards,

Trev

A couple of pictures of my first simpit showing it in both GA and heavy modes
I tried, but couldn't get them to upload to the gallery.

Den

http://www.cockpitbuilders.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=17&pos=1 (http://www.cockpitbuilders.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=17&pos=1)

http://www.cockpitbuilders.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=17&pos=0 (http://www.cockpitbuilders.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=17&pos=0)



with thanks to imageshack for hosting

They uploaded fine for me Den..  If you need help, let me know.

Trev

Not sure I'm at the right place to do this; however, I'll give it a shot and see where it leads.  My name is Gil Lusk.  I'm a newcomer to this website.  Found it through a link on FlightSim.com.

I've had a passion for flight simulation ever since Microsoft introduced version 5.  It's the same passion I have always had for airplanes.

My dream is to build a cockpit based on Convair's 580 turboprop.  I've bought a Convair's complete MIP, 2 of the airplane's throttle quadrants, the control columns and rudder pedals.  Now, I have to come up with the cockpit to house all this stuff.  I have a long way to go.

My day job is managing a family-owned automotive collision repair center in Knoxville.  Even then my thoughts are never far from flight simulation.

Thanks for allowing me to come on board! 

Welcome to the Forum Gil,

Your in the right spot no matter where you post.  Just remember pictures and a description of what you hope to achieve.  We are all here to help you follow your dream.

Thanks for showing up.

Trev

Welcome Den and Gil to our little family. W hope you find it as comfortable and helpful as we do. Pull up a seat and jump right in.
regards
Tim
A340

Hi there

I'm relatively new to this whole cockpit building business, despite having watched my father build several ever-more ambitious home flight simulators over the years. And it's actually that which brings me here; searching out further knowledge, as his hobby has altered the direction of our family business (originally refrigerated container controller repairs) into flight sim gear instead, which suddenly finds me lacking in years of crucial know-how! So here I am, mostly to soak up knowledge, although I'll endeavour to be of some use wherever I can ...

To make this introduction of more interest to actual cockpit builders however, my father's simulator (on-going project) is an ATR 72-500 and there's a blog in my signature which details it's progress.

I look forward to being a part of this community.

Cheers,
Dean.

Welcome to the site Dean. Your project looks great. Not many builders for the ATR.

Welcome to the group Dean..  It does look like one nice project indeed.

Best regards,

Trev

Checking in.

I've been building since 2005, first an F-16, now substantially complete, and lately a Spitfire (which started as a MkIX but has morphed into a MkII). Variously known as Killratio, Tony Hill and DarrylH.

Glad to be here,


Darryl

Hey Darryl,

Good to see you here.  Looking forward to seeing pictures of your new spit, even if it is a MKII.

Trev

Hi all
My name is Ian Epton, I am 38 years old, I am married with three children and live in Lincolnshire, England. I started flight simming in 1995, and its been a passion of mine ever since. I started to build a 737NG flightdeck in my garage about 18 months ago. Its been a slow project due to being at university for the past year, but I have now graduated and I plan to get stuck back into building the sim. I have limited joinery, electrical, and computer programming skills, so this project is going to be challenging. I resided myself to the fact that it's going to be an exact replica of a 737 by any imagination, but Im happy with it so far. I am currently building the shell which is turning out ok I think!
I am looking forward to chatting to all of you talented Cockpit builders. I will post some pics of my sim once I have worked out how! lol. Looks like the site is going to be a great one.
Ian

Welcome aboard Ian. We'd like to see your photos!

Welcome Ian, Good to have you here :)

Hi guys, I guess many know me by now! I think there will always be room for more forums reaching more people and expanding the hobby further. It's a good thing!!!

Cheers, Gwyn

Hey guys, is this the best kept secret or what?  No one told me you were all here and not "there".  Wasn't till I got a link from Gwyn (Aerosim) that I saw this.  Anyway thought I'd join and say hello.  A new cockpit building site goes very nicely with a new pit build.  Some might remember me building my PC12 but I've ventured out and up to the beautiful B777.  Thanks to Gwyn at Aerosim Solutions, I'm getting a pro 777 throttle quad and MIP's made.  Looking at using Sim Avionics across a multi-PC network for full systems replication.  I hope to keep you posted as to progress and continued inspiration.

Ken.

 ;D   ;D   ;D  hello Ken..........
so, our secret's out.... nice to have you here with all the good ol' boys  ;D
rgds ... ian

Hey Ken. 

Glad to see you here..  I would have to say that your not that late :)  Only been in operation since late August.  Never the less we have quite the group here, and most importantly, we have a blast.

Thanks for dropping by.  I am glad to see you will be using some of the stuff you learned from the PC12 and implementing it into you 777.  I can't wait to see your pictures.

Best regards,

Trev

Hey Ken,

Good to see you over here.  Funny....I dropped my Mustang and went with Sim-Avionics and the 737 and now you are dropping the PC12 and going for the 777.   Cant wait to see how your build progressess.

Best regards,
Scott

Hi Ken! Glad to see you around these parts. Joined the Boeing crowd I see.  :idiot:

Hi Ken
Sorry to be late greeting you...welcome here, and to Boeing building.
Just curious, what is the size of the room/building where the big bird will nest?
The Triple 7 nose is a monster!
Cheers
JP

Jack I'm hoping to fit it into my current room size of approx. 3.1m x 3.1m.  Might be a bit ambitious particularly considering I'm planning to use a projector for outside viewing.  All will become clear once the base and MIP stand starts to come together.  Obviously I won't be able to create the full enclosure.  If all else fails I have a large garage available.

Ken.

Go for the garage...the 777 front office is around 12ft wide (4m)
http://www.boeing.com/commercial/airports/acaps/7772sec9.pdf (http://www.boeing.com/commercial/airports/acaps/7772sec9.pdf)
Nevertheless it will be a superb sim...

Hi all, my name is Jose and I am from Portugal. I have started a 737 project and currently I am building the MIP. Draw it and had it laser cut. That's how it all started. A couple of years have gone since then. Despite many hours of labour virtually nothing is done. Great hobby, great site, it is an incredible opportunity to share knowledge.

JAC

Howdy!

By way of introduction, I'm new to serious pit building, but a long time flight sim'er.  I've been using MS Flight Sim since version 2 and have owned nearly every version since.  I've also experimented with x-plane.  29 years ago I completed ground school and started logging hours towards my private pilots license.  Then life took me in other directions and I hadn't logged another hour until this year when my wife booked me an hour with a CFI as a Birthday gift.  By the way, even with a 29 year gap it really comes back very quickly.  Now I'm trying to figure out if I can afford the long term commitment to go back and start chasing my license again.

In the interim I joined a virtual ATC group and started building out my desktop pit with the hope of someday stumbling across that rare find, a real fuselage to build on that was in usable condition but affordable.  Well, I didn't get far before a stroll through e-bay found me bidding on a 172 fuselage with only minimal airframe damage.  It sold for the cost of the scrap metal so it was a sweet deal, and here I am.

I have a background in electrical and electronic engineering, as well as audio engineering.  I'm fairly mechanical, have some electrical and mechanical prototyping and fabrication experience, and I have just a little programing experience.

What I hope to accomplish a 172RG like pit.  From their I may make a few of the panel sections interchangeable to allow for twin engine simulation.  But initially I'll be happy to get the basic 172 up and running.

I'm looking forward to reading and learning here.  It seems commercial aircraft are the more popular pits, but I'm also hoping to find more GA builders as well.  I've already met a few on line that have accomplished something similar to what I want to do and have raised the bar very high...  Looking forward to reaching for it.

Welcome Aboard Tom

Wether it is GA, Heavy metal, real or sim, this is a full house of Aviation nuts.
You are obviously part of that crowd.
Go for a light twin right away, not much more work Simwise just an extra set of gauges , but a big plus in performance, possibilities and pilot challenge .
Our instruments cost basically nothing so go for full IFR panels.
My 2¢ as a pilot if not as a Sim builder.
Jack

Hi guys! 8)

I'm Anne. B767 enthusiast, gathering parts to build the cockpit.

Talk to you soon!

Hello all,
Been around for a few months here.
I am building a B737-800 in my garage in Lusaka, Zambia (leave google maps alone ;) ). I just turned 41 other week. My build is still in its infancy with FDS shell and MIP. I will be moving house in two years time so I try to think ahead to accommodate the need to pull the thing apart without too much collateral damage. I keep a log at http://meditrak.me/zac

Thanks
Anthony Musaluke


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Welcome Anthony.  Glad you could make it here, and I hope that you enjoy your time with us.

Best regards,

Trev.

Hello Everyone,

I've been lurking for about a year now and though it's probably about time to introduce myself.
I'm from Ontario, Canada, and my brother and I are building a 767 sim in my basement. We're also building a PA30 - Piper Twin Comanchee at my brother's house out of an old fuselage.
I work in electronics designing and codeing microcontroller circuits for power supplies, so much of my interfacing I'm doing myself.

I started off with a basic setup using, 3 monitors for the main panel, a CP Flight MCP,  two Saitek yokes and throttle and an old A320 CDU training device that I converted for use with the LevelD 763.

(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%2F8349%2F8205541363_3143f5af6e_n.jpg&hash=2d64ca9a86d18eb43dfb86f82869e0ee988c40f4) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/87529678@N00/8205541363/)
IMG_4798 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/87529678@N00/8205541363/#) by m_disco (http://www.flickr.com/people/87529678@N00/), on Flickr

I'm now in the process of taking this setup down and assembling and modifying an old 762 flight training device I was fortunate enough to aquire.

Kyle

Thanks Trevor. Learnt so much already from the great team here. Glad to be here.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Doug here from the state of Washington. A decade ago---yes---I was heavily into using the PS1.3/Aerowinx 747 platform. Then, it was Squawkbox, Roger wilco and other accessory addons 
to provide 'scenery' as the platform was 99% instrument oriented in its presentation.

Looking to learn a lot, but not intending to go all out on a cockpit. so far:

(3) PCs/XP with expanded video cards
(3) 20" HP monitors
(3) 15" instrument monitors
(1) HP laptop with extended video card
(1) gateway laptop for using SkyVector and VatSpy

Avionics package from Aerosoft 737
GoFlight MCP Pro, just purchased from this forum (thanks)
(1) Big  Fan to 'cool' the PCs:  :)

Photo without full setup yet:

Hello, I am Paul Jump and I live in Tulsa Oklahoma.  I have been flight simming since FS 2000, 2004 and now FSX.  I attempt to fly is more like it and I do ok but, I guess I could do better.  I am retired, retired.  I retired from the Air Force in 1987 and from my working life in 2010 because of a physical problem.  I have not built any simulators yet, and I just have to figure out what I want.  First I want to do a Lear 45, then a CRJ, then a 767, then..............??  It will all get down to that age old question of how much I can afford and what I want to simulate.  I don't really want the 737 thing as I am not that interested in that.

I'll be here in and out as you say and will let you know what I figure out and start to build.

Paul J

Hello, I am Tim and I live in Whiteland, IN which is south of Indianapolis. Been flight simming since 1985. I fly a C172 in the real world. Always wanted to make the transition from computer to a cockpit build just never had the time or space. Will do a B737 NG. Look forward to interacting with fellow builders in this great hobby

Hello, my name is James and I am new to this site. I am building a BAe146 simpit in my basement using as many real aircraft gauges as possible. As most of you know there is not operational platform for this type of aircraft, therefore I have to design an interface as I go. I will post pictures as the build continues.

Great job James, I saw your pics and I am impressed.  Nicely done.

Hi Everybody,
Thanks for the welcome mat. Real nice Simulator forum...and boy will I need you.

I'm Gary Zink, 2001 retired Boeing software engineer, age 69, living in Kent near Seattle, Washington, USA. While I've never had the time and circumstance to earn a pilot's license, I've always wanted to know how to fly. Life is too short for all that I wanted to do!

For about a year now, I've been constructing a 2-seat B-727 flight simulator in my garage. I have three scenery wide display monitors operated by a TripleHead2Go. I bought some CH yokes and rudder pedals, and Saitek stuff for the flight deck. I bought and installed B-727 overhead panel out of Arizona and plan to incorporate as much of it as possible in the simulator.

I'm overwhelmed with all that I need to know, all that I need to do, all mistakes I need to correct and all that I still need to discover. So I'll take it one small step at a time during the on-going and never-ending construction phase.
If I can tap you experts for a little design, construction and hookup advice now and then, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks again, Gary

Hi Gary, welcome and all I can ask is, Where are the pics? lol Never enough pics! There is another sim nut over in Ballard... I am sure he will chime in here.

Hello everyone :

I am a total newbie to this area, my name is Sam,I am somehow closer to 50 than 40 and live in the great state of Michigan ,pilot,retired Coast Guard . I recently completed a wings off restoration of a 1947 North American Navion . It was so much fun I decided I would like to build a simulator in a room we are including in the basement of our new home . I will be using a Navion firewall forward . My two step  adult step kids work in the computer industry so we feel confident about out abilities .

The Navion is a High performance complex aircraft and the simulator need to reflect its abilities . All switches will be placed identical to my real aircraft.

I will be transparent about my knowledge level and will gladly accept advise advise however I have little tolerance  for those who look to unfairly profit off someone else's inexperience .

This looks like a great format to become knowledge about this exciting corner of aviation.

What do I need to get this project rolling?
The structural parts are no problem , how do I get a 1947 landing gear lever to talk to the computer program etc

Thanks for helping the newbie  :-)

Sam

Hi Sam.  Welcome.

The first suggestion is to start searching the forum and figuring out what is here.  Very few questions haven't been answered before.

I'll try to break it down quickly so you understand the main parts of what you are trying to do.

1. What simulator are you running?  FS9, FSX, X-Plane, P3D, etc
2.  What Navion package are you using in your Simulator?

3.  Take out all the complicated stuff and what is left:

-Inputs (switches, yokes, throttles, landing gear lever etc)
-Outputs (feedback, motion, automation etc)
-Displays (LED's, other lights, 7-segment displays etc)

4.  Inputs, Outputs, and Displays must be connected to the simulator through hardware and software.

HARDWARE: Landing Gear lever is connected to an interface card which is connected to the computer
SOFTWARE: input from the switches in the landing gear lever is translated and passed to the simulator via software such as FSUIPC, Simconnect, Prosim, Sim-A, Project Magenta, etc

The same concept in reverse for Outputs and Displays

Simulator (FSX for example) passes the signal to the interface card which then lights up an LED or shows a number.

I would recommend the following:

-Pick a simulator
-Pick a Navion package
-buy a Pokeys card or similar interface
-buy some switches, LEDs, and 7-segment displays
-purchase FSUIPC or similar

Experiment in small scale with getting lights to light up, switches to work, asking specific questions as you need.

Once you can get this working, you are on your way to building your cockpit.  I am afraid that is really the only way you'll figure it out.

Don't be discouraged.  This is a great hobby but there are basics that need to be tackled before you can build a cockpit from scratch.

Quote from: fsaviator on December 28, 2013, 01:34:01 AM
Hi Sam.  Welcome.

The first suggestion is to start searching the forum and figuring out what is here.  Very few questions haven't been answered before.

I'll try to break it down quickly so you understand the main parts of what you are trying to do.

1. What simulator are you running?  FS9, FSX, X-Plane, P3D, etc
2.  What Navion package are you using in your Simulator?

3.  Take out all the complicated stuff and what is left:

-Inputs (switches, yokes, throttles, landing gear lever etc)
-Outputs (feedback, motion, automation etc)
-Displays (LED's, other lights, 7-segment displays etc)

4.  Inputs, Outputs, and Displays must be connected to the simulator through hardware and software.

HARDWARE: Landing Gear lever is connected to an interface card which is connected to the computer
SOFTWARE: input from the switches in the landing gear lever is translated and passed to the simulator via software such as FSUIPC, Simconnect, Prosim, Sim-A, Project Magenta, etc

The same concept in reverse for Outputs and Displays

Simulator (FSX for example) passes the signal to the interface card which then lights up an LED or shows a number.

I would recommend the following:

-Pick a simulator
-Pick a Navion package
-buy a Pokeys card or similar interface
-buy some switches, LEDs, and 7-segment displays
-purchase FSUIPC or similar

Experiment in small scale with getting lights to light up, switches to work, asking specific questions as you need.

Once you can get this working, you are on your way to building your cockpit.  I am afraid that is really the only way you'll figure it out.

Don't be discouraged.  This is a great hobby but there are basics that need to be tackled before you can build a cockpit from scratch.

Take note of this post Sam, it will be very helpful in your future life as a sim builder! I'm an amateur too and this forum has been invaluable. Good luck, I'm on a 737-800 building path. Share what you do with us!

Hi all

Rob here from Norwich UK. Been into aviation all my life with a BCPL and instructor rating (sadly lapsed) and been into flight sim since its inception!

Interested in building TQs, rudder pedals etc and associated hardware and electronics, and currently working on a new Dash 8 TQ and rudder trim module!

Good to be here!!!

Hi,  I am Tim from Stockbridge, Ga.  real world pilot.  I want to build a Instrument flight trainer as realistic as posible.  Thinking of using a C-172 cockpit but I don't know how to go about doing so.  Any help to where I should start would be appreciated!  Thanks,

Greetings from Bulgaria!

My name is Victor. 26yr old. PPL holder. Simmer for more than 15 years but got interested in building my home cockpit just this year. I know about this community for a long time but always thought it's way too time- consuming for me. Now that i'm dedicated more than ever, I would like to build a 737-like control column for starters. Something not that fancy as i would like to see some progress in the near future. That would help me to keep going afterwards :)

Best Regards,
Vic

Greetings,

My name is George, I live in Sydney, Australia. 14 years old. I have had around 1 hour in a real Cessna 172 and an hour and a half in a full 737-800 simulator at Darling Harbour. I have been flight Simming for 5 years and have destroyed about 2 computers by looking for add ons for FSX and they turned out to contain viruses. Yeah. I hope to build a 777 simulator over the next 6 or so years. I am young so I dont have a credit card which means I cant get a 1000$ CDU from FDS, however I will be getting a job at the end of this year to slowly save up to buy maybe an overhead panel or yoke for the sim. Also, I really want to join the RAAF and become either a KC-130 pilot or a F-35 pilot. Also, I am going to be taking woodworking classes at my school which will hopefully allow my dad to give me a jigsaw instead of using the old fashioned saw! Well thats all i can think of. P.S ( Any kind donations , like maybe a complimentary MIP would be amazing. Just kidding, but seriously.)

Thanks,

George

Hi there,

My name is Joakim, i'm 36 and from Roskilde, Denmark. I have been simming for around 10 years now, mainly MSFS series - and are currently still "flying my desk" - a life long dream is to change that and build a full 737 cockpit over the next few years.  I have joined here to get inspired and to seek help and advise from fellow sim geeks  :)

great to be here!

kind regards Joakim

I'm currently flying FSX -PMDG NGX
i7 quad core 2600k @ 4,2 GHz, 16 gigs of RAM, GTX 590 - visuals: 3 x 22" screens on a TH2Go, CH products Yoke and pedals, Cockpitsonic motorized TQ

Hi everyone,

My name is Jim, I am 47 years old from Winnipeg, Canada.  Although I still love flying FSX, like most people on this forum, I decided I wanted a more realistic experience, that is, hardware.

My dream would be to have a full scale 737NG sim in my home, but for now I am starting small.  To date, I have built a small Baron B58 Panel using cards from Desktop Aviator.

As this is all about learning for me, my next step is to learn how to set up FSUIPC to work with the PMDG 737NGX.  I have built a pressurization Panel from the overhead and am using the 2125 card from Desktop aviator as my test platform.

Thus the reason for joining, to learn more about the art of cockpit building.

I look forward to talking to many of the people here and learning, in time, hopefully even sharing

Thanks,
Jim

I'm Gilbert. 21 years old, and interested in building a cockpit. I'm in New Jersey, USA. I'm studying to be an electrical engineer, and this is just a hobby. Zero years building, and low budget of course. If you have any questions about electronics, I can try my best to answer them. I have little experience in coding however.

My plan is to build a very simple 737-NG cockpit, and slowly upgrade it. I joined because I need some advice for people with more experience.

-Gilbert

Welcome to the group Gilbert.

Hello Boys and Girls
My name is Laurence and i live in north west london England.
I am 49 years old and have been playing with flight sims for as long as i can remember.
I decided to bite the bullet about 6 months ago and build a small flight sim in the utility room of the house,My chosen aircraft is the Beechcraft baron and i went for a slightly different layout than the usual flat panel in the cockpit.Its more a wrap round thing going on like a car with all the dials and radio's within easy reach.
Any way good to be here and thanks for having me,
hope you like my efforts

Nice pic and welcome.

Hi to all,

my name is Johan, age 51 and member of the 27 sqn flightsimclub.  I live in Belgium, know a litlle about computer, programs and electric stuff  but i 'm a fast learner. I want to build a cockpit of an
siai marchetti SF260D, used at Belgian army.

greatings

Johan

hi Johan,

Welcome to the group.

Trev

Hey guys - name is Randy.. I'm a private pilot with an instrument rating. Lucky enough to have an uncle that is a safety inspector for the FAA.. He's got type ratings for 767, 737, MD11, ATR42.. you name it.. so anyway, I saw the norwegian 737 project guy, and got really pumped. I just started. Got a lot of overhead parts from opencockpits. I'm scared as heck that I bit this off, but I'm looking forward to the journey.

FYI - Lexington KY is home.

Welcome aboard Randy.
You will find here "centuries" of cumulative experience as far as Sim Building is concerned....just ask, we will help.   ;)
Jack

Hey Randy,

Welcome to the party!

You're a Lexington native...I know your neck of the woods...lol. I was born and raised in Newport... Now, I am a Wisconsinite since moving into this state back in 1991.

If you want to gain some quick hands on knowledge, you need to road trip up to Indy and visit Rob; he'll likely chime in here. He is one of the closest builders near you.

John

Edit: I made a typo in my original post, fixed it today.

Welcome to the group Randy.

Nice to have you here.

Hey Randy. Sorry to hear that the sickness has bitten you! lol Lots of knowledge here. Look around and ask questions. Welcome!

Howdy from Houston, Texas! Hahaha (I was required to say something like that- right?) :huh:
I'm Kurt, 55.. 5 types, flew a lot of Corporate and 135 before getting fortunate enough to work in the training department for a Regional Airline 18+ years and now work as a simulator Pilot Examiner. Actually nice to come home most every night. Sometimes being on the road gets a little old.  :o
So amazing what all of you guys are able to do with these builds! Truly incredible the wide variety of knowledge, expertise and skill sets you guys share! I was drawn in recently to this "disease" due to the increasing realism of the newer simulation programs and once I joined and started reading what you guys were doing, it really got me wanting to join in and have a go at it.
Really look forward to learning and reading more. Seriously good stuff!
Thanks for letting me into the group!
Kurt

Kurt,
   Just curious where in Houston you are.  I'm here in Houston as well.  If you need a hand or guidance with anything I'm here to assist.  I just started developing my 3rd 737 sim so I have some experience.   

Like you I flew corporate 91 and 135 and have been flying 737's for the local major here in KIAH.

Here's my email if u need anything.   MLeavy737@aol.com

Welcome to the club:)

~ML

same here kurt find yourself in Austin send me note prior

Hey Randy "Air up there"! Great to learn about a fellow builder in the "general vicinity" LOL. I'm in Cincinnati, so pretty close for such a global hobby! I'm working on an ERJ145 sim. Been working on it a long time - as long as you have "the bug" it will keep you going - I think we all can attest to it here!
Let me know whenever you want to chat, maybe we can meet as well since we're so close!
Good luck with your project!

Marco

Ruben J.

40+ yrs old, From Michigan USA, generic 737 ish build. Private Pilots Single Engine land and IFR rating...(not current). This is is my first foray into building although I've been simming since MS2 (or was it 3). I ended up here in desperation. Bought a used Hispa panels MCP of fb for use with XP 11 and am thoroughly lost.

LOL Welcome to the group...  Desperation or not, I am sure there are some x-plane users here that can help you get started.

Trev

Welcome Ruben.  Believe it or not, most of us feel lost at some point in this hobby.  You're in good company

Hello all, new member here. My name is Bill and I'm located in the U.S. (southern Indiana).  I've been simming since the early 90s, with MS4 and have had every release since.  Currently I'm using P3D.  I started building in 2009 with an Akers-Barnes simpit.  Since then I've been building and modifying to replicate the F-14B cockpit.

Bill 

Welcome aboard Bill.
We would love to see some pictures of your pit...
Check the attachments option under the message box, (very easy to attach pictures from your own PC)
Jack

Quote from: Gypsy31 on February 16, 2018, 07:17:59 AM


Hello all, new member here. My name is Bill and I'm located in the U.S. (southern Indiana).  I've been simming since the early 90s, with MS4 and have had every release since.  Currently I'm using P3D.  I started building in 2009 with an Akers-Barnes simpit.  Since then I've been building and modifying to replicate the F-14B cockpit.

Bill

Welcome Bill, great to have you here.

Trev

Hello all. My name is Aaron. I'm from Illinois, US. I've been on and off into sims since the stick figure days. I'm currently on P3D v4 with a 2 computer setup with the server as cockpit with 5 touchscreen monitors for multiple airplanes and the client with 3 projectors with a THTGo for my visuals. I am almost finished with ground school towards getting my PPL.

Aaron

Welcome to the group Aaron.  Nice to see you here.  Love to see some pictures, Start a new thread when you get time and showcase your build. 

Trev

Hello all,
my name's Michael, I'm 35 and I'm based in Warsaw, Poland.
I've been flying as a private pilot on a C152, C172 and a DA20 for 6 years now. In February, this year I completed my ATPL theoretical exams and now I'm doing all the practical training to get my CPL. Currently I'm doing the instrument rating. Just finished the 35h simulator part and I'm on to doing the 15h on a piper arrow PA28. Hoping to get it all done by mid 2019 and get a job in aviation.
In my short experience as a pilot I realized that a home simulator is a great means to improving your knowledge and practice the so-called "muscle memory" for the devices your using on board a real plane. Thus, my goal is to make my home cockpit's functionality as realistic as possible to the real thing.
Hopefully with your help I'll be able to achieve that goal.

Mike

Welcome to the Group Mike,
Always nice to have another Pilot in training here, We all get to benefit from that and hear your stories.
Great stuff.
Trev

Hey,

I'm Paul, 32 years old from South Carolina in the US.  I'm a newcomer to both Cockpitbuilders.com and flight sim.  I just started my first cockpit build and while I've only managed to interface a single toggle switch using SimVim with the Zibo 737, I'm excited for my First  ;) build.  I've already received help and guidance from members that have set me on my way for a long, but fun build.  Very thankful for the site and it's knowledgeable members.

Thanks,
Paul

Hi to all.
My name's Marcin. I'm 37.5 years now ;) Came from Poland, but actually live in Northern Ireland. Brexit's on the way so don't know how it will be later...
Aviation is my hobby since I was a child. I was reading a lot of datasheets from many airplanes. Mostly military types.
Flying Sims are interesting for me, but through so many years I've managed to fly a little on "F-18 Interceptor" on Amiga 500, "Flight 727" on Commodore 64, couple of take-offs and landings in FW-190 & B-17 in "Warbirds" on P200MMX, and now take-offs, short flights and landings with trying to figure out gauges on desk of Beechcraft Baron and Learjet 45.
Also I've bought Saitek Yoke with throttle, USB Throttle and Rudder Pedals to expand my experience from simple joystick. Everything's connected to one PC with (as for now) one monitor. Small desk was already modified for this setup. Now I want to move forward and build generic simpit for twin engine airplane. It mustn't replicate any plane. The biggest inspiration for me with front panel is Polish airplane EM-11 Orka.
In this place was intended link to website with description, but unfortunately this website is saying about error 403 and attack of trojan (polish letters in link are on the way, I've checked it right now ;)
This airplane is beautiful for me. Too bad that no one created a model for FS9. I'd like to recreate most of cockpit as simpit. You're feeling like You're sitting in a car, not an airplane.
Also this simulator setup is intended for a child who's always saying that she'll be a pilot :) and for me to enjoy a little free time.
What else I can add about myself?
I'm a fan of an old computers (Commodore 64, Amiga with OCS/ECS Chipset, ZX Evolution, Spectrum Sprinter, IBM PC XT Clones and too much more to mention that I'll pass with it ;) ).
I'm adding two photos of this small desk without and with front panel mockup. Now I'm waiting for more free time to start making measurements and cutting components from junk which I have (cutting costs are the most important ;)

Welcome to the group Marcin.  Thanks for joining..   I like your setup so far.
Trev