Flyboyandre's Cockpit Project

[Flyboyandre]

Almost ready for the test flight. I need to get FSClient fully up and running along with some small adjustments in FSUIPC. I'm far from done but wanted to show a picture and a couple of quick video clips captured with my cell phone.

flyboyandre - video-2010-12-09-23-28-08.mp4

flyboyandre - video-2010-12-09-23-28-43.mp4

[Flyboyandre]

FSXpand up and running. Thinking about a test flight later.

[Flyboyandre]

Just a little preview:

2010 Home Cockpit Maiden Flight

[Bob Reed]

Nice, nice, nice.. All I can say!

[Flyboyandre]

Thank you very much Bob!

[Flyboyandre]

Picture of the plexi glass for overhead panel after masking, painting and cutting our all letters for the 54 switches. Panel is now ready for switches and backlighting. Big thanks to my buddy Steve for cutting the mask for the font. Took 2 hours to peel the mask tonight

[Flyboyandre]

Quick update shot of the overhead as it stands tonight. Just waiting for a couple more switches before I start the time consuming wiring process.

[usafgadget]

Andre,

Can you explain the font masking process in more detail please.  I'm trying to decide how to go about do my set up.

Thanks,

Chris

[Flyboyandre]

Andre,

Can you explain the font masking process in more detail please.  I'm trying to decide how to go about do my set up.

Thanks,

Chris

I had a friend who owns a vinyl cutter so we printed all the letters for the overhead and applied them to the plexi glass before spraying the plate with 3 coats of grey base and backed it with black. Then came the grueling process of peeling all the vinyl letters one by one.

[Flyboyandre]

Just a tiny overhead panel update with only 3 rotary encoders left to install.

[Flyboyandre]

Cruising on. Tested a couple of the switches tonight, in the midst of the wiring chaos.

[Flyboyandre]

Overhead with backlighting.

[Flyboyandre]

Backlight panel for overhead in place.

[Flyboyandre]

Finished the wiring of the overhead panel tonight. I'm so tired of soldering now but I'm very close to installing the finished product.

[Flyboyandre]

Here is a little video clip after I wired the switches tonight. I hope to have it installed and fully up and running by the end of next week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j8kwCs2LVA

[Emesis]

Video looks good, but one problem, the lettering is upside down! 

Well I was joking at first but when you toggle a switch in the video it looks like it's going to the off position when it lights up? Or am I seeing things?

Cheers

[Flyboyandre]

Lettering isnt upside down. The overhead will be positioned above the chair and at a different angle so wait and see. Do you think i put in this much work to miss a detail like that? Additionally, this means the switches light up correct as well, with the same explanation behind.

Geez people!

[Emesis]

Dude chill, you don't have to get defensive, I'm just joking and asking a question? 

Don't ask for feedback if you don't want it. 

Cheers

[Flyboyandre]

Overhead will be installed this week. After a couple of hours with the soldering iron, every switch is now powered and functioning.
Sorry about the video quality but I ended up having to use the iFlip camera as I didn't possess enough motivation to get the camcorder.

[Flyboyandre]

Tested the support lights for the main panel tonight. I will be installing a dimmer to enable adjustments to be made.

[Flyboyandre]

Overhead has been tested and mounted. Now comes the easier job of concealing the cables before enjoying some programming and flight time.

[Flyboyandre]

Ok, she's done. I hope my sim friends from all over the world endorse the work

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdtrPdJHdZM

[XOrionFE]

Looks fantastic Andre.   Nice work.  I'll bet it feels really good now to have it done to a point you can fly happily in it.    I warn you though....its never done :-).  I think you have been totally bitten by the bug!

Again, Nice work.   Now post a video of you flying that bad boy!

Scott

[ETomlin]

Incredible generic cockpit. That's going to be a ton of fun to fly and will be very  immersive. Congrats on a great job done well!

[jskibo]

Very nice.....

Look forward to seeing what your next project is....