Good evening all,
On September 4th my wife told me that I needed to get my gradually expanding desktop flight deck out of the office as there was no longer much room for the room to be utilized for it's intended purpose (I thought flying was a great use of a room in the house).
Long story short, her comment "Why can't you just move the stuff to the Garage?" caught my impulsive tendencies to erupt and I was on my way to Lowe's in my Ford Fusion and came back with a load of 26 2x4's to get the initial part of my framing done.
My goal was to build a "hybrid" cockpit/room which allowed me to fly any aircraft of choice in an environment with equipment as realistic as possible. I have attached the entire picture series of the 2 month build process up to where the sim room stands today.
The room is actually built in 2 modules attached together so all I would have to do is unbolt and cut a slice through the drywall tape to take it apart. I have wired it on 2 separate circuits to my fuse panel in order to keep dedicated power to the room.
As you can see from the pictures, the sim will be operating on 4 PC's with 6 screens (3 for view and 3 for panels). At this point I am leaning towards FSXpand for software interface. I have purchased 2 Leo Bodnar cards in addition to one from Desktop Aviator and I'm currently working on the overhead panel, all built from scratch.
Please keep in mind that I'm not an expert on any of these things but love the thrill of creating something out of a pile of stuff. Nothing was drawn out ahead of time. I will be posting updates as the project moves along.
Would love some feedback.
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Wow! Nice job.
Nice work and way to lay claim to that garage!!!
Scott
Quote from: XOrionFE on November 15, 2010, 07:29:17 AM
Nice work and way to lay claim to that garage!!!
Scott
I built the room with the angle wall to still be able to fit a car. However, my wife should have been more careful before slinging out the comments in front of someone with ADD :huh:
LOL :idiot:
Impressive Andre! I too am working on a setup that will allow me to fly a few different aircraft. I like the overall layout you have there.
Chris
Looking good ! Thanks to share ! :D
Fire in the hole!
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Good evening friends. A couple of progress pictures from tonight.
Made a "Kick panel" to conceal the cables running along the floor inside the panel assembly. The hole on the picture is to feed the USB cable for the rudder pedals through.
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The platform will be flush up against the front of the platform for a clean finish. Rudder pedals mounted. Note the plastic covers on the seat, not matching the panel and platform colors :)
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FSimulator%2520Room%2F2010-11-16195928.jpg&hash=fd651e6898c5a1b2319218c0519431cbc2638f5d)
A sim room isn't complete without some art work :)
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FSimulator%2520Room%2F2010-11-16200109.jpg&hash=50b5cd3287ad672e1df20e6cae3248dc773b5948)
That looks great!! i know the whole garage and having to parks cars in it thing too lol.. it gets interesting at times!
keep up the good work.
Mike Leavy
Look, Santa brought me a present! I guess i've been a good boy after all!
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2F2010-11-18094137.jpg&hash=21d0e1180bfe81fee6d749861b3bec2fd19bd78f)
Good thing you were in Park when taking the picture.... :laugh:
Thanks for sharing your excitement..
Jack
Quote from: jackpilot on November 18, 2010, 10:17:20 AM
Good thing you were in Park when taking the picture.... :laugh:
Thanks for sharing your excitement..
Jack
Safety first Jack :)
Got the frame for my overhead panel hung tonight as well as I managed to cut the hole in the pedestal for the FMC. The module was just laid in place for picture purposes only and has yet to be mounted properly.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FSimulator%2520Room%2F2010-11-18220533.jpg&hash=c99a1b99bdc2714e86a7a948254c8066405c36c2)
Andre,
all very nice but I think you mist a vital point of building a cockpit. It's supposed to take years, not months. ;D
JWS
Andre,
Im sure that I speak for the majority of builders here in that, I personally would love to have a nice generic sim for just trying different aircraft occassional to keep the flame going in other areas that I dont explore, simply due to the fact that I have a dedicated sim for the LJ45. I love me sim, and the LJ45. However, desktop simming just doesnt cut it for me anymore and having a generic sim is a nice addition. I dont think I could have my heart in it all the way for a fully generic only sim as Im just too much of a detail person. BUT, I can honestly say that generic sims such as yours surely bring lots of fun and flexibility back to the hobby and you certainly avoid some of the pitfalls that are encountered when building a 1:1 aircraft sim. Best to you and I know you will very much enjoy this sim. I know I would.
Looking great Andre!
I couldn't fly anything other than a 727. Unless they offered me a job for real. I'd fly anything you had.
A generic flightdeck is a good thing to be able to fly all the types you want. For some parts of the cockpit it doesn't matter where you sit in, e.g. FMC's that are found in Boeing also pop up in other aircraft.
Although my cockpit resembles the 737 the most, I will not hesitate to use it for a Fokker 70/100 (or any other twin engined kite).
JWS
Fuel cutoff and parking brake switches have been wired and made ready for LED's at a later stage.
767 test flight still scheduled for Sunday.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2F2010-12-03080017.jpg&hash=8b16152bcbc317e10d1abb57704b6f62614ff3da)
Looking good Andre! Where did you get your FMC from and is it a self contained plug and play unit or did you have to do your own programming and wiring?
Chris
It's the Opencockpits complete module. Actually bought it from Scott on this forum.
Not much to show for, except for getting the autobrake switch painted.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2F2010-12-05193135.jpg&hash=f3aad63dc0ba568394c412391165032f7a8a532c)
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 (http://s778.photobucket.com/albums/yy62/flyboyandre/Simulator%20Room/?action=view¤t=video-2010-12-09-23-28-08.mp4)
flyboyandre - video-2010-12-09-23-28-43.mp4 (http://s778.photobucket.com/albums/yy62/flyboyandre/Simulator%20Room/?action=view¤t=video-2010-12-09-23-28-43.mp4)
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FSimulator%2520Room%2F2010-12-09232951.jpg&hash=47cfd038711649bfa11518a9692bcd85badd02d1)
FSXpand up and running. Thinking about a test flight later.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FSimulator%2520Room%2F100_1761.jpg&hash=75193f342d8b28d30ebfe97f6bd40bacb34614f3)
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FSimulator%2520Room%2F100_1758.jpg&hash=88bf35507e1be9124ab0f0c7d9c3c75fcafcaf25)
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FSimulator%2520Room%2F100_1759.jpg&hash=2b0bc19ac29a74e801187a668f6fedcdec06976d)
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FSimulator%2520Room%2F100_1760.jpg&hash=08875ea3546773148cafcd264a05f36b641a0e6d)
Just a little preview:
2010 Home Cockpit Maiden Flight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzrz80j-ry0#)
Nice, nice, nice.. All I can say!
Thank you very much Bob!
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 :)
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FSimulator%2520Room%2F2011-01-08005638.jpg&hash=2bd6e7888b9d65669dbddd2f1842da1cbd4ec67f)
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.
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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
Quote from: usafgadget on January 11, 2011, 05:43:54 AM
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.
Just a tiny overhead panel update with only 3 rotary encoders left to install.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2F2011-01-17204744.jpg&hash=b451741d422ba319c57dffd976b1e4e5444f63aa)
Cruising on. Tested a couple of the switches tonight, in the midst of the wiring chaos.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FSimulator%2520Room%2F2011-01-21005212.jpg&hash=9af02bf75348fe0adca165c435ec27b895b6ea98)
Overhead with backlighting.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2F2011-01-27213843.jpg&hash=eaff361ac7b1a70d9252dcba63f39bffbe13e128)
Backlight panel for overhead in place.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2F2011-02-02141720.jpg&hash=230cbe7c783f0ed32e44b2b4cf4704d558b13326)
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.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FSimulator%2520Room%2F2011-02-05003902.jpg&hash=22b24a48f7d5dea768d67c59ad8851994d5ef432)
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
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? :P
Cheers
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!
Dude chill, you don't have to get defensive, I'm just joking and asking a question? :laugh:
Don't ask for feedback if you don't want it. :)
Cheers
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.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FSimulator%2520Room%2Fth_VID00004.jpg&hash=dc2f03a87fa16f82e55936bf6d5a363169b62058) (http://s778.photobucket.com/albums/yy62/flyboyandre/Simulator%20Room/?action=view¤t=VID00004.mp4)
Tested the support lights for the main panel tonight. I will be installing a dimmer to enable adjustments to be made.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FSimulator%2520Room%2F2011-02-23214103.jpg&hash=35b920eed8cd6047a56dc7490a8fd7541386d960)
Overhead has been tested and mounted. Now comes the easier job of concealing the cables before enjoying some programming and flight time.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FSimulator%2520Room%2F2011-02-24121309.jpg&hash=77003412481bd1a77f4bf67a1be14bbf34717dfb)
Ok, she's done. I hope my sim friends from all over the world endorse the work :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdtrPdJHdZM
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
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!
Very nice.....
Look forward to seeing what your next project is....
Hmmm!!! 6 months, 2 days... I'm suddenly ashamed of myself. :-[
Amazing progress in such a short time and with a low budget as well. Very well done!
Maurice
Looks great, even though the OH switches are backwards :laugh: Just kidding. :)
Looking forward in seeing your maiden flight video!
Cheers
You should show that over at mycockpit.org. That would really impress them over there.
Thank you for all the support and feedback I have received during the build. I know that this doesnt measure up against most of the incredible projects out there but it's fun to hit milestones I never thought I would reach.
Now i need to get that mini fridge installed along with the video camera to in order to stay hydrated and share some of the airtime with the world :)
Quote from: Flyboyandre on March 07, 2011, 08:36:43 PM
Thank you for all the support and feedback I have received during the build. I know that this doesnt measure up against most of the incredible projects out there...
Hey, I think that with a generic project, there comes a lot of freedom. I've always thought that it'd be nice to have one laid out for a turbo prop like a King Air/Caravan combination. In fact, I will eventually do something like this once my LJ45 is "done". You've done a great job, be proud of it!
It would probably work awesome with the PMDJ J41 also if you like Turboprops. Yes I am guilty of buying that one for my desktop sim as I have a certain affinity for Turboprops as you might be able to guess from my screen name. Nothing like the sound of them.
Nice work again Andre....Enjoy flying now.
Snapped a couple of pictures while parked at the gate in Amsterdam today.
Played around with Adobe Photoshop, looking to make myself a livery and new color scheme for my planes and this is what I came up with. Yeah, it's Norwegian inspired.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FScreenHunter_03Mar201945.jpg&hash=eb9a47ca6e520bc131abf716970e4e24269880d3)
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FScreenHunter_06Mar201958.jpg&hash=94795c0202f27115ca162898f0a3246ed6d435db)
Some super looking hi res shots there.
Thank you kindly Eric. Now i just need to paint the other machines that i like to fly :)
Andre,
Love the sim am going to be building something along the lines of this as i cannot tame my love for the crj and 737 with a 1:1 sim.
One quick question, is there anyway you could take a photo of the overhead showing wat each switch is assigned to do and what type of switches are those that light up? Link?
Thanks
Started building a simple and easy throttle quadrant this weekend to replace the GoFlight module i didnt like as it never felt smooth. I will build in reverse thrust with the help of micro switches when i get the handles cut out.
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Also had to upgrade my old 850W power supply to a brand spanking new Corsair Gold Edition 1200W unit.
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Ok, although the majority of the pit is done and 100% flyable I continue to strive for as much realism as possible while keeping my low cost budget in check.
The core of my new TQ is based on 2 Saitek Pro throttle units, enclosed in light ply and mdf. The levers were cut with bandsaw and features fully functioning reverse thrust handles with a/t disconnect built into #1 and #4.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FSimulator%2520Room%2Ff0de4b86.jpg&hash=9afedb6398c65e362692d11e0c55775e4a051649)
This is most likely the last build update as I pretty much consider the cockpit done. The final step to maintain the flexibility was to install a touchscreen LCD in order to utilize the FMC/CDU directly from the payware add-ons. The setup works flawlessly.
Below you will see a couple of pics I took of the Level-D 767 and iFly 737 powered up.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi778.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy62%2Fflyboyandre%2FSimulator%2520Room%2F40543277.jpg&hash=38ab2ae90c37410d9f15676a3f14e97973bacee5)
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