Post Your Pit!!!! 1000 Member Show and Tell

[edward57]

My  budget build...

but.. everything works..

[fsaviator]

Budget build?  That is a great job, and you are flying!

[Trevor Hale]

Everyone has a budget. But damn that looks nice.

[geeman47]

Geez, my room needs to be cleaned up.  Still waiting on my overhead, should ship Sept 26-30.  Too much wood showing.  Any thoughts on hiding it? I was thinking black material to cover from under the monitors forward to the edge of monitor stand and then down to the floor.

JetMax B738, Throttle Quad, Overhead, PFC Yoke & Rudder Pedals, B737 Capt Seat, Running on 2 computers, FSX & 3-40" Sony monitors on the I-7-4790K, GTX780TI Video Card. Corsair H100i Water cooled, 2-SSD drives, 2.5 TB on two HD's.  Sim-Avionics Computer-I7-950,  GTX 480, GTX 750, GTX780, 1-SSD and about 5 different HDD's (this is my old FSX Computer)

[edward57]

compared to some.. its a very budget build..
MIP from MDF. overhead was a poldragonet kit, I have used pokeys cards and phidgets LED outputs
OC MCP. FMCs and Efis (and 7 seg. displays).

not backlit, display is 3 x 55" LED TVs
Radios are self built from ebay panels and pokeys.
Pedestal is MDF
Control is Saitek yokes and pedals
Throttle is jetmax non-motorised budget version.
runs on Prosim737.

[dvst8r]

This hobby has taken ahold of me like a horrible drug addiction.  I've spent all of my grandparents moeny and most of my parents.... I'm not proud, but with that said here is my progress so far....

[Sam Llorca]

Ok, can someone explain me this sim pit.

[dvst8r]

It was a joke obviously. My bad.

[Caflyt]

Slowly making progress on my re-build.
Custom making the interior right now out of foam insulation board (extruded polystyrene).
Lots of cutting and sanding to form the shapes but well worth it I think.
Last two shots are side by side comparisons of mine VS real.

[Caflyt]

Photos didn't load?!?!
It was a bug in IOS 8.
Installed update and all went well.

[geeman47]

A work of art Craig, nice! I was going to ask where you purchased the parts but see they are custom made.

[Trevor Hale]

Looks awesome Craig.  Man that is really looking nice.

[N737AG]

I've seen Craig at work. Very patient and commited to detail. Can't wait to see it finished


Axel

[Sam Llorca]

Awesome job! You are the man Craig!

Are you getting ready for November? Hope you are.

Keep up the good work.

Cheers

[Caflyt]

Thank you all for the kind words!
I used to shape surfboards as a youngster and this is very similar. I think I've crossed into the "Aim too high, never fly" zone now though.
I find it VERY difficult to settle for "good enough" and it is really slowing down the build, but I just can't stand the thought of sitting there on the enroute portion of a flight with time to look around the pit and saying to myself "Damn, I should have.......!)
I'm trying to learn to let go!!! I think I have a problem needing professional help!!!

Once done shaping, I will hardcoat the foam, paint it then spray a polyeurethane to protect it. Should be good.
Oh, and Axel, I can't wait to see it finished too!!! Thanks for all your help Brother!!

Craig

[geeman47]

Craig,

Wish you would make some how to videos on your process for You Tube.  I'd love to learn how to do that.  If & when I decide to do some sort of custom enclosure for my 1/2 flight deck those skills would come in handy.  Don't know that anything off-the-shelf would work for me.

George

[FredK]

Craig -

Your work is impressive! 

I would also be curious of the details of how you do it.  I spent endless hours shaping wood for my cockpit but your approach is superior for sure.

Fred K

[Caflyt]

Thanks guys!!
I kind of make it up as I go so it isn't a perfect science but once I feel confident of the best practice and move on to the FO side I will try to put something together that illustrates the process.
I can tell you I've found several ways NOT to do it 
Fred, if you've shaped yours from wood this will be a breeze!
The key for me will be finding the best process for coating it,painting it and protecting it.
I met a guy locally who creates large foam props and figures for Disney and the like who is giving me some pointers on what to use on a BUDGET!!! I'm just not yet at the point to start that phase as I'm not done with the shaping etc.....
My Wife, 3 kids and a full time job have to fit in there as well so it may be a week or two until I can report some results.
Maybe I'll start another thread this weekend with some more pics and explanations.
Stay tuned!!!!

[N737AG]

I like the pen holder


Axel

[XOrionFE]

Really incredible work!  It is looking awesome.

Scott

[jackpilot]

Too much wood showing.  Any thoughts on hiding it?

Your visual display seems to sit far too high (maybe it is the picture angle)
Your line of vision should be flush with the glareshield angle and you should not see the bottom of the monitors when your seat is adjusted for flight.
just a thought!

[Caflyt]

George,
I concur with Jack. It would surely be an easy solution to lower the monitor stand 4-6" killing two birds with one skil saw.
Craig

Looks great

[geeman47]

OK, skill saw put away now...My eye line now with the monitor stand now 2 ft less in depth (saved a bunch of room in the sim room, lowered about 6 inches) from the previous photo.  Thanks for the input.

[Trevor Hale]

LOL Now you just need bigger monitors ha ha ha

[geeman47]

Only about two feet left in the room from the edge of the monitor to the walls.  The 3-40" Sony's will have to do for now LOL