Boeing 737-800 Next Generation Simulator

[jackpilot]

25 years !! Certainly worth a amzing present
Lass mich raten: einen kostenfreien Ausflug in einem C-17

[fsaviator]

Lass mich raten: einen kostenfreien Ausflug in einem C-17

Leider nicht, Jack.

[Garys]

25 Years, congrats. I second what Trevor said. We can only live the lives we do today because of the serviceman and women of our countries. You deserve that present.

[fsaviator]

An update!

Today was a good day.  I finally had some time to play around with my 3D printer and make something for my sim.


Trip Reminders!



I'm pretty excited. They came out much better than I expected. It took me a couple of hours to build the part in Autodesk Inventor, and another couple to print everything out. I used the Acetone method to smooth the piece, then three coats of flat black and a clearcoat to finish it off. I'll have to resand and repaint to get rid of the fingerprints but that acetone works a long time.

Here's some pics:
















See the full post at:  http://www.b737ng-sim.com/wordpress/2014/11/23/trip-reminders/ or https://www.facebook.com/fsaviator

[Trevor Hale]

Bloody Awesome!  Nice work Warren.  You must be liking that toy

[fsaviator]

I am just amazed that I actually was able to check a project off the list!!

[Joe Lavery]

Brilliant Warren, looks like another little toy to add to my collection. Which printer do you have by the way.

Joe.

[fsaviator]

It is fun to mess with, Joe.

I have a solidoodle 3.  The bed is 200mm x 200mm

Warren

[fsaviator]

Soooo.... who can guess what Santa gave me for Christmas....  here's a hint:

[tennyson]

A knob!!!!




Frank Cooper
(I'm also hoping for a set, too!)

[fsaviator]

No, Frank!  No knobs (yet )

Can you guess from the picture.  It is very distinctive.

[Trevor Hale]

A New MIP LOL  Either that or "ORANGE LED's" ha ha ha

[fsaviator]

You win, Trevor!  I finally got around to ordering an FDS MIP 2.0 Bundle.

That IBL sure looks good.

More to follow

[Trevor Hale]

Awesome News Bud!  I hope you enjoy it

[fsaviator]

So.  First day back to work and first evening away from my sim which is deep in to build 2.0.  Necessarily i have had to take a break as I am away from home for the evening.  Actually have time for an update!

Yes, as noted above on 23 December Santa delivered my FDS MIP 2.0  bundle to  EDDS.  Along with that he found room and included the full FDS interior liners to boot.  I am ashamed to admit that I packed my visiting mother off on a blind booking trip to Brussels and bribed the kids with a new iphone to leave me alone.  I then turned the basement into what looks like an boeing boneyard with a shiny new MIP in the middle.

Another item that I bought that has been waiting patiently is a full up CP flight pedestal.  I haven't even plugged it in yet. 

My sim is currently disassembled and being reborn as build 2.0.  At first i was dreading this but let me tell you I am now so excited to apply the lessons from all these years building into this rebuild.  I am taking slow and methodical..

More to follow so stay tuned.

[Sam Llorca]

Awesome,  Warren,  hope to see some pictures soon, enjoy.

[Trevor Hale]

Wow Warren, that's awesome.  I can hear the excitement in your voice.  I remember not to long ago when you were moving to Germany you had to sell everything because you didn't think you would be able to truck it all there. 

I am soo glad to hear that you are now getting setup again.

I just hope you won't have to sell it all if you decide to move back

Keep us updated.

Trev

[fsaviator]

So, has anyone taken an Ace Yoke apart...?

Well, I now have.  Let me tell you, it is not for the faint of heart.  There were several moments where I had the "well, I guess I could move the FO yoke over to the captain side and use that until I eventually get this back from Ali" thought.  However, I persevered and it is all back together and working.

Reason I took it apart:

1. The upper elbow has developed some play and twists slightly within the bolt holes.
2.  I really wanted to use this HRS100 Hall Effect Sensor I have laying around

Lessons learned:

1.   The play in the elbow is due to the holes in the upright tube being too large for the bolts that screw into the elbow (they were made that way, they didn't stretch out as they appear uniform and round).  After pulling it apart it is apparent that the only fix is tapping out the holes in the elbow and using a larger bolt, or going through with a set screw in a different location, say the back.

2.  The HRS100 is about 1mm too deep to work.  the assembly that holds the bike chain and springs rubs against the hall effect sensor and binds.  Tough luck on that, I guess.  Oh well the pot is still good and I have an extra as I replaced the elevator pot with a HE sensor and plan to due my rudders and tiller too as I have them on hand.

3.  A milled part in my yoke assembly is actually broken.  The break is in a location that doesn't affect it though.

4.  While the paint Ali uses looks nice, it chips easily.

5.  All in all, it is a very well engineered product.  It is solid and built to last

6.  Unless you are adventurous, don't mess up your cabling to the point you have to replace it...  you are not getting it out without taking the whole yoke apart to the very last piece.

I promise to add pics.  I'm just beat right now.

[fsaviator]

Catching up with the updates.  Build 2.0 is born.

http://www.b737ng-sim.com/wordpress/2015/04/07/build-2-0-is-born/

[fsaviator]

Another update.  FDS MIP!

http://www.b737ng-sim.com/wordpress/2015/04/07/new-mip-arrives/

[fsaviator]

Update on Liners.  Still not completely done with them but very close now.

http://www.b737ng-sim.com/wordpress/2015/04/07/fds-liners-arrive/

[fsaviator]

25 years !! Certainly worth a amzing present
Lass mich raten: einen kostenfreien Ausflug in einem C-17

Jack, a special post to answer yours!  Sorry it took so long.

In case you hadn't guessed I finally caved and bought both an FDS 2.0 MIP bundle and the liners.   

That was my Christmas present.  Then I bought the new seats (and your rails) for my birthday 

[fsaviator]

click on the link to read my trials and tribulations of build 2.0 


http://www.b737ng-sim.com/wordpress/2015/04/09/the-trials-and-tribulations-of-build-2-0/

[FredK]

Warren -

Enjoyed reading your "story".......

I can certainly relate to it as most others here can for sure.

I have spent far more time over the past decade building, remodeling, upgrading, fixing, etc. then I have actually flying my sim.  It seems that when you change one thing it starts a chain reaction of falling dominoes that becomes a nuclear reaction.  But if you are one for whom "the quest" is not appealing then you should really not be building cockpits!

This hobby has helped develop some personal qualities - namely, my patience with frustrations and confidence in my abilities. I can honestly say there is nothing I could not eventually figure out (although presently I still can't figure out why my FSGRW weather program - my current frustration - does not work over my network anymore).

So quit bitching and admit that in the end you (mostly) enjoy it all!

Fred

[fsaviator]

Ha Fred!

You are right.  I do enjoy it.  The best part is that I should be "done" soon, and then I get to tear it all down to move back to the US!  I'm already planning build 3.0!