What have you done for your simulator today?

[blueskydriver]

Hey Everyone,

The CB seems a little quiet lately, so how about this...tell us what you did for your flight simulator today, no matter how big or small, just say what you did regarding your project.

Mind you this is not just for members who have fullsize cockpits, but everyone no matter what you have, if you fly it (or plan to), then it counts! Plus, I have seen so many new user names, but not many posts from them. So, why not post today on this thread? Even if you're just researching or dreaming about your project, tell me/us all about it.

Oh yeah, even if you did jack-diddley nothing on your project, then just say that, or how about a joke? You could even type your wishlist for 2018...heck yeah...Wish List Day! Post your wish list for your sim project or desktop sim, doesn't matter just get the conversation going... 

- I will start by saying I posted my cockpits that are for sale on Craigslist. Yes, sounds funny, but I sold the fire truck simulator that way, so who knows, I might sell the cockpits this way.

- Regarding my simulator project in general; well, Karen and I purchased a floor buffer to shine and protect the simulator hanger floors, which are concrete that were not sealed. Therefore, water has been soaking into the floor, as well as ice melting salt has left some scarring because we used it the first winter and it's not a good idea to use salt for at least a year or so on new concrete. We found that out the hard way...lol...get it? You even get a joke out of that one...

- In regards to my project(s) for today, we got our CR-10S 3d printer delivered yesterday and I will be putting it together tonight. My plan is to print out some knobs and such or at least try too. I have never used one before, so it's time for trial and error learning...yep, I purchased 6 spools of plastic filament, hope that's enough to print at least one knob...lol!

Okay, now it's everyone else's turn, so please post today...it would be awesome too see 100+ people reply to this thread.

Have a great day! 

John

[navymustang]

I am chasing problems with my sim. Purely by coincidence, when installing Prosim v2, I lost my rudder inputs (hardware failure) and most of the gauges in the forward overhead. And yes - purely coincidence, but it took me hours to convince myself of this since they are all hardware issues and not software. So today I hope to at least get rudder inputs back on line.
Next weekend (Saturday) a local high school Jr Air Force ROTC unit is flying my sim. So it needs to be nice.

[kurt-olsson]

Waiting for my hangover to end...


But i did some measurements research today at least.

[archen]

Not much time over for my own sim which is in pieces in our storage.

I'm planning on something smaller at the moment, more like an IFR training module to keep my IFR skills up to date.

Still researching what aircraft to use and the design of the module. I want an aircraft which is simple to get up and running and not too complicated. I've tried carenado 350i, nice aircraft but don't like the avionics. Now waiting for PMDG J41.

The goal of the module is to have it small and compact so you can easily remove it from the desk. It will not be a copy of any actual aircraft. It will only be a couple of screens and switches for the most important functions.


Br,
Anders 

Skickat från min SM-G955F via Tapatalk

[Trevor Hale]

Got a New 3D Printer, and I am printing Gauge Faces for my 5 CoPilot Gauges, which will be controlled from my arduino. 

I also installed my Overhead And have to print some roof filler pieces to stop the back light from bleeding out around it.

[crazydunc]

Researched replacing the Analogue Gauges in our 737-800 Sim, and tried to figure out why the Potentiometers on the rudder pedals weren't centering up.

Have almost accepted I may have to take them out to determine the issue....maybe! 

Managed to get some fun time in, took the sim around the Mach Loop is North Wales. Need to look at integrating TacPack at some point so we can go Sub Hunting P-8 style.

[iwik]

Spent the last tree days dismantling  my small 3DOF motion platform and moving it into
my garage for selling. Found out the door was to narrow  to get it out. My garage is hellish
hot at this time. As expected things dont work properly so now have to spend more time
working out whats wrong.
Currently working on a FCU/EFIS (DIY) for a A320 Cockpit.
At least i can still fly my Cessna C177 OEM based console to keep me sane.
Hope you all had a great Xmas and those of you experiencing winter are not FREEZING.

Les

[Bob Reed]

I too bought a 3D printer and I have been printing like mad. Yes I have printed parts for the cockpit. I am also in the middle of a massive upgrade to the cockpit on several fronts. First stage is installing the new to me MIP. That is getting there. With the help of my brother 2 of the  panels are wired and ready to interface. Should finish the rest in the next couple of day. All the brakets for mounting are all installed and waiting for the MIP panels. This will be a huge upgrade. Next up is to completely re-do the overhead... OUCH.. That one is going to hurt. And while all this is going on I have a new to me TQ hat will be delivered at some point and that will need to be installed.... Lots going on!!! Just too busy to sit and type.. Oh well out the door!!!!

[fsaviator]

I did alot!

-My MIP is up and running in Prosim 2.0 using a SYS4X card.

-I've got the second system up and running to get the DUs working.

-having fits calibrating my flight controls

[Joe Lavery]

I decided to build a small GA sim to keep me flying while the 737 is (STILL) under construction.
It took me a weekend to build using my CNC; of course the radio stuff is Go-flight and the yoke, trim and pedals are Saitek. But it's great to be back flying again.

Joe.

[Ed]

Hi All,

Well..  I had a day that was exciting and depressing. A CP Flight rudder trim gauge I had purchased came in. That was really exciting and I couldn't wait to get home to install it in the sim. Sadly, 10 minutes after I installed it, I fried it with a shot of static electricity. It took me by surprise. I guess it was a combination of dry winter air, my cloth covered auto seat and a non grounded OEM pedestal. So now, I'm researching best practices of grounding the sim.

[Sam Llorca]

I haven't done much since last November but I did move it back three feet do to a roof leak, now is not dripping on the windshield, I have a bucket collecting water between the screen and the sim when it rains, tried to fix the leak for the third time but I give up, can't find the sucker.

I need to upgrade to Prosim 2.0 but I'm waiting a bit longer till the bugs are sorted out plus I'M SCARE!!!!

Question: Is it 3D printer season?

[blueskydriver]

Glad to see everyone posting, so if nobody minds, let's extend this for the week that way the people who do not check the CB as often can chime in...please?

It's amazing too hear what everyone is doing with their projects and that makes Cockpit Builders site the best in my book.

Hi Sam, yes it seems too be the latest trend and with the Thingiverse website that has 3d print files for free downloading, it's making the task of learning to use a 3d printer much easier. I checked on the trending models and it seems the CR-10 S (with upgrade) is the most sought after unit because of it's size and reliability. I purchased mine through GearBest.com for around $500 US and I also got 5 spools of plastic (not ABS though, I will use that once I know how to use the machine better).

If you're interested, look at Gear Best and watch some YouTube videos like this one:

https://youtu.be/kbmdwBwm7BU

He is talking about the CR-10, but he also has another video on his chanbel about the S models and what the upgrades are about...

John

Ps avoid using the "save money" or "promo codes" links in any videos because most are outdated or can be scams...

[Flying_Fox]

My latest upgrade was BFF Shaker for my vibration system. Works good, however I miss my Accu-Feel that does not work with P3Dv4.1 and nobody knows for sure when it will be upgraded.
For last year quite a lot of things happened:
- my second GT720projector failed and I replaced my visual system with Optoma GT1080 Darbee projectors (still working with old screen so far).
- I moved from P3Dv3.4 straight to P3Dv4.1 (had to upgrade to 256 GB SSD for Windows drive and 1 TB SSD for P3Dv4.1).

Most of my backlighting in overhead failed - it was a bad batch of LED stripes and I had to replace all LEDS in it. (Another LED batch in MIP backlighting works for 4 years with no problems).  Now it's all working again.



- Recently installed UT Live for traffic and Rex Sky Force for clouds and playing with combinations of all texture/shader/weather packages.

Like this:

[Aerosim Solutions]

Not exactly today but last week I installed a remote volume controller for one of the slave computers in the cockpit. I have two speakers in the roof available for when we are using VATSIM. The headsets still work but we can turn up the ATC for others to hear, I have always had this but it meant going around to the front of the sim to make volume adjustments. It was a bit of an ordeal to remove the control pot from one of the 5.1 system speakers and extend the wiring but it is in now and so successful I added iTunes to that PC so we can play music in the cockpit! The next major job is constructing a back wall to mount a set of real circuit breakers. I want to have this back wall removable and the plan is to hang the two box sections on a trolley rail so they can be pushed outwards out of the way. Cheers Gwyn

[RayS]

I've spent the past several weeks interfacing a Garmin MX-20 to X-Plane 11 via Teensy. (With little to no documentation on the X-Plane side regarding this process.)

Had to first reverse-engineer the serial conversation coming from X-Plane, fix it, then eventually resend to the MX-20.

This project requires a ton of coding because with every step forward it takes 3 steps back.

[XOrionFE]

Spent 8 hrs Saturday working on the -300 Pressurization Control Panel after Rob had replaced all the belts and did much of the wiring to the teensy.    I had the code just aboutbsorted but noticed the FLT ALT was Inop....

Upon removal and further inspection found a broken shaft....ugh...

One step forward, two steps back...

[XOrionFE]

So after that ....

I worked on this...

[Bob Reed]

Ahhhhh, so you still have that! 

[bravolima]

Clean up! Galley check: fridge, coffee machine. Vacuum cleaner work. Load Ball Units at the F/O Seat replaced, Rails cleaned and some unevenness fixed.
I´m a good cleaning worker! Don´t tell my spouse......

special Items ahead: System change PM to ProSim 2.0
                                   Fine tuning Calibration Pro/DisplayPro
                                   Rework the  opencockpits pedals (exchange the plastic..)

Sim flying:                    circling with fixed power settings
                                    training of RNAV approaches
                                    Online-flying and testing EFB Software
                               

[Garys]

I changed out a pc that wasn't running the greatest, tested and some new software and then did some touch and go's at Kai Tak. Once I was done I spent a few hours waiting for a parking spot. 

[Sam Llorca]

Thank you John for the 3D printer information, maybe next year, way too busy right now to learn 3D printing.

Cheers!

[Trevor Hale]

I´m a good cleaning worker! Don´t tell my spouse......

Funny, we all seem to be good at keeping the sim areas clean, but the rest of the house we are no good at that. LOL

[jackpilot]

funny... must be a winter virus
Did some clean up too after the SimA install
Put the center post fairing and the glareshield back on, dusted the shell.

Still have to
-replace the led strip over the MCP (do not fit with the new MX MCP.)
-wire the OXY test
- rearrange the rats nest of wires and cables in front of the shell, this time only two computers instead of 5...better.

Flew my first approach RTT to LOWI overcast low vis. and winter. (with the new ORBX scenery)  Whaoo!

Scott: I love those blue belts! nice panel..there was another one recently on EBay reasonnably priced...rare
Gary: Your 74 is gorgeous ...more pics !

[FredK]

Uhmmm....This past weekend was spent helping out on a home improvement project at my daughter and son-in-law's place in Arlington VA.

My sim has been down since right after WorldFlight to accommodate a major upgrade of all my computer hardware and software....6 computers total.  This involves building 4 new I7-8700K computers to run my WideView visuals and re-purposing 2 old Visual computers for avionics.  Also involves moving ahead to P3dv4 for the visuals and SimAvionics 1.80 for the avionics.  All that is a tremendous effort loading software add-ons across 4 computers for WV, not the least of which was f---ing WIN 10 updates screwing things up along the way!

The project is 90% complete now.  P3Dv4 is running truly amazingly on the hardware!  SimA also has many new features...working through some minor issues there.

Of course one thing always leads to another with this hobby.  Seeing the amazing results for the P3Dv4 visuals I decided to also invest in the newer Optoma GT1080 Darbees that will replace my older Optoma GT1080s.  I have never really been satisfied with the color uniformity across the Optoma projectors (that is, one vs. the other), and in the 3 -4 years that I have had them such has been deteriorating further.  I am not sure if this is due to the lamp life or deterioration in the chip electronics.  So I decided to do a leap of faith in investing in the new Darbee version which promises improvements in color representation and detail sharpness....so we shall see.  The only good thing about the Optomas is the price.

I will report separately on what I find with the Darbees, and I will be putting my old Optomas up for sale if anyone is interested.   Each one works fine as a stand-alone, but I would not recommend them for a multiple projector setup given the color uniformity issue.

FredK