beyond the desktop - can you get there ?

[neuman5022]

Hello Folks

My name is Isaac Neuman - I am relatively new here - so I guess this would be a good place to start...

I am a loooong time simmer and aviator (what a nice word) - did it all - hand gliders, rubber powered models, cable , RC models, real world student pilot, private pilot commercial pilot, IFR rating Ground school instructor.... and always somehow I found myself going back to my simulator.

After hundreds (make it thousands) of hours on the desktop + IVAO + VATSIM - I came to the question - OK fine - what now ???

This was what led me to Cockpit Building.


Took a flight on the FlightExperience 767 - and right there I knew - this is where I am going.

I am building a 737-800, and finished a smaller one - (I posted picture on the cockpit building pinned topic) - and tell you the truth - I am SOOO happy with it - it is sometimes hard, expensive, lots of ups and downs - but when I look at my sim at the end of the day - amazing...

Now - everywhere I go - I hear people tell me: I wish I could do it too - but it is so expensive...


Well, not anymore ! There is hope at the end of the tunnel.


So what do you need to start ???


I guess if you are here - you already fly a desktop sim - so the yoke, pedals throttles, screens,FS9/FSX are already there, so all you need a little bit more to start a simple cockpit, that will grow as you go.


What do you need ??

1. First you need the panels - if you go for the GA option - you need to decide if you want to fly the old IFR type or the new glass cockpit. Buying panels from Europe is a major blow - so I had to make my own - later we will come back to this.

2. Instruments - what I suggest is to go with PM SW - and put them behind the panels. - You will need a cheap PC to function as the client (your current PC will be the server + FS sw) and another screen - does not have to be a top of the notch one. you will need also some cheap sw - FSUIPC and WideFS


- PM IFR instruments behind the panel

From the old price list of PM I have (Feb 2007) the IFR sw is 149 Euros and the glass cockpit is 299 Euros. - really don't have to be a millionaire

3. When you have the panels - build yourself a frame - around it - glare above it, and if you want to feel like inside a cockpit - build yourself a wooden box, metal frame - whatever you can put your hand on. Use cheap materials - and remember - it is YOUR cockpit - so if you are happy with it - that's what counts.

Later in time - you can add stuff. If you have the panels - you can add real instruments (SIMKITS, FI, SEAGULL) - get some real world throttle, etc.

Now for the panels - I built my own, and wasn't too happy with it - so I decided to go pro - opened my tiny one man gang company, went to some people with knowledge, and I made myself a beautiful Cessna like Panel which fits SIMKITS instruments - for less of half the price on the market. My plan is graduatly build a full scale Cessna like cockpit - make it cheap as I can get. Long process but I will get there eventually.







The panels are 2 mm thick, precision CNC water blaster cut, powder coated both sides - 5 pieces set. I have only 4 sets left - so I thought I will let you guys look at it first.



Since I do not want to be regarded as I am pushing merchandise here - if you are interested - give my a buzz - I will discuss the price privately. For the NZFF members - I will wave the GST too


Next week I will put some more tips for the cockpit builders.


If you have any questions- please do not hesitate to ask


Until then - Cheers


Isaac

[Bandit]

Cheers Isaac, will look forward to the updates.

I'm just in the process of starting a Cockpit and was looking at going along the touch screen option for instruments but this may change.

In point #2 - What/Who is PM SW? I'd be really interested if you could expand the details about client/server setup.

[victor_alpha_charlie]

Love both your cockpits, especially the 737 one! They look incredible. I'll probably do something like that when I retire (Ok, so what if it's not going to be for another 40 years- FS will be awesome by then!).

[neuman5022]

Cheers V.A.C - I guess you will not have the patient to wait until then..


Bandit - PM is short for Project Magenta they are doing the SW for compliceted aircraft - and they went to the GA market too.

Visit the web - lots of info there.


Now from the main page - go to the "documentation" / "main documentation" and download the file "Project Magenta User Manual PDF File, Version 13 (March 2008)" (MagentaDoc13. PDF)

read the first pages to get some general info - and then go to page 62 - it has all you need to know about the GA setup.

In a nutshell - The PCs need to "talk" to each other - so the instruments will "know" what the main program (FS9/FSX) is doing. One screen can go for instrumenrs, another for GPS, another for moving map - you name it - you need one "server" to be the "master" and the other PCs will be the clients or "slaves"

Read the document - it will give you a taste for more..


Have fun

If you need anything else - please - don't be shy - I am here to share...

Cheers


Isaac

[Peppermint]

Looks just like the sort of thing I need to do, at least if I had the money that is. Although I'd probably rather build a cockpit for race sims...

[neuman5022]

Any cockpit will do - as long as you build one...

Cheers