-Ice

I'm hoping to build the center console, but some of the plans do not have the angles of the cuts on them, just measurements. How do I go about building this?

Sorry, how can it be enough for TWO consoles? Waitaminute.... yes, I realize what you're saying! Might be a bit short for the incliner bits, but I'm sure I can salvage some from the sheet for the front dash. I'm now in the process of laying out the panels for the front dash.... seems like one 2440x607 sheet won't fit though. I'm curious, how did you get to cut the panels to shape? I see a lot of complex angles here, 85 degrees, 73 degrees, etc...

Just double-checking --- your plans for one 2440x607mm sheet is enough for just one side console, yes? So I'd need two sheets to build both consoles... Just want to minimize trips to Wickes if possible. Not too bothered about the electrical and fuel panels as I only use them on startup, it's those that you tend to fiddle with while you're in the air that I want to build, like the UFC and CDU!!

Lol about the straps. Good thing your Audi didn't fly! I'll be getting a taxi for this so I need to have the planks cut at least a few times. Thanks for letting me pick your brains, btw. My first plan was to make just a plain 'pit but would probably save money in the long run if I do it right the first time. Not too sure about the Dzus rails yet to be honest. All I need right now is a place for the WH throttle... the switch panel I'm keen on building is the AHCP... and maybe the countermeasures panel. The panels will be built as I go along and find the budget for it. Would love to make a CDU or UFC with these little buttons but that ain't gonna be cheap!

Thanks for the help! Just want to make 3x sure about the switches before buying. Still looking for a ON-OFF-ON switch for the Master Arm switch. Planning to go to Wickes/B&Q tomorrow to sort out some building materials for this pit. Having trouble finding the 22x38mm "tassau" pieces though. Did you have to use the 25x38mm kiln-dried timber? Or did you just use the 19x32mm ones for "tassau"? Any plans on making a center console? Curious as to how you got that MDF board to your home as well... surely it doesn't fit in the car?

Hmmm... I see the switches have the £2.99 version and the £3.49 version, which one did you get? I'm thinking might as well get a DPDT switch since it's the same cost as a SPDT anyway, unless someone thinks otherwise? And can you link me to the ON-OFF-ON switch you're using? Also, what is a spade connector? Finally, does Wickes do cuts for you like B&Q? I've just Google-Mapped one that's almost right across from my local B&Q. EDIT: How did you actually cut out the rib sections?

Hmmm... Wickes... not sure if there's one close by. B&Q though, I've been to. The toggle switches, how are they size-wise compared to the Warthog switches? And is that £3 PER SWITCH? Are they ON-ON switches or ON-OFF-ON swtiches??

Hello Ragtop! I've just bought some seats so I'm looking to build my cockpit as well. Your build progress is looking very good! Can you confirm what materials have you used? Specifically, MDF board thickness, and can you confirm that this is the toggle switch you're using? Thanks!

I'm looking for something like this but with an A-10 cockpit rather than an F-16. Really interested in seat placement and space available for the pilot's legs inside the 'pit. Also for the "ergonomics" like how far away is the front dash from the seat. So far my google skills aren't helping. Thanks!

PM sent!

Very nice. What is the chair? A car seat or office chair?

I'm sorry but you lost me there.

Thanks for that link, but I wonder how "accurate" his ACES seat is. Can you give me more details regarding the wood for the seat and the type of foam?

I've been looking around for used car seats hoping to kick-start my project but it's proving to be too much trouble to get a car seat and work around it, especially since I'm planning on a center-stick setup. I'm now thinking of building an ACES II ejection seat and I was hoping someone could help me out with a couple of concerns: 1. Seat measurement - I'd like to get the seat dimensions right, even if I'm not going for the actual "like the real deal" build, but I'd like to get the "ergonomics" of it as accurately as possible. 2. Padding - this is the tricky bit for me. I've gone through 3 office chairs in the past year and so far, the foam on the bottom seems to disintegrate right under me. I wonder what foam is recommended for use and where to get it from. Also, what is the dimensions for the padding? And I assume this is separate from the actual seat dimensions, yes? 3. Comfort - I assume that since this is an aircraft seat, it is comfortable to sit in for hours at a time, yes? If not, what are the problems with this type of seat? 4. Materials - There are some curved parts of the seat, like on the bottom and the lumbar support... what materials are used in seat construction and how do you get them to curve? Thanks in advance for the help!

Mr Burns, you say you used a jigsaw... how is it with making straight edges? Or are they straight-ish?

Thanks for the help guys. I'm probably doing this out of MDF as that seems to be the common thing to do... unless others have a different suggestion? My current "poor man's pit" is made of recycled wood with laminate cover (I don't know the exact description), so I know I can work with MDF. As for hole saw, I think I can do without it for now as I'm not doing any gauges... the front dash will only hold my MFCDs, keyboard, and probaby a UFC when I get around to it.

Thanks for the list there, but what is a hole saw? I've not done much handyman tasks but I'm good at putting stuff together and following blueprints/instructions so :D That and I blame DCS.

I am not a patient man. And the edges won't be hidden, they are going to be in plain view, ie front dash, side consoles...

I was thinking of a jigsaw but the router is an excellent suggestion. Making straight cuts are more the norm in a cockpit than curved cuts so a router it is! I suspect it can round-out edges as well so that's very good... Any suggestions for making perfectly measured cuts? Or so I just have to be exact with a ruler and pencil?

So, what do you put in, Eddie? I'm not looking for a 24-hour busy airport, heck, I'm just looking to "trigger" the airport when the player aircraft is in the area. No sense in having activity that won't be seen. Aircraft-wise, I'd love to start the mission and listen/see aircraft taking off and landing. Then as I start to taxi, I'd love to go past some other fighter aircraft, maybe a couple of F-15s who will go up after I've taken off and will actually be a CAP to support my CAS flight. When RTB, it'd be fun to "slot in" behind some aircraft in landing. Infantry-wise, I'd like to see some soldiers do ground-crew stuff like wave me to my parking lot or direct me out of parking... Heck, a random "runs across the tarmac, gets into a Humvee, and drives off" would be a nice change. Or fuel trucks going to and fro... Stuff like that... I hate having all the sky to myself and would love some company. Though I bet getting ATC clearance to takeoff/land would be a pain :D

I'm about to start making a more serious cockpit for use with DCS A10, I was wondering what tools I'll be needing for this project. At the moment, all I have are some screw drivers, a power drill (battery), and some ideas. I would love to have all the fancy CNC and laser engravers, but I'll stick with the basics for now. I'm looking at something that can give me accurate cuts (measurement-wise) and fairly straight cuts... fancy curved edges aren't necessary for an A10 pit, I hope. Thanks!

I was wondering if anyone's gotten around to making a "busy" airport? By "busy," I mean having vehicles move about, having infantry running to and fro, some aircraft landing and taking off... I'm tired of feeling like the only guy alive in the theatre. :helpsmilie:

Brilliant post there nom! Thanks! I think I've flow Prepare Mission a couple of times so that might be it. I'll be sure to Fly Mission from now on.

Sorry, what is "prepare mission" again?

JTAC doesnt seem to be giving me a target. The only option that seems to work is putting soldiers on the roof. Putting structure objects on the building puts the object on ground level (thus invisible from the air), however, destruction of the building does not = destruction of the object, thus necessitating two attacks on the site which is not what I want.