zahry

As soon as you express opinion in any way you are influencing people - but that is absolutely alright. Having opinion about something is not a bad thing and if it is expressed in civilized manner it is actually great thing because it adds value to the discussion. Personally I don't like the political correctness because people now are either too scared to say anything uncomfortable or are flat out crazy rude - and none of that is good) back to the subject. I'm assuming you are taking exclusively about 3D goggles based VR (3D). With that I can't imagine what would be even the point of building any kind of cockpit - you can't see it or use it - it's like painting a nice picture, put it in-front of you and poke your eyes out. And I can't really imagine anybody spending time on wiring monitors, switches, huds and MFDs they will never be able to use. For that matter I can't even imagine what would be the point of making sophisticated games anymore. The question that hasn't been asked yet (and should) is how the 3D goggles are affecting games and simulation - so far every "VR" title is pretty simple, shallow and boring. What's worse the 3D goggles manufacturers just take and don't give anything back. If that will be the only way to go the future will be pretty sad - soon we will have just 4 button "simulators" for simpletons with cartoon graphics and physics + complimentary big labels "vr ready", pompous CGI marketing that has nothing to do with reality and all drivers/hardware improvements locked out ( i.e. as you might already know AMD recently locked out VSR for projectors as a support for VR goggles) ... not sure how that suppose to improve anything and I really like my sophisticated and challenging simulation.

If we talking only about 3D goggles based VR (oculus and so on) - it can't change cockpit building in any way - it's something suitable for Wii, playstation or xbox (if you have no friends and family) - you put it on and you are looking through a hole at 3D graphics and can't really interact with anything or anybody around. Projector based Mixed VR is a different mater - that could potentially have massive impact on cockpit building as you can be physically inside the VR, take controls with you as well as retain the ability to interact with everything and everybody in normal manner. I've got it working now with the SimPit Black Pearl and Icarus (some photos have 3D vision off) Video of hybrid (mixed VR) cockpit in action https://www.facebook.com/simpittech/videos/1005647266187302/ https://www.facebook.com/simpittech/videos/1005433672875328/

Hi, the solution is to add the launcher to exceptions in SimPitWarp (Preferences > Exclude > [navigate to EDLaunch.exe and select it]) and after game launch disable either Window Warp or Desktop Warp (preferences > inputs > set keyboard shortcuts for Toggle window warp /toggle desktop warp) - use the keyboard shortcuts to switch it on and off as required. Seems like the DCS in your case is switching on both warps (you are getting 2 warps at once). Let me know if it helped. :-)

nah - Oculus is a Trabant :-) good HMDs are around 20k - even the 5 year old ones have better resolution and FoV - as for real VR ... ;-)

Agree with you :-). Just a little correction: VR is immersive systems all around - Oculusers hijacked the term for their marketing but they are very tiny drop of huge sea. In the real VR world Oculus is the equivalent of Trabant in a car world :D - it's cheap and it get you moving - but it is great because if you have only $300 bucks and no hope of saving more you might as well do "wroooom" noises and pretend it is Lamborghini :-)

Hi Anton, Many thanks. I might need to start a campaign to promote the screens more to free the people from the jailbars :D I can't imagine anybody ditching their projects if they already started but I would see the cardboard cockpits as a great opportunity for people to get started and it will grow the community. It is good option for people that are not interested in lengthy builds (yet!). And you know how it goes - next moment they might find out adding monitor for instruments might improve the whole thing, then some MFD panels and so on and next moment they will have their routers, lasers and garage turned into pit with wife chasing them around the house with rolling pin for spending too much money on knobs and switches.

Hi Anton, check this out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtCKyXjkQ9I. (it's my kids favourite climbing toy) I've been quite skeptical to start with but Lukas done his homework well - it's all about distributing the load. I'm happy he stick to his guns. Before I got my hands on the cockpit I was trying to convince him he needs plywood frame as well - he really doesn't. In fact I would say it will make things worse and lot more expensive to transport. To achieve same weight to strength and rigidity ratio is not possible in any other way. Edit - I can cut the skeleton for Lukas from MDF on laser if necessary (if anybody is interested let know lukas) but I don't think it will be necessary

hi Shane, Thanks :) yup, locked to PC means it can be installed only on one PC at the time. It doesn't have a install limit but the prev license needs to be deactivated. The projectors I'm using are BenQ 1080ST, BenQ 1085ST and quite a number of people are using optomas 1080. It's mounted overhead, the short throw projectors are quite good these days

hi macfevre :-). There might be few sims at Florida for public use in near future. another little teaser- this time all guns blazing :-D

Wrong person / thread - comment for sahaj and his mates - please show little bit of dignity and and respect and start your own thread. It's feels bit desperate how you try to shove your way in ... anyways - good luck and if somebody breaks their warthog with this extension send me a PM and I'll send you illustrated guide how to fix it and how to recalibrate the firmware after the repair.

Thanks for the heads up - Just checked and SimPitWarp is not registered to immersaview or listed anywhere on their website. - SimPitWarp, ImmersaView Warp or Warpalizer use warp in names but I don't think anybody will get confused. If that's about software I'm happy to say Imersaview is excellent professional grade software with very advanced tools that will do fantastic job and I'll happily recommend it to everybody - but it is different product. The video was to show how warping and blending is done and that it doesn't have to take whole day and require university degree - mostly setting up the projectors and warping and blending are unknowns everybody is concerned about when considering projection system. You can substitute the software for immersaview or nthusim and the Black Pearl surface will make it equally easy - this one was the one I had on hand at the time when I was filming so it's there

No problem with this setup. I always focus on the center of the screen and the curvature is within tolerances for the focus and resolution. There is also little tweak in software that can be switched on but it's usually not necessary

hi shane, that's correct - The license is locked to one PC and it doesn't have a limited installs. I'm using BenQ 1080ST and quite a few people are using Optomas GT1080. The projectors are little bit angled down and the ultra short throw projectors, geometry and design helps a bit as well.

Thanks guys :-) very happy you like it! Extranajero: it's demo how you set up 2 projectors so the image merges and looks like one single continuous image :-)

It's actually 2 sunsets :-D. (I've been doing in spare time and in between phone calls and jobs - I've tried to do it in one hit but it's just not possible for me atm) according to the time stamps on photos it took me around hour and half - 1:40 of timelapse, photo each 5s, 10 fps on video = ~5000s = 83min for both profiles (if my math is correct :) ) Thanks :-) The software is SimPitWarp - PC locked version is $290 from here - it supports multiple profiles and you can run up to 10 projectors on one license. I'll post link to 30 days free demo in day or two. best thing since sliced bread :-). That just reminded me - I have developed the new material for the LED projectors with low brightness - if you can still use it I'll send it over.

If somebody is curious how warping and blending works I just made a time lapse of projector setup up to first flight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHMXsjsScD4.

Brad summed it up really well. Up to 180º FoV you have complete freedom of software - pick a game and it will work. If you go over it gets more entertaining with setups. The only software capable of native 270º is DCS World, A10C, Ka 50 and FC2. FSX and P3D can achieve 270º as well with some easy workarounds. You can use the 270º setup even for normal games by adjusting warping but it means half of each projector on L and R side won't be used. As Brad mentioned - from contrast point of view - if you have complete control over lighting conditions screen material doesn't really matter. From comfort and health point of view the best is screen that achieves high contrast without over boosting brightness. Black would be probably the best color for screen ... BUT - black is black because it doesn't reflect light - which is kinda bummer because if the projector screen doesn't reflect light it doesn't work. (the Black Pearl only appears black - the surface is "programmed" to reflect only projector light and absorb everything else = for projector light the surface is shining white, for light from any other source it is a black hole). Front projection on white surface is cheap and simple so it is the most common - but it produces very marginal result during day or in a lit room and the use is very light dependent (usually night time only and no lights), Rear projection can produce very good image anytime and users can't interfere with the projector beams, you can use it day or night and place hardware anywhere inside - but - it costs lot, it takes lot of space and it is very tricky to setup and maintain. The compromise is front projection on material with selective reflectiveness. There is still problem with beam interference if you walk around but it is very easy to setup and maintain, the cost is still very low and you can use it day or night - and most of all - it produces far the best image. From health point of view the best are systems with reflected light as oppose to emitted light and with high contrast without over boosted brightness (same as real life) - also the higher resolution the better. - it reduces eye fatigue, eye strain and you running less risk of chronic problems. If you are flying for real try to restrict your time infront of bright monitors or wearing VR goggles (especially with cheap plastic optics and low res) or at least take frequent breaks - I've learned the hard way - withing 1 year from 20/20 to wearing prescription glasses and still having troubles.

some new update (parallel thread) finally some shots from DCS (will have some video coming up soon as well) this is with 2 projectors and 180FoV (3840 x 1080). Headtracking works like a charmed and I actually found myself to use the helmet sight for targeting. Now I have to find another homeless TM warthog ...

+1 to SkateZilla . Try ATI and eyefinity - even with standard line /cheaper ones different monitor sizes/resolution and the arrangement won't matter. ATI has better performance for ultra wide screen anyway. If you have nVidia it will be different ballgame and bit more complicated.

The 7,5cm ones are best for desktops, 12,5cm is probably the best for all around flying and 15cm for choppers. Longer shafts are possible but the throw then is getting quite unrealistic and feels quite odd compared to real planes/helis. Also with too long shafts you lose lot of resolution and centering. You can specify the length in paypal note during checkout process or flick me an email.

Hi MacFevre, you can use Sketchup (free) for 3d modeling. personally I have nothing against the chinese cnc or lasers - Been using it past 3-4 years and no issues what so ever. I have to say the quality has improved tremendously in the past decade. I had this one as a starter kit with water cooled 1,5kw spindle and I've added limiters ($10) for automatic homing and jig setups. http://www.carving-cnc.com/x61500series-1/x6-1500gt-usb/cnc-x61500gtusb3-router-engraver-drilling-and-milling-machine.html It can run of any PC/laptop with USB and if you'll need help I still have all setup files for Mach3/ BobCAD and I can help you get started.

hi aaron, just a quick one to show it's neither dim or desaturated - I'll have to get some dcs footage as well ;-) ${1}

with any black paint you would be 100% correct. But the black pearl coatings are completely different ball game - the layers absorb ambient light and reflect projector light. The gain is about 0.8 which is not too bad although compared side by side to high gain screen it will appear dimer. however - on it's own (due to BP high contrast) it will look much better and visually appear brighter.

the setup is using 2x benq 1080st = 2x 1920x 1080 = 3840x1080. the projectors overlap in the middle for warping and blending purposes. there is unwarped desktop:

and some photos with light on