zahry

+1 on CastAR - there is a massive potential and I love their inventiveness and ingenuity. I think it has massive potential to enhance the cockpit environment

Hi Flim, I agree with you that it saves space and I agree it will have bit better immersion than cube - as you might found out cube has fixed viewing point and as soon as you move from it a bit the image geometry distorts and parallax error creeps in progressively, also in cube eyes have to constantly refocus at different distance as you look around which makes it very awkward to use. From that point of view 3D goggles could be improvement but that's about it. Rift will have certainly some entertainment value for minecraft style games and some kind of private entertainment but not for simulation with any kind of fidelity or flight realism. I agree with you - there will be tons of people falling to the marketing trap. My excitement from my first 3D goggles lasted about 2 months and I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread, then I started noticing the first adverse effects and after I got my prescription glasses I've spend considerable amount of time educating myself about the various issues 3D goggles bring to the table - and there is enough for a book -you can not see your hands, lifting the goggles breaks immersion immediately, no peripheral vision (sorry - rift is providing as much peripheral vision as periscope), no 3D (rift still has only pseudo 3D stereoscopy which is not suitable for long term use), it still causes nausea and headaches because of design flaws and unless the lenses in the goggles are made very precisely and by optometrist specifically for you it is very likely it will harm your vision. In rift design - old and new - still have the same problems as all 3D goggles before. If you'll be in NZ bring your rift or I can lend you the one and I can show you things you won't find in marketing brochures :D and you can compare it with different simulation systems.

Hi hannibal, yes - the curved screens are most beneficial for people who have a whole cockpit panels, switches, ejection seat and yes - it requires some space. As per your OCR comments - and I have to ask before engaging in further conversation on that subject - Are those based on personal experience with both systems or are those based on shared belief and expectations created by skilled marketing department and hyped up people on forums? As I stated earlier comparing tiny OCR displays with big projection surround system is like comparing watching movies on cellphones and watching movie in IMAX cinema. I would like to back up my claims by some verifiable experiment - Not very many people have a projection system and 3D goggles to compare but following test should be possible for most people: 1) Go to cinema to watch a movie 2) black out 30% of the cellphone screen on each side (60% altogether - it will give you same or better resolution than Rift) 3) Put the cellphone close to your face to make it look same size as the cinema screen and and watch the same movie. 4) compare the experience and let me know which one you think is better or even easier test - ask your optometrist about watching tiny back lit screens from very close distance through cheap generic lenses - why I mention it? because my experience cost me now about $4000 in prescription glasses and my aviation medical is lot more complicated .... (just my 5 cents)

Hi Thick8 - Yes- there is a software for warping and blending - it costs 180eur for PC locked license and it supports up to 6 projectors - I use one 1080p projector for 90º. I replaced my tv with one sheet that i have got "left over" :D Hi Flim, just a quick question - have you used 3D goggles before and have you used it extensively? Angular resolution is one killer for OCR (i would say good res is 1920pixels per 90º and OCR has only 600 pixels per 90º - that's good for minecraft and virtual world (game) but that's about it. Another killer for me is the fact it is not full fledged 3D but just another stereoscopic device. To explain what I mean - eye works like a camera (or vice versa) if you close one eye put your thumb in front of the other one and focus on the thumb it will be sharp and background will be blurred. If you'll focus on something in the background it will look sharp and thumb will be blurred. If that is not featured in the 3D googles it will mess with your vision and cause high eyestrain, headaches, nausea and fatigue (because everything will be sharp regardless if you are focusing on it or not). Another issue is the tracking system - it's incomplete and not accurate enough - I had quite good 6DoF tracking for my 3D goggles but even though I used to have problems with balance after long sessions and I still sometimes do even though I've stopped using it completely. 3D goggles (OCR included) are ok for short sessions occasionally and preferably if you sit still and watch content from fixed vantage point camera - I would not use it for long sessions, frequently or for dynamic content with frequent head movement. Definitely not in the form they are intending to sell it. I guess the guys figured these things and few of the others "little" hooks and rather passed the lemon to Facebook.

Hi Peter, Yes - This is new material (coatings) I've just finished developing (1 year of experiments and R&D) and it is for front projection = much easier to make, set up and keep calibrated than the rear projection. The base is made from much thicker material so it keeps shape and perfect curve and there is no need for tensioning. (I use it for everything now - minimum order for the plastic was couple of tons so I have plenty in stock :D )

Hi Everybody. I finally managed to develop something for all DIY projects with hardware cockpits. The new material is suitable for making flat or curved projection displays up to 360º Fov. The quality of the image is better than rear projection TV and on par with same size plasma. The coatings absorb scattered light and amplify projector light - the base material is flexible enough to be rolled and stiff enough to support itself it is same type of plastic as F-15 cockpits (even from the same company) - that means the material is shatterproof, fireproof and even bullet and blast resistant :pilotfly: Here are some highlights: * Extreme ambient light tolerance * Ultra high contrast and colors * Excellent gain * No glare surface * Significantly reduces hot spotting * Ultra wide viewing angle Plans for the frame and projector holders and drawings for CNC are provided for free with the display and one sheet (for 270º FOV system same as on photos which is display with 245" diagonal is $1700). PS: before posting barrage of comments about Oculus Rift please consider following: I've been big fan of 3D googles and virtual helmets since the VFX and I've been using and collecting 3D goggles till 2010 - to the point when I've learned the hard way how expensive is using cheap 3D goggles (exchanged my 3D goggles for prescription glasses). After Oculus Rift announcement I've been quite excited and stopped all my projects for home DIY because I thought everything else will be obsolete - but then I've tried OCR I found that the only new and innovative thing about OCR is just marketing... Whatever you do and however you look at it OC Rift is still the same tiny display with very low resolution viewed from very close proximity which allows you only stare ahead (if you want to look around you must move your head) and that will make you severely nauseated and dizzy if you don't restrict and precisely control your movement. And comparing OC rift to big surround screen is like comparing the first iPhone to IMAX cinema.

I'm glad it did arrived - I don't leave a man behind :-). Doesn't matter what it takes and how long it takes

If you take it as an advertisement I'm sorry and I'll consider removing the post. However it supposed to be reply to previous questions and comments and to show what is possible with DCS - I'm quite big fan of DCS World and I wanted to show what the software looks like on commercial scale simulator. The price tag on TITAN HD is far too high for average person (it's quite a big hit even for business) and it would be quite a surprise if anybody would buy one for their living room.

And here is the big brother and the hybrid cockpit

I'm really sorry for the troubles with the shipping. I definitely sent 4 extensions to your address so far - one came back and the rest of it MIA. Last has been sent in mid Feb so I'm hoping it will arrive - it is very difficult with the shipping without tracking number because you can't check if it is hanging somewhere. Considering that even some parcels clearly labeled as for US ended up back here from Australia with note that they can't find the addressee it wouldn't be much of a surprise if your extensions were there as well (Austria vs Australia ... ).

hi kuky - check flyelise, warpalizer or nthusim. all of those are much cheaper

hi everyone. looks like in past few weeks the couriers are working on and off - if you got package coming and it hasn't arrived yet please contact me asap so I can start chasing it up. Recently there were some problems with packages heading to US and Germany - hope it is isolated thing and it won't be happening very often.

Hi MattM, no worries, couriers and postal services are as bad here - if it won't arrive send me a statement for NZ Post declaring you haven't got it and I'll send you replacement. Just had few tracked ones to Germany and it was stacked on customs for about a week. On tracking was notification that it cleared customs and that they attempted delivery but in reality they didn't even sent the customs request until 3-4 days after they marked it on online tracking as attempted delivery. I would say it is still on customs. Let me know once you'll have some news.

JaBoG32_Prinzartus - yes I can make 5 cm long extension - you can change the offset to suit your preferences. Whisky One - thanks :-) what length are we talking about and what radius? I can have a look at it and give it a go.

Hi Matt, getting something from A to B is sometimes quite frustrating. The extension should show up soon - I'm sending everything as a gift and marked as a replacement part so fingers crossed it will be going through customs without too many delays (I've checked some tracked items before and in some instances customs were holding the extensions from one week up to two months - hope it won't happen again). If you wont get the extension by the next week let me know

Hi Tonym, it must have slipped through - this is the only thing I can't test with my joystick and it won't show when I connect the extension to my handle as I don't have the plastic bit there (it broke off ages ago). My sincere apologies - if you want you can either send the extension back and I'll replace/repair it asap or I can talk you through the process how to extend the hole (if there will be some problem during the process I will fix it for you or replace the cable). It just needs 1,5mm drill bit, electric drill and either use the drill as a miniature router (make sure you don't apply too much pressure otherwise you break the drill bit) or you can slowly drill the hole (that's my preferred way of doing it). if you'll run into problems PM me or send me an email.

hi guys - I've been off on build ( I was putting together few sims) and looks like the forwarding didn't work well

hi guys - quick check up if everybody got their extensions delivered. If not please let me know and I'll be on the postal services here as a ton of bricks :-)

So far NO stealth plane has been used in modern combat scenario or against technologically advanced opponent - only in civilian conflicts and in countries with obsolete technology and equipment. LOL - you mean the official propaganda doesn't mention it :megalol: - however - when I was serving about 15 years ago we were equipped with those radars and it wost working like a treat , we could detect the planes from take off till landing and even recognize which pilot was flying by the electronic signature. It's not something what I read on the internet but I have 1st hand operational experience with these systems. As far as I know in the Yugoslavia the F117 was shoot down by 30mm AA gun - similar to those used in WWII :) and Yugoslav army hasn't been equipped with ELINT radars (just old skool Russian equipment from 60's) Anyways - thumbs up for the F35 - personally I'm looking forward to the model B/C :-)

I think it will be huge plus and if anybody can make it happen and make it most realistic it's Dave. DCS is opening to all gen fighters and I find it absolutely awesome because they picked up the flag after FSX was put down by microsoft and they are opened the DCS world to third party developers which means more airplanes, diversity and more fun for more people. As for F35 guys shooting Su25's and A10 guys down... It can't happen unless you let it happen (by joining bad servers or adding the F35 to your server). It is impossible to just add any kind of airplane to any server and any mission as a client - it has to be on the list first and added by server admin. :-). The DCS has fantastic mission editor and you don't have to add/permit the F35's where you don't want them. As we all know -unless the plane type is added to the mission you can't fly it. It's up to mission designers an guys running the servers to decide when and if to add the new planes. Right now we already have A10C, servers, WWII servers, Ka50 Servers, Jets only servers, open servers, private servers, servers with labels on/off, maps on/off, fuel/weapons unlimited on/off, guns only serves, aerobatic servers and I can go like that on and on and on:). The DCS is such a fantastic platform - it gives everybody freedom of choice and the freedom to create your own servers with specific rules if you wish. from the other hand - The F35 will probably motivate other developers or the community to add modern weapons that can easily detect and neutralize "stealth" intruders. Yes - there is plenty of those since 80's - in example systems like VERA, TAMARA can detect f117 up to 500km. Modern ELINT, TODA radar systems (ground and airborne) can detect "stealth" airplanes very easy (and more). Get 2 Su 35 with modern detection systems airborne and the F35s or F22 will light up the radar screen like a xmass lights (and subsequently the ground :-). On modern battlefield the stealth airplanes will be mainly overpriced scrap metal (sad but true). Anyways - it's great to be able to fly WWII airplanes in DCS and it will be great to have in DCS modern aiplanes as well (not sure if anybody realized - airplanes like F15, Mig 29 and Su27 had their prime time in 1970's 80's ... now we have 2013) :) :pilotfly:

Hi Thanks for the feedback and glad everything works ok now :-) I've readjusted the size and I'll have to replace my joystick again to be able to test the fit and connections properly (looks like no2 will be relieved from service)

I'm working on the solution - the project is on hold at the moment until I finish the demo center (need to do some debugging) :-)

will try to do illustrated guide - might take me a day or two so bare with me

Thanks Mikael - tracking number is in the email :-)

hi guys - sorry for the silence - just finishing the new demo center and I have hardly time to sleep :-) You can indeed cut down the tube - make sure the cables are out first ;-). You'll need to drill new holes for the screws as well. If you'll need help or assistance send me PM, email or try skype :-)