KLR Rico

Forums like this inspired me to build a pit, and they turned out to be a source of ideas for construction features so I thought I'd share my own build in case it helps someone else out in the future. Here's my current setup. The primary factor that influenced this build was low cost. Another consideration was use for other flying sims and racing games. The whole setup lives in the corner of my basement... I would have rather put it somewhere more "livable" but my wife wasn't too excited to have this monstrosity on display anywhere else. :P The monitor is a Polaroid 32" LCD running at 1366x765. I got it for free from craigslist because it wouldn't turn on. I found some bad capacitors on the power supply board, replaced them at a cost of $10 and now it works like a champ. I would like to upgrade to a 32" 1080p monitor in the future, but this one does the job for now. The TV stand was constructed from bed frame rails I scrounged up on trash day. It's pretty stable and the keyboard shelf is large enough to mount my Logitech wheel for racing games. The chair is an AK Rocker, which I found on craigslist for $30. I didn't want it to rock freely, so I made a platform from 2x4's that allows the chair to move, but has enough friction to hold it in position. Headtracking is through freetrack. In the picture I'm using a old webcam, but I've since swapped it out for a Playstation Eye. Hotas is the Saitek X52. I think I got it for ~$80 from eBay. I'd really like to get the TM warthog one day, but that will require some savings first. :D I wanted the stick center moutnted, and removable. What I came up with was to use an old patio umbrella rod to allow for adjustement and removal. I drilled a slightly undersized hole through the chair with a spade bit, jammed the umbrella rod through it, and then secured the rod with a pop rivet. The upper half is a 2x4 with a hole drilled in it for the other section of the umbrella rod, which is secured in place with a screw. I'm using the Logitech Z-640 ($50 from craigslist) for sound. The rear speakers are mounted to the chair with some cut & bent aluminum scraps.

That's a great idea!

Don't forget the motherboards!

Exactly why we should keep it. :P Well, then again, just because they're getting rid of a few squadrons doesn't mean the fleet is done for. After all, they're re-winging a bunch of them to extend the lifespan for another 20+ years. It seems like come hell or high water, there's always a trusty old side arm that the USAF decides it's worth keeping around because it fits a role so well... just look at the herk's and buffs.

It seems so short sighted... I'm sure they'll be regretting this decision in the not-to-distant future. :/

I flew this for the first tme the other day, and actually my first MP game period! It was a lot of fun, great work with the layout and voiceovers, the whole thing for that matter!

They're releasing P-51 because they had it and wanted to share. It's not supposed to really add anything to the series, it's for s--t's and giggles. After the way people are reacting to it, I doubt they'll be inclined to do it again. :/

LOL! I bet it runs Jetfighter II like a dream! :megalol:

LMAO!

Another video with an apache: I hope the right developer uses this engine... (ED, I'm looking at you!)

T.O.'s need to bring back the funny cartoons... They're so dull nowadays. :P

I shall keep dreaming! You can't have it all, and the sheer scale of what HAS been done is amazing!

It would be AMAZING to have IR simulated accurately (even with the warm spatter left over from 30mm rounds on soft targets :D ), but it's looking pretty clear it's not happening time soon. :(

I was supposed to go TDY with our KC-135's but some other base stole the show. :(

My current freetrack setup uses a $30 playstation eye (+120FPS@320x240 or 75FPS@640x480) and about $10 worth of LED's and a battery holder. There is a little bit of setup work, but nothing too crazy. The end results are excellent, I'm very happy with it.

I don't know where I was going with that anecdote... ;) I guess its a double edge sword, the challenge of the hunt vs. the sheer fustration... :D

*Something* would be nice... The other day I couldn't find the last tank in a formation that JTAC had tasked me to kill, it took 10 minutes of flying around at 500 AGL before he started shooting at me and I tracked him down.. The sucker was hiding in the trees!

I'll just have to remember to make a new profile before I let anyone else fly again. :D I later realized I also lost all my combat score due to fratricide...

Bump! + 1 for this feature... I was limping home tonight and had to "orbit for spacing" with half a plane. I just wanted to get on the ground and clean my trousers! :D

I use freetrack and love it, I made my setup for less than $30. Like Kaiza said, headtracking really changes everything. To me, flying without it is like flying using the keyboard and mouse instead of a joystick.

No matter how prepared I am for the hit, I still jump with surprise when the SAM's hit me. :D Today I got hit when I was stuck in chaff program selected by semi... :doh:

Just as an FYI, if you care about your long term stats, change your profile before you have drunk friends play... :D I might have more crashes/ejections than landings now! :megalol:

I send him the RTB command on the way back to base.

Sorry to resurrect this post, but I have some questions here... I too find it very difficult to effectively fight with some of the default weapons. CBU-87's and MK-82AIR's seem to be pretty effective at putting holes in the ground all around the T-72's and BMP-2's.. However, if I load up 4*CBU-105's and 4*Mav's it's almost too easy... I was under the assumption that the default loadout was chosen for a reason, but it seems like it might be somewhat arbitrary... Ok yes, you get GBU-10's for the mission with the bridge, but CBU-87's and MK-82AIR's for a tank column? I can either fly out of range and miss a ton of targets, or move mud and get holes punched in my plane from the machine guns. I know we have these other more awesome weapons for a reason; to "Fly, fight, and win!" but is choosing the best weapons available the *realistic* choice?

For the right sim, yeah. $500 up front would be a hard pill to swallow though (and nearly impossible to get wife approval!) Maybe it'd be best to pay for add ons as you go? $100 for advanced AI, another $100 for the improved graphics engine, $50 for ATC/JTAC, and so on.