Apache600

I have YET to get the aircraft to take off in the direction i wanted the first time. Annoying because my whole flight plan is usually set for them to take off the runway i want them to. I'm 0 for 7 right now. haha

Hey guys, Just started making some missions the other day. Having a ton of fun with all the possibilities. Anyway, one thing i can't seem to figure out is how to add a custom sound file. My objective would be to place a trigger around a small battle, and as the player aircraft enters the trigger area, a radio call is make from the ground forces being attacked. I was hoping that I could make a sound file pretending to be the ground forces, and inform the pilot of our location, direction of enemy fire, etc. I'm just not sure how to add that in. Anyone able to help with this? it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks - Apache600

Thanks for the compliments guys! Warhog, I agree with you, I'd really like to learn how to do some of that. I've been keeping these panels as simple as possible so that I don't have to do any changes or anything with the .LUA files. All that's needed is mapping the keys and away you go. With these being all the FC3 level of detail aircraft, is there anything that can be exported anyway?

I am happy to finally say, the control panel is complete! Just got done testing it on a couple of the aircraft, and it is working 100% !!! Here's a picture of the panel working with the F-15C. and another with the SU-25 - Apache600

I use Leo Bodnar. I've been looking at Groovy Game Gear products. They are a good price, but I need the potentiometer support. For toggle switch use, I use SVMapper. I have an inside picture here of the SU-25T panel. Instead of using the BUO836X's like i've done in the past, i've been switching up to the BUO836A's since they are cheaper and smaller. Only problem is, is that I have to matrix out all the keys. Because of that, you'll see the numerous bread boards with diode matrix's. I have to do that so key ghosting doesn't occur. Here's the spaghetti rat's nest you imagined :)

Klulu2, I wanted to put every possible key on the control panel because I can :) Just because it's on there doesn't mean you also can't bind it to a HOTAS key. The only button not on that control panel is the "Weapon fire" key, because well ... every joystick better have a trigger at least. Even for me, I bind a ton of keys to my joystick. Ex: Weapon change. but i still like having the option of selecting the key on the panel if i've got time before a run on the target. Once you learn the placement of the buttons, you'd be surprised as to how quickly you can hit things like the countermeasures and what not. But i won't disagree with you, Gun reticle ... yeah, that is always good to have a toggle key on your joystick for that for those split second moments.

Update time! (initial post edited)

Update time, Had a couple days off between ground school and sim, so thought i would get a little more work done on the project. All i need to do now is wire it, and it should be good to go. Won't be able to work on it again until the beginning of March though :( and with this last pic, here it is without the throttle and joystick. Can't wait to get this thing up and running! Hey guys, Well, just thought i'd slap together what i had so far. The project is still under way, and will hopefully be completed soon. There could be a massive delay soon as i will be leaving for 2 months for training with a new job. (I will be training to fly this http://fsbrasil.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/e175_delta_n202jq-c.jpg https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7162/6748287135_03bffdda95_z.jpg CAN'T WAIT!) Anyway, as the title suggests, this is an all in one control panel for ALL of the FC3 (and su-25t) aircraft. This control panel will control all of the A/P, CM, Trims, Sensors, Systems, Kneeboard, Weapons, Modes, and Comm channels (F1-F12, plus a couple quick reference comm keys) Here's a quick peek, you can see that none of the labels are on the panel, and I still need to wire it It will be powered by 3 Leo Bodnar BU0836A USB boards, and require SV Mapper to run in the background to control the 2-way position switches. There will be no need to alter anything in the .lau files, so no worries of newer versions of DCS coming along to make a mess out of that. I have an x-55 hotas that I use in conjunction, as seen in the pictures. but this is sized so that the Warthog hotas will also fit on it. I started construction on this after building my dedicated SU-25T panel, which some of you may recognize from a post I had a few months ago Here are some of the concept to fruition pictures i've got. I'll keep you guys posted as development moves along. - Apache600

You should pass ... that offer right along to me! :) I don't have a CNC, but i've been looking at getting one for cutting panels and whatnot. $500 is cheap, but the costs don't end there. You'll need software and PC. I guess first things first is to find out what is all included in that price. Looking on some internet sites, it looks like software is included if you purchase on-line. But will that software come with your purchase or his he keeping it? Will it come with the router? Hope all is included and it's still a precise machine!

Quick question about these boards. 1) Can they handle a Rotary Encoder? (i.e. Baro altimeter or HDG bug) 2) when ordering them, there's the USB numbering option of 1-4 with 1 being (Use if FIRST or ONLY on this exact controller) I need to order 3 of htem so do i just leave that option at 1, but put 3 in the cart? thanks guys

Hey guys, So i've been doing the SU-25T campaign, and it constantly cycles between 2 missions. The first mission has you fly to take out the two lines of defense at the beginning of the two small towns, and the second is pushing back the enemy just a couple clicks away from your base, along the coastline. .... how the heck do I progress? Do you have to destroy EVERYTHING that's blue on the "F10" map? - Apache600

I agree with Extranajero. As great and revolutionary the Oculus Rift may be ... what happens when you need to use the keyboard??? This pit that Speedbird is working on is something i would MUCH RATHER HAVE than an Oculus Rift, hell ... look at the panels i build even. There's a realistic feel in looking around the pit and feeling the buttons and switches too. This video sums up my reasoning perfectly. there's a number of times where he mentions how great the cockpit looks ... and how if feels like you could just "reach out and touch it" ... well, that's what myself, Speedbird, and others do with our pits and control panels. I'll take a rift for an arcade style game or FPS, but in a simulator where you have 100+ buttons and switches, nope ... give me a pit any day

Alright guys, here's the newest idea I've got. This panel will have ALL of the keys that each of the FC3 (SU-25T included) aircraft can use. Comm keys included (F1-F12 and also a few of the quick "Attack ground targets" and such comm commands) I thought I would extend the panel that the throttle quadrant sat on, so that the joystick would be at the same level. Makes for much better ergonomics. I had the joystick level with my SU-25T panel's throttle, but that required a separate unit. On this one, it will be combined. This panel will have 3 leo bodnar's in it, because it will utilize every "button" available. Let me know what you guys think, and if anyone would be interested in it - Apache600

I should have specified, this is for the FC3 level aircraft. Does the Num + still do advanced radio comms for that? And the appropriate frequency thing (for all i know) doesn't exist in FC3 planes, correct?

Soo ... what if someone has a slower computer and can only run DCS on med graphics. What will happen when EDGE comes out, will they be left up *@% creek without a paddle? Or do you think the efficiency of EDGE might still allow them to run on, or about, med graphic settings? Lastly, would they have to update to EDGE, or if they knew they'd have issues, can they stay with the current system?

What do you guys use for the Comms with other aircraft/tower? Do you use the quick keys with the windows + ??? or do you guys go through the \ key and find what you need? Just trying to figure out what keys you guys are using the most (for my next control panel i'm making) Thanks all - Apache600

Thanks guys! Greatly appreciated. Learning this stuff is a ton of fun ... even when i end up as a flaming crater in the ground because i didn't know something. haha

Hey guys, I've recently been dabbling with some of the air superiority fighters in FC3 and had some questions about button functionality. hoping you all can help. F-15: - Base / Distance axis ... i figured it was for setting wingspans of aerial targets, but can't figure it out - Radar Horizontal axis ... looks like only Russian aircraft can do this -Scan Zone Left and Right Sensors, same as Radar Horizontal Mig-29 and SU-27 - Radar Range axis ... isn't that the same as zooming the display? i'm confused, because there is an MFD range axis - Electro-optical system sensor ... that turns on the Skhval on for the SU-25T, what does it do here? Thanks guys, really hoping some of this can be cleared up - Apache600

Here's a list of all the commands that this control panel does: Autopilot A/P Engage A/P Route Following A/P Alt. & Roll Hold A/P Radar Alt. Hold A/P Attitude Hold A/P Radar Alt. Hold A/P Tran. Level Flt. A/P Disconnect Navigation Nav. Modes (1) Air-Air (6) Air-Ground (7) Gunsight (8 ) Next Way/Land Countermeasures ECM IR Jamming CM Combined CM Continuous Chaff Flare Flight Controls Elevator Trim Up/Down Aileron Trim Left/Right (on rotary switch) Rudder Trim Left/Right Trim Reset Sensors Target Lock Target Unlock Target Designator (on mini joystick) Target Designator Centor Camera Zoom (on potentiometer) Target Size / Gunpod Elevation (on potentiometer) Electro-Opt ELINT pod Laser Ranger Night Vision Systems Airbrake On/Off Canopy Open/Close Altimeter +/- (on rotary switch) HUD color HUD Brightness +/- RWR Mode RWR Volume Audible Warning Reset Eject Electrical Master Left Engine Start/Stop Right Engine Start/Stop Eject Cockpit Lights Gear Lights Nav Lights Flight Timer Smoke Mirrors Drag Chute Landing Gear Up/Down Flaps Up/Combat/Landing Parking Brake On/Off Kneeboard Kneeboard Page +/- Kneeboard Position Marker Jettison Weapon Jettison Fuel Fuel Dump Weapons Weapon Change Cannon Launch Override Cut of Burst Ripple Interval +/- Ripple Quant. Salvo Mode

Alright, here are some close ups of the panel. I'll make a list of all the buttons/switches later today

I don't see why there would be an integrity problem. When this control panel is plugged into the computer it appears as 2 joysticks. The software to run this is SVMapper. I haven't heard of any issues with that, but I will test it when i get home this weekend. The reason SVMapper is needed is so that the sim knows how to deal with the toggle switches. All the buttons and momentary switches can be bound by the generic joystick assignment key. I posted a video on youtube about svmapper set up and what not. Here it is, hopefully it would explain any of your questions on it. https://www.youtube....h?v=tf3hbCzo7xE The main thing I'm trying to do with these panels is to steer away from having to do any .lua file alterations. I'm NOT a programmer and don't really want to fuss around with that stuff. My fear is that these periodic updates that DCS does would eventually screw up those settings. These control panels are much simpler. Plug it in, set up SVmapper, and go blow stuff up (or in my case .... get shot down still haha)

Sounds good Friedric, I'll look for it! Sorry to hear you're working the night shifts, those are NOT fun to do. Capt, sure thing. I'll be home Fri so I'll get some close up shots and post them then (currently out flying a route for the job) In the mean time, here are some close up's of previous projects I've done. These were basically made the same way as the SU-25T control panel. However, they don't have the small outline boxes around the text labels like the SU-25T panel does. This one is off of a BF-110 panel for IL2: Cliffs of Dover And this is off of an old panel I made for Kerbal Space Program

I can ship to Europe. I sent a control panel last month to Norway, and didn't have any problems. It was NOT the cheapest thing ever, but thankfully I get a discount through FedEx, so I'd use them. As long as the product will clear your country's customs, then there won't be any issues.

Thanks for the compliments guys! @ Capt, unfortunately these keys are not backlit. That would be awesome though if when the "cockpit illumination" switch was flipped, that back lighting would occur. It's something that I've thought of trying to do, but just haven't yet. Yeah, the idea is to make it so that each key that's used in the sim (within reason) is part of the panel. Just so folks with simpler joysticks aren't left out. I realize that there is a redundancy in keys between my X-55 and this control panel. But i don't mind it. Muscle memory has me going to the joystick for a couple of buttons (like target lock or weapon change) but then there are many other things like CM, Engine start, or slewing the target designator that I will not touch the keyboard or HAT on the joystick anymore (it's a freaking far reach and always a bit clunky with that HAT anyway) The small joystick that I have on the control panel is so much easier to operate and use for slewing the TD around. I find that I can easily do a scan on the battlefield with it, where as before it was always a dysfunctional stumbling of hide and seek with the enemy units. haha

Hello Everyone, I have finally completed, and successfully tested, my prototype control panel for the SU-25T. This thing is an absolute blast to fly with! No more guessing as to what keys do what ... or if your ECM or IR Jamming is on or not. Haha The reason I built this is two fold, 1) I am a commercial pilot (fedex feeder C-208s) and would much rather prefer an actual switch (that's labeled no less) over combinations of key strokes on the keyboard. 2) I'm an idiot and can never remember what I bound the generic switches on my HOTAS to or what all the keyboard combinations are. It really pulls away from the feeling (and is rather time consuming) when I have to look up on the cheat sheet to see what key strokes do an action I really enjoyed building and testing this control panel, and will be taking orders from anyone who may be interested in one. All that is needed is 2 free USB ports, SVMapper (or something similar) and a desk that has a lip to it so the two clamps can hold the panel down firmly. The "brains" of this control panel are 2 Leo Bodnar BUO836A's. This control panel houses all the keys that the SU-25T uses (except for communications and views) As you can see in the pictures, the flat portion fits the throttle to the X-55. It also fits the Thrustmaster throttle. Construction on these do take a bit of time, and would ask your patience if you do want one. Asking price for one of these would be in the $330 USD range (shipping not included, i'm in Sacramento, California) The price INCLUDES everything needed to plug it in and start it up (Leo Bodnars wired up and tested, and USB cables) The plan down the road is to build a control panel for as many DCS modules as feasible. The next one i'll be starting on will be a combination F-15/Mig-29/SU-27/SU-33 panel. I believe I could do all those platforms on one panel. Then with the study sims (A-10C, Ka-50, etc.) I plan to be able to sell specific panels since their complexity is a bit more than the FC3 ones. Further more, the reason i chose the BUO836A over the X is because of it's ability to swap them easily. If say you purchase 2 control panels from me, You can request that the Leo Bodnars be left out (i'd still make all the connections for their hook up) because that would save nearly $100 off of the second and subsequent control panels. The under table joystick arm is also something that I could make and sell. It retracts when not in use, and can be adjusted in both height, and how far the joystick comes out from the desk. This is a very crude design and I would probably modify it a bit if anyone wanted one. The parts were purchased from a local hardware store, so "fancy" was not something i was going for ... and quite honestly, probably still wouldn't go for. It would require you to screw in 4 screws to the bottom of your desk. If you guys have any questions, or are interested in purchasing one, please feel free to PM me. - Apache600