MacFevre

Too funny! :lol:

First, it's all a personal choice. The A-10a/c has always been my favorite plane since I was in the Air Force, with a close 2nd being the A-7. For flying sims, the A-10 is my favorite because I like to be able to be up close and personal with everything. I am not a ga (general aircraft) flight simmer because the most action is take-offs and landings. I know there is a lot more involved, but for me, going from JFK to ORD is not my idea of fun. That's a very basic, not quite fair slant on it, but that's just me. I also like going low and slow and moving mud. Therefore fast paced sims like the F-16 don't really hold my interest either. (Though Ralfidude has a great time it seems. I highly suggest his YouTube videos. They're pretty fun, and I'm quite jealous of his ability to fly and general ability to take out his enemies.) As far as DCS is concerned with making the A-10 modern as the years go by, I would be very surprised if they didn't. Just look at their update on the KA-50. People still play FS2004, and that's almost 10 years old! After the Gulf, the AF re-prioritized the A-10, so I don't think it will be retired anytime within the next 15 years, so there's no fear there. Also, FC3 is using the same engine, so as far as it being better graphics-wise, it's not. Plus, what aircraft would you pick out of FC3 to model? And wouldn't you then have the same questions? So in summary, if you like the A-10, I personally would not see any obstacles concerning it sticking around. If you like a different aircraft, by all means use that one. Another option would be to simply make a pit like Smoky has and use it with Helios by Gadroc, then you would have the best of all worlds! :)

Very nice setup! Love the screen and the sound! Question. Just for curiosities sake, what's the Cylon looking LED bar in the background? A sharp looking man-cave that all would be proud of! :)

I've been wanting to try this since I got an Arduino startup Kit. Thank you. (And you too, Gadroc.)

Best easiest board I've used, and available in the UK, is Leo Bodnar's BUO36X. http://www.leobodnar.com. No matrix to worry about.

Looks like same IFF?

Looks great. Are they all Simmeter gauges?

Agree. I've got an Apple Trackpad on mine as Bootcamp comes with the individual drivers for it. I think Logitech's would be just as good, plus it's black and would fit right in. In fact, I think I just talked myself into one! :doh:

No, not quite. Though I'm always looking around for ones like that, that don't cost an outrageous price. The ones I'm thinking of look like this, so they have this effect: (Anyone know how to make the pictures as thumbnails instead of full size??)

Very nice! Are the backplates also made from plexi?

I use all my really cheap toggles on the panels that are either non-functional or not used that often. (IFF, EFCP, etc.) Otherwise, Linden has set me up pretty well in nice switches. Don't mean to hijack, but anyone know of what I could use to "replicate" the look of magnetic switches? (And I'm assuming they're only the mag switches.) They have an orange boot that can be seen between the switch and panel.

Crap. I'm really sorry. Just saw you didn't want to get into a conversation about pricing, and what do I do? I apologize. Please disregard.

Tiger, it's worth whatever you think it is. And I will pay. Don't fall into the trap that only people will buy it if it's only priced at a dollar. Problem is, there is no demo for apps, and no one wants to pay $30 or $40 for an app that you find doesn't work for you. I like the iap for different aircraft idea. It works well (for me,) like the app called tapCheck. Great app, use it every day. Runs through checklists out loud for you, and supposedly is in development to listen for your confirmation instead of having to press a button. It's like being with a co-pilot. "Ground safety," "Observed." "Log book," "Check" etc... Perhaps you could have a stripped down "demo" for really low price and an iap for any aircraft, including a-10C? just a thought, but looking forward to it!

Ummm... Yeah! I knew that. :music_whistling: Actually, that's good to know. Looks like I have 4 new fasteners. And I thought I was being clever. ;) Dropship, thanks for the ideas. Looking forward to watching you finish your build. *off topic side note: DM, I think you you ought to have a PayPal donate link on your personal profile so that people (like myself) who have learned from your knowledge can at least buy you a beer every once in awhile! Cheers! :beer:

Huh. I've never seen the cup washer. As a line mechanic for many, many years, I got very used to the dzus system. I used the old countersinking a stand-off for the AHCP panel. Now that I'm on the side rails, just thinking how simple it would be to be able to put the panels in quickly with dzus instead of alternative.

Nice Dropship. Curious, and your free to disregard of course, but where did you happen to get your dzus rail? I've been on the lookout for railing and fasteners, but can't seem to find a supplier.

Absolutely, I agree wholeheartedly. Incredible detail and very nice.

Very nice! Your stick support, is that working alright for you? Just curious if it was sturdy enough for a lot of action.

Great looking seat! The ejection handles, they too are made from wood? Fantastic.

That made me smile. You'd be surprised how the pilots would dislike us mechanics standing on their seats! Of course, occasionally having hydraulic fluid on the boots didn't help any. Oh how Skydrol can burn after awhile! :cry:

Interesting bit on the EL wire. Curious, if you implement, please post pictures! I'd like to find out how to daisy chain them, and how you would hook them up to an inverter. I can't imagine using a battery inverter, (which is all I have seen,) as power. I had thought of using EL squares with my panels, but was unsure how to wire them all together with the inverter. For that matter, I didn't know if you needed one inverter per panel, or square, or if you could find a single inverter card with multiple outlets - kind of like a PhidgetLED for EL. The EL squares I found are only white. They are approx. 71mm x 56mm. They were pretty cheap at $1.35 USD at AllElectronics. They work great with ~100VAC though!

My son seems to think that he can push one throttle forward, pull one throttle back, and be able to do a 180 flat spin to turn around. :lol: That would be pretty cool, but... :music_whistling: I suppose it's kind of like in Top Gun. "I'll just hit the brakes, and he'll fly right by."

Well, a bad connection would be better than a bad sensor or something. I too would just link the throttles, but the only problem I see with that is engine starting. I don't think I've ever split the throttles in the game. They run pretty much even with each other. Leads me to wonder, does the engine controllers automatically sync the engines? I've seen it both ways, auto and manual where you flip a switch to sync... (man it's been a long time...) the first stage fan? Just so the sound doesn't drive you batty.

Oh, and thanks for the idea about the bracket, Pete. I've also been wondering if I should get a project box or simply leave the board out, maybe some stand-offs and fasten it straight to the side. But the bracket looks great to separate and support the wires. (The ones on the right, are they Ethernet wires? Just curious.)

Huh. The pin idea is pretty interesting. Maybe I'll try that first before switching to a larger wire. I've got a bunch of pins left over from my AMT days. Thanks for the idea Duck!