rocketeer Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 I've been researching on the A-10C. Info for the A-10 is limited, especially the C version. Since I've been away for a year and missed out on building the Black Shark, I've decided to do the up and coming A-10C, which is my favourite plane in Lock On anyway. Buying the Modern Hog Guide really helps. Currently I have limited space till I move next month, so I can't build any pit. So I decided to focus on the components on the side panels, which is a lot of work, finding the knobs, 'inventing' some of my own, deciding on the angle (30 or 45 or 90 degress) and the number of positions for the rotary switches etc. I started by printing the panels and stick them on cheap cardboard as a prototype, to figure out the dimensions, layout, spacing etc. So this is what I have so far. I even have to put these two below the dining table for space. 1 My A10C cockpit thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ED Team Wags Posted December 25, 2009 ED Team Share Posted December 25, 2009 You need to remove the TVM control head behind the LASTE panel. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/wagmatt Twitch: wagmatt System: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=3729544#post3729544 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketeer Posted December 25, 2009 Author Share Posted December 25, 2009 Besides the print outs on the cardboard, I added a few toggles (most two positions, some are three position types), push buttons, a few knobs which have 30 degree rotary switch or potentiometer below them. I've ordered the 45 degrees rotary switches, which are the majority of rotary switches required. The cool thing is that these have many positions and are not fixed, you can set the number of stops easily. More detailed pics. My A10C cockpit thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketeer Posted December 25, 2009 Author Share Posted December 25, 2009 Hi Wags, good to hear from you. I thought the TVM is behind the LASTE panel. My A10C cockpit thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketeer Posted December 25, 2009 Author Share Posted December 25, 2009 My A10C cockpit thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ED Team Wags Posted December 25, 2009 ED Team Share Posted December 25, 2009 There is no TVM in the C model. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/wagmatt Twitch: wagmatt System: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=3729544#post3729544 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketeer Posted December 25, 2009 Author Share Posted December 25, 2009 Pardon my ignorance Wags, when you say TVM do you mean the panel highlighted in red below? My A10C cockpit thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketeer Posted December 25, 2009 Author Share Posted December 25, 2009 I followed the layout of the picture below, so the order looks right, unless you are talking about another panel. My A10C cockpit thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ED Team Wags Posted December 25, 2009 ED Team Share Posted December 25, 2009 Old and out of date image. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/wagmatt Twitch: wagmatt System: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=3729544#post3729544 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketeer Posted December 25, 2009 Author Share Posted December 25, 2009 Oh I see. That was from the released A-10C preview pictures several months ago, so I thought it was the most updated pit configuration. Wow, even that is outdated. Thanks for the info. I look forward to more updated pictures of the A-10C cockpit next year. My A10C cockpit thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_rcpilot Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 Dude, you're moving? I could almost smell the new house. lol Good work anyway. Even with an out-dated picture, you may still be able to figure out most of the components that you need in the pit. What solution are you going with for the gauges? Will you simply hide an LCD behind some frames or build a whole bunch of mechanical gauges? BTW, merry christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadman Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 The best reference you can use is the The Modern Hog Guide: The A-10 Warthog Exposed It will also show you the placement of the ACR/AN 210 radio control head that appears to replace one or both of the ACR/AN 186 Radio control head. This radio control head has not been in the ED A-10C screen shots and I am not sure if it has been included. It is hard to tell on some changes to the left side panel lay out because even though the book covers the C model the picture of the side panels are not head on but from and angel across the pit. Even with that said it is still the best reference on the A-10 C model https://www.shapeways.com/shops/a-10c-warthog-supplies https://forum.dcs.world/topic/133818-deadmans-cockpit-base-plans/#comment-133824 CNCs and Laser engravers are great but they can't do squat with out a precise set of plans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketeer Posted December 25, 2009 Author Share Posted December 25, 2009 I do have the book above. Alex, I do not have experience with mechanical gauges. So for now I'd probably use something like LOVP and use a monitor for the gauges. if I figure out the mechanical way or learn from one of the other guys I might do attempt this approach. As for the interface solution, currently I am leaning towards OC. Initially I thought of using Hagstrom for inputs, but looking at its keyboard emulator, pots and encoders cards, they add up to cost a lot more than OC's cards. Plus Hagstrom does not have any cards for handling outputs, just inputs. OC can do both pretty well. My A10C cockpit thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketeer Posted December 25, 2009 Author Share Posted December 25, 2009 Dude, you're moving? I could almost smell the new house. lol Hey buddy, merry christmas. I don't have the dough to buy a house. Just going to rent a bigger place across the street, partly so that I have my own garage, ie. workshop and space for a pit! Been renting two bed room apartments with small balcony is just not going to cut it for pit building. ;) My A10C cockpit thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hannibal Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 have been ready since sept... http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/753/simpit009.jpg find me on steam! username: Hannibal_A101A http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197969447179 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketeer Posted December 25, 2009 Author Share Posted December 25, 2009 Link is not working. My A10C cockpit thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAT_101st Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 Hay rocketeer good to see you back on the forums.. So where are you going to be moving to? I hope you get to enough room in the new house to build a full pit for your self. Home built PC Win 10 Pro 64bit, MB ASUS Z170 WS, 6700K, EVGA 1080Ti Hybrid, 32GB DDR4 3200, Thermaltake 120x360 RAD, Custom built A-10C sim pit, TM WARTHOG HOTAS, Cougar MFD's, 3D printed UFC and Saitek rudders. HTC VIVE VR. https://digitalcombatmercenaries.enjin.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hannibal Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 somehing was up with image shack.. all i did so far was mod the suncom split throttle with CH products pro throttle guts in conjunction with the F-16/A1-0C like fighterstick... hope to make MFDs when i get more details on how to proceed...software wise.. find me on steam! username: Hannibal_A101A http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197969447179 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_rcpilot Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 I do have the book above. Alex, I do not have experience with mechanical gauges. So for now I'd probably use something like LOVP and use a monitor for the gauges. if I figure out the mechanical way or learn from one of the other guys I might do attempt this approach. As for the interface solution, currently I am leaning towards OC. Initially I thought of using Hagstrom for inputs, but looking at its keyboard emulator, pots and encoders cards, they add up to cost a lot more than OC's cards. Plus Hagstrom does not have any cards for handling outputs, just inputs. OC can do both pretty well. Understood, OC solution all the way sounds good. Keep us updated with your progress. I can't help thinking how much trouble there will be when you move again with your pit.....stuff keep accumulating. I've got the same problem here with my rental, keeps me from buying large items all the time. Anyway, I know you'll work it out :D Speaking of MFD, how many MFD DIY solutions are there? I know there are some off-the-shelf models out there already, how do they work in conjunction with DCS? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketeer Posted December 25, 2009 Author Share Posted December 25, 2009 Cat, I'd still be in the same town. Alex, I think most people will use Thrustmaster's MFD. It has nice backlighting, same dimension as the real F-16's, but is a bit different from the A-10C's. And quality seems to be an issue. I read that many breaks down soon after a few days. My A10C cockpit thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_rcpilot Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 oops, that can't be acceptable. Anyway, my major concern is how it works with the simulator. Does it generate its built-in GUI to imitate the in-game image, or does it somehow acquire the real-time MFD image from the game? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_rcpilot Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 Went digging just now and found a manual for Thrustmaster MFD. Curious! The dazzling image on the "screen" is just a piece of printed plexiglass. I thought it was a lot more than a square LCD monitor. What a disappointment. Now it's just a good looking frame-shaped programmable keyboard to me. No it seems like using lua files to configure multi monitors is the only feasible solution for us gamers. A simulator uses up a lot of system resources to generate graphic output through graphics cards, I wish there would be a way of getting real-time MFD display through high speed USB or ethernet connections, but it sounds really impractical to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketeer Posted December 26, 2009 Author Share Posted December 26, 2009 Alex, look at this link. http://forum.virtualthunderbirds.com/viewtopic.php?t=3096 This guy put a small Samsung LCD screen behind the MDF frame and made the two look like one product. My A10C cockpit thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketeer Posted December 26, 2009 Author Share Posted December 26, 2009 That LCD screen is not tall enough to cover the top part of the MFD. I think he had some constraints making it vertical. I guess the best solution is find a more squarish LCD, if one exists. My A10C cockpit thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_rcpilot Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 I've got an LCD at the same size, 800X480 @ 7", except with a different interface. Judging by the snapshots posted by wags, the A-10C MFD looks much bigger than this LCD, i.e, bigger than Thrustmaster MFD. I think I would go with an 8.4 inch 800x600 display for the MFD. And build my own frame on top of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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