P-51D cockpit build

[Raceguy]

Hi guys

I have been following the great builds on this forum for quite a while and it inspired me to make my own pit. We recently retired and moved to Florida so now I have the time to build mine. This is converted from a racing pit I used for online racing for about 10 years.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank

Ed

AKA Raceguy or in air combat as The Target

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ThorBrasil]

Very nice! +1

[hansangb]

I think you forgot the monitors! :) Very nice, Raceguy. Quite impressive. Best of luck.

[Raceguy]

Thanks guys

 

@hansangb. What do I need monitors for? Oh yeah, the flying stuff... :thumbup:

 

There is a 27 inch monitor behind the MIP which you can see better in the pic below. A 32 inch monitor (or larger, still negotiating with the wife) will be mounted near the edge of the black paint on the cowl.

 

Take care

Ed

 

[romeokilo]

Outstanding!

 

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[javelina1]

Very nice work! looking great!

[hansangb]

Looks awesome, indeed.

[BHawthorne]

That instrument bezel looks great. Good build quality.

[Raceguy]

Thanks guys. Just to be clear I have made all of the parts except the MIP instrument bezel, radio (real WWII radio from eBay) and real WWII era O2 indicator and pressure gauge shown below.

 

I was looking into the components for the MIP when I found a company in New Zealand that makes them for flight simulator companies. Here is their site. http://www.ruscool.co.nz/index.html

 

We traded emails and dimensions and I decided to have them do that component. I am very pleased with their work.

 

Take care

Ed

 

 

 

 

Edited March 21, 2016 by Raceguy

[Hansolo]

That one awesome looking pit you got there. Keep up the good work :thumbup:

 

cheers

Hans

[_Acoustic_]

Very nice. Thanks for posting!

[Raceguy]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the comments.

 

Not much to show for my shop time today. Most of the time was spent adjusting the fit of the sides and windshield to the main unit. However I did test fit the selector dimmer controls and dash lights. Also, my oxygen hose arrived and it fits the O2 regulator just fine.

 

 

 

[Raceguy]

Hello everyone

I got tired of waiting for the Florida winds to drop to a level where I could spray paint the components without getting more paint on me than the sim. So I bought a custom acrylic color and rolled/brushed the paint. Still got some on me but being acrylic it washed off quickly.

Here are the pics.

Thanks for looking

Take care

Ed

 

Right side

 

 

 

 

Left side

 

 

 

Full view

 

[Pikey]

Work of art, it's beautiful. Congratualtions! Always amazed by the handicraft talent here.

[Raceguy]

Thanks Pikey

 

Not much is happening in the shop with spring arriving in Florida and yard work to be done. In the last few days I did spend some time on the flare gun slot.

 

I’m sure this will be a part that I use everyday to let my crew chief know that I need more refreshments. Of course the first time I do this I will need to add bullet holes to the side of my sim to show where she shot me down!

 

Thanks for looking

 

Ed

 

Here are the parts I gathered for this build. I had already started shaping the MDF for the front and back plates. The elbow may or may not be used to mount the component to the frame.

 

 

 

Almost completed component.

 

 

 

Quick update. The flare gun storage bag was just delivered.

 

Edited April 4, 2016 by Raceguy

[dcshobbis]

Awesome work. You truly show that spending time on details will give you the best outcome possible. Smart way to Bezel the screen also. Keep it up! This I will follow :-)

[slowhand]

No kidding what a great job!!! thx for sharing :thumbup:

[hansangb]

meh...I could do way better (but only IN MY SLEEP!!! LOL) Major kudos!!! Can't wait to see your progress.

[Raceguy]

DigitalEngine

 

It's been a busy week but I will post some suggestions for your build when I get a few things caught up around the house.

 

Last Tuesday we went to the Sun "N Fun Air Show in Lakeland Florida. The weather was so great we went back on Saturday, it's only an hour from our home, and I got to meet Col. Bud Anderson. A very gracious gentleman. He signed my Old Crow Mustang shirt.

 

Take care

Ed

 

 

 

 

[BHawthorne]

So far, this has to be the most interesting simpit project I've seen in the last few months. I like it that you've picked something not everyone else is doing. Following the path least traveled seems rewarding.

[Raceguy]

Hi DigitalEngine

 

Thank you for your patience in my getting back to you. My crew chief keeps finding non aviation things for me to do!

 

The first thing I can tell you about pit building is that it is a never ending process. When you think you are done you will find another change or function that is a must have to make you happy. But, it is a rewarding process.

 

Where to start? Well, you have already identified some key items:

What plane to build?

HTC Vive will be used

You want all controls functioning and correctly placed

You want force feedback and vibration

Where will this pit be placed?

 

For the specifications you have several options for the Mustang. Plans are available from several sources on the NET. Please note that the qualities of these plans are not always great. They are from the original NAA plans but are microfilmed and not all sets are complete. The set I purchased has 12,500 prints and about 80-85% are readable due to the quality of the process in the 1940’s. I have learned that another set contains 16,000 plans but I do not know the quality.

 

A friend is also building a Mustang and he is using information from the AIRCORPS Library. This is a service where you pay an annual fee then have access to a searchable database. You can order prints for the components you need. I have heard the quality and quantity of prints are very good. I wish this had been available when I started.

 

Have a budget then multiply that by X to get to the actual cost. Time on the project is something else that will expand more than you can imagine. I am retired and have been working on this a little over a year. Not 40 hours a week but I am amazed at the amount of time I have on this project. I have spent time researching the plane, contacted others that are building or have built pits in the past for suggestions and ordered parts. And ordered MORE parts.

 

I hope this helps and gets you thinking about your project. There are a LOT of talented people on this forum that are willing to share. Just ask. When you begin your build start a topic and post your progress so we can all enjoy your pit!

 

Take care

Ed

[Raceguy]

Hello everyone

I hope you are all doing great.

Here is a quick update to show what I have been working on recently. I have all of the switches installed in the components but not wired. Next I will make and install the labels then it’s time to fire up the soldering gun and start making connections.

Thanks for looking

Ed

The first two pictures show the emergency canopy release. First you can see it in the stowed position. If you look closely you can see a small silver screw just barely visible in the red handle near the turquoise lever switch. The second picture is after the handle has been activated. The screw has made contact with the lever switch to activate the release of the canopy.

 

 

 

 

 

Here you can see the lever switch for both the canopy release and the canopy crank.

 

 

 

 

Next is a nice blurry pic of the canopy crank actuator. (I fired the photographer!) You can see the peg holding the shaft in the handle plate. The peg also makes contact with the lever switch when rotated. The sim crank turns 6 times to open the canopy but mine will only make a ¼ turn. When the handle is toward the back of the pit the canopy will be open. When pushed forward ¼ turn the peg makes contact with the switch and the canopy will close, I hope.

 

 

 

 

Here are two pics showing most of the right side components.

 

 

[RAZBAM_ELMO]

Hey race. Great update but unfortunately photobucket is preventing the pictures from being opened or linked.

 

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

[Raceguy]

Thanks Oberfeldwebel Elmo

 

I see the pictures but that could be due to being posted by me. Can anyone else confirm seeing or not seeing the pictures?

 

Thanks everyone.

Ed

[dooom]

i do not see any pictures either.