F-14 Cockpit and instrument dimensions

[AusMumbles]

Heya Gents,

Hope you are all doing well.

Quick photo of the latest slow progress. 

I've got the skin on the right side and some of my prototype 3d printed parts attached to the MIP.

Cheers,

Mumbles

[RustBelt]

How long did it take to 3D print that collie? 

[Chronocidal]

Looking good!  I'm curious, what do you intend to use for the headrest?  The foam on the back looks cut into a curve at least.

I'm aiming more for comfort with the version I'm building, so we'll see how that works, but my plan is basically to build up the seat back, and then make what essentially amounts to an armless jacket that will go over the seat back, wrapping around it over the shoulders and fastening in the back with a tie-down.  Then I can just decorate that cover with the details on the actual seat if I want to, or add more padding on the inside if needed.

[AusMumbles]

Hey Chronocidal,

The headrest is being 3d printed as a plug then possibly fibreglassed. I initially was intending to use my hot wire foam cutter to make a foam and fibreglass piece like the backrest. Cutting it to get the curves right is a bit to difficult for me to accomplish.

I like your cushion idea, I'm just fabricating up cushions like the real jet. 

Mumbles

Edited July 4, 2022 by AusMumbles

[Chronocidal]

Printing might be a good option actually, I do have a decently large printer.  My first idea was just to screw a couple of wedge blocks to a board and screw it in place, then wrap it with padded cloth, keeping it removable to be easily washed.

I almost think it would be interesting to get something like a large block of balsa, and just sand it to shape, but that sounds like too much work.

[Uxi]

This guy did a few panels.  
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5179447

Hoping he does more....

[LeBryce]

Hi guys i am planning on finsihing up my f14 cockpit that i have already started on and i have a few questions it would be so kind if you guys could help me out.

So my first question is how to make it so that when i flip a switch the vdi and hsd can turn on,btw i am not connecting it to the dcs game as of now. If anyone could help me out that would be great.

,LeBryce

[RustBelt]

Well if the goal is for the switch to both turn on the actual screen, AND send the action input to DCS. You want to get a double pole single throw switch for the VDI and HSD. One pole (or side) connecting to the screen power, and the other pole connected to the DCS interface. 
 

Two individual isolated switch signals in one physical switch.

 

if the screens are simple you just switch the dc power from the power supply. If they’re too smart for their own good you’ll need to make a little ground pulse from a 555 timer. When the switch closes that is wired parallel or in place of the screens on switch.

Edited August 31, 2022 by RustBelt

[LeBryce]

The real problem is i dont know how to make a screen show what i want it to. I really dont know how to just make a screen show a vdi or a hsd.

 

,Lebryce

if there was some type of youtube link someone could provide me so i could learn how to program/code the screen to show what i want it to that would be helpfull

 

[RustBelt]

See that’s a whole nother thing your asking. For DCS integration you use Helios to create the export window and position it to the screen space of the display. If you look up DCS HELIOS external displays you’ll find heaps. I do this now just on a second display below my main monitor. But the principle is identical. All the monitors are treated as one big “screen space” and helios does all the sorting out where each monitor exists in the screen space, and allows you to send different stuff different places and it does all the coordinate figuring. 
 

Not connected to DCS you could use a Raspberry Pi to feed a still image of the screen onto the cockpit display. Although, that’s a bit….boring when you can just run DCS through it. 
 

The home cockpit section here that’s now hopelessly buried in the new forum layout has all the secrets! 
 

https://forum.dcs.world/forum/181-home-cockpits/ 

Edited September 1, 2022 by RustBelt

[LeBryce]

Thanks my man youve been a big help

 

[LeBryce]

Is there a certain lcd screen that is recommended to buy to fit the hsd and vdi length?

 

[RustBelt]

5 hours ago, LeBryce said:

Is there a certain lcd screen that is recommended to buy to fit the hsd and vdi length?

 

No because they’re both different sizes, if you notice the MFD is taller than it is wide by more than 4:3 but less than 16:9. Either stack one monitor behind both screens and put both exports on it, or you’ll be buying some weirdo specialty display from lilliput or somewhere to find both fits. 

[LeBryce]

Sorry for all the questions but i have one more and that is how can i put the lettering on my 3d printed panels that i made?

[AusMumbles]

Heya mate,

It kind of depends on what kit you have access to and what your current panels look like now.

Did you model the letting as part of the panel and looking for painting tips or did you want to apply letting to a panel with nothing on it?

[LeBryce]

12 hours ago, AusMumbles said:

Heya mate,

It kind of depends on what kit you have access to and what your current panels look like now.

Did you model the letting as part of the panel and looking for painting tips or did you want to apply letting to a panel with nothing on it?

I was wanting to do the lettering to the panel with no engrave in it

[Lt_Jaeger]

You should maybe do raised "engravings" and change filament after the final panel layer. 

That would look like this

[LeBryce]

it does look good however i do want to sand it down to were i cant see any panel lines, that would be a real issue if i were to do a raised ingravings.

If i may ask how were you able to do the raised ingravings/what software or extension did you used to do the letters like that?

[RustBelt]

You either have to engrave or emboss unless you have a multi head printer. Or you have to look at a post process like silk screening, printed waterslide decals, stickers etc.

Or go all in and make laser cut clear acrylic painted and etched on top of aluminum sheet panels with back lighting. 
 

engraved would be the most ideal, as you can sand the surface, then fill in the letters. Make it print about 2-3 layers deeper than your surface.

Edited September 6, 2022 by RustBelt

[LASooner]

Started printing out the right side panels this weekend, I had hoped to do some sanding and painting on the left side, but it was so stinkin hot. Currently printing the light control panel
 

 

[LeBryce]

Thanks for your guys help, i will post some progress photos as soon as i can

[LASooner]

got the base panels done and started moving my electronics over, the top panels were going to be ready for engraving, but the clear coat cracked, so I'm going to have to sand and repaint, you can see I started on some of them already. There is to be faux wear and tear, but I want them clean for the engraving.

Edited September 20, 2022 by LASooner

[LeBryce]

Were or how were you able to get that throttle

[AusMumbles]

LeBryce, 

I reckon that's from https://throttletek.com/gf-14-throttle/

From a couple of the dudes in the F-14 fourms here, it's a bit of a hit and miss. LASooner might be able to give you some more recent data. 

Bout time I chucked an update in as well. 

Headrest just came off the printer.

Cheers,

Mumbles

[draconus]

1 hour ago, AusMumbles said:

You printed landing light too?!