Forming pit building group in CA for BS

[CAT_101st]

 

Ok here is the HSI and 2 next to it I dont have sizes for you. I would guss the lowere left is a 2" gauge

[Triggerhappy69]

like this?:thumbup:

 

dont know if the diametres are right, got no examples to make a good

gauge, made them 2".

also i cant read the text on the gauges aswell.

so if peeps have some good photos of these gauges i would be very happy

 

natco

 

 

Is this good?

 

 

[diveplane]

Hello guys,

 

Here is my first messages and I send to you some pictures of my Ka-50 simpit.

It's not finish yet, I am still waiting the windscreen from my carpenter !

 

For info, all the switches are not effective ( No IO-cars used !!). I have build this first cockpit only to be in a realistic environement. I use only two programable X-key

 

Enjoy

 

Razorback

 

PS : Sorry for my english !;)

 

wow great job on the cockpit

[CAT_101st]

Enjoy

 

Razorback

 

PS : Sorry for my english !;)

 

Dont care about your english as long as I know what you are saying.

 

Razorback Can you post the #'s for your dash. hight, with, the angels for the top........ I have built the arms (no switchs yeat) and added a 4" sub wolffer in each. Man they kick hard for 4". Wife came in to see where it was comming from. :thumbup: I just ran a thim off my Creative 4.1 140w system. the sub that came with the system never quite did it for me and culd never turn it all the way up. so I robbed some power for thes two speakers. Sory I dont have any pics of the speakers yeat.

print for the right side wall pannel. not every switch is labeled yeat. but a start.

acual size is 2208x662

 

One side (both are dun) and the square wall switch box. (not painted)

 

Just need the dash and a seet going to work on Joy stand next.

[Aeroscout]

Very nice.

 

As for me, I've started off with my seat. I decided not to go for absolute realism when building mine as i might drive myself mad, so I used an old wooden chair. The old cushions are gone, so I'm using 2 crap cushions and a blanket. (i'm going to be making my own cushions later.) I screwed in a joy stand to the front of the chair, and then made the left an right consoles for my mouse pad and throttle. It's then that I realized that the chair was not nearly as small as an F/A-18 ejection seat and thus the throttle and mouse would be uncomfortable to use as they were too far away. So I'm now going to have to re build the left and right consoles.

 

Some pics:

Cardboard mock up for panel

Uber book of fighter planes (those are paper MFDs I printed out)

Joystick stand

Crap chair with side panels that make it look a bit more like an ejection seat.

My little helper (she gets in the way sometimes...)

Side console

Side console with stuff on it (that's an old crap keyboard)

 

More to come, especially because I'm going to be changing a few things. Doesn't look like much now, but it will get better.

[rocketeer]

Since we are into prototyping, here's mine with foam board. No plexi sheet with lettering yet. Now it's just about dimensions and placement estimates etc.

 

HUD panel.

 

APU panel

 

The two control knobs are too small and I need to replace with bigger ones. I realized that I need to use generic knobs, as the some of the knobs in the KA-50 cockpit are very rare. Need to get a few illuminated square push buttons for this panel, then cover them 3/4 on the surface with yet to be determined english letters after I figured a way to translate the russian words on the switches.

 

Also, need to replace the toggle switch for the APU selector with a 4 way toggle like the cool one that triggerhappy is building! Good job buddy!

[CAT_101st]

 

update on my switch pannels.

 

 

Here is the 4"sub in the Arm section.

[G3]

guys this is some great work,

keep the progress pics coming, they are very inspiring.

[diveplane]

all your switches will be fully functional?

 

 

 

 

Since we are into prototyping, here's mine with foam board. No plexi sheet with lettering yet. Now it's just about dimensions and placement estimates etc.

 

HUD panel.

 

APU panel

 

The two control knobs are too small and I need to replace with bigger ones. I realized that I need to use generic knobs, as the some of the knobs in the KA-50 cockpit are very rare. Need to get a few illuminated square push buttons for this panel, then cover them 3/4 on the surface with yet to be determined english letters after I figured a way to translate the russian words on the switches.

 

Also, need to replace the toggle switch for the APU selector with a 4 way toggle like the cool one that triggerhappy is building! Good job buddy!

[CAT_101st]

WE are working together to come up with Ideas for certan thing and what is most important in this game. I want a fully working pit buy the end of it. I am going to use Hagstroms MODEL KE72. It goes inline with your keyboard, less chance to have problems like the USB cards have. And you can stack thim as long as the total leanth of your coard from PC to keyboard is less than 10 feet. That comes directly from a Hagstrom Rep.

 

Does anyone have dimetions on the main dash cutout that I can use? I would like a correct size.

[rocketeer]

all your switches will be fully functional?

 

Yes, when I can figure out what each of them does, either after BS is released, or if we get another producer's note with more info on the switches. Currently the switches are not connected to any wire yet. I'm just checking out the spacing between them and the dimension of the panels. Yet to add the APU switch and the thumb wheels and number dials for the UHF radio on the APU panel. We intend to replicate any many panels as possible.

 

Trigger, CAT and I can discuss about the dimensions and switches. but we'd be each using different IO cards for interfacing. So can't really help each other when we run into problems with the IO cards. I am now busy with making the frames. Forgot to check how trigger is doing on his thread.

[CAT_101st]

The work I have dun with the 4 way switch on the start pannel. Using TriggerHappys desine.

 

 

I could not find a switch lever to us so I made my own out of some aluminum I had laying around. I think I will make a sleeve to go on the out side of the bottom part of the shaft with a spring in it for the contact. I drilled and taped the top plate so no bolt would stick out. I used a 1/4-bolt will probably go to a 1/8 on next try.

[Aeroscout]

Like razorback's pit, mine will not be functional. While I may try to make some buttons work, this will only be a select few using the command pad on my saitek gamer's keyboard. Other switches my just turn on lights inside the cockpit. (Makes it look cool!)

 

If anyone knows an inexpensive, simple way to make buttons actually function, I'd love to know about it, but I can live with an "unfunctional" cockpit.

[rocketeer]

There are several relatively cheap input cards out there.

 

1. Try this: http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/joystick/

$35 plus shipping, gives us 32 buttons for a start.

I think it's the cheapest solution in the market. personally i haven't tried it, but heard about it from frugalsword forum.

 

2. Or this Utimarc APAC usb panel $39+ship.

http://www.rossmeeks.ca/?p=3

 

3. Or from desktop aviator

http://www.desktopaviator.com/Products/Model_2040/index.htm

 

4. You can also check out hagstrom's input cards, some usb, some ps/2 based.

http://www.hagstromelectronics.com/products/modules.html

Wiring their cards is easy, just tighten the wires with screws. coding it is also very easy for hagstrom cards. CAT is going to get the hagstrom KE72 for his cockpit. if you get the same, you guys can share experiences with each other. hagstrom cards are quite popular and proven, and support i heard is good.

 

don't make a cockpit just for display man. get some cheap IO cards and we'd help you out. it'd feel great when you get the toggle switches, push buttons, rockers etc. to work as programmed in your sim. these are simple ones. when are get familiar with them, then you can progress to using potentiometers, sliders or rotating type.

[Aeroscout]

Ok, thanks, I'll check them out! $40 sounds great!

 

EDIT: Someone's going to have to explain all this to me, as I'm hopelessly confused as to how to make it work, but I'll definitively have to do this.

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

Hi Rocketeer I thought I'd come say hello over here too. My name is Chris I live in Manteca, Ca (around Stockton/Tracy). I have plans to build a generic cross game pit for the likes of many upcoming titles like Jet Thunder, Black Shark, Storm of War, etc....... so I'm hoping to come up with a pit design to compliment a wide range of games. My current pit is very generic with no real bells or whistles just off the shelf products. I have nothing on paper just good/bad ideas. So without anymore delays here is my current set up minus the recently added buttkicker gamer and logitech z5500 speakers:

 

Here we go simpit in current config:

From the backside

Side View

Trackir Close up

Rudder Close up

Stick Mount Close up

Headset Track clip pro (only comms through headset, all other sound 5.1)

Close up with projector on

Back up of room size (8wx10L screen on shorter wall)

Projector on opposite mounted

 

[VMFA117_Poko]

Oh, I luv projectors. Nice pit. Simple but ergonomic. One thing disturbs - that pipe in the middle where you have mounted TrackIR.

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

lol I know it wasnt the best place but the thing is designed for monitor users and not very proj. friendly! Honestly though once in game and sitting down the pipe is only visible on the bottom 6-12 inches of the screen and after a few moments of playing your mind naturally blocks it out. I hope to come up with a backwards approach in the future by mounting the camera behind me and turning the track clip pro backwards on the headset.

 

I should also mention that with about 5-10mins of work I can take everything apart and set up a steering wheel/gas/brake pedals for racing action. Everything for the stick and throttle bolts on with wingnuts (though I need a wrench to get the sticks stand tight enough).

 

My longterm plans is to have a new pit enclosure with 100+ switches/rotaries and 4-5 trim wheels and a spot for a small monitor for future expansion. I hope to use a monitor, build a wooden bezel that splits the monitor into two sections and use it for radar, weapons monitor, gauges or a cover that has round holes for Il2 type gauges then another cover I can swap out with two sides for more modern sims. My main goal is to have a set up that doesnt need a keyboard/mouse (well the mouse isnt bad but keyboard has to go)!

[rocketeer]

EDIT: Someone's going to have to explain all this to me, as I'm hopelessly confused as to how to make it work, but I'll definitively have to do this.

 

catch me on msn and i'd explain to you. also, contact CAT to join his teamspeak team and we can chat from there. I'd also try to find some more links that will illustrate how IO cards work. Pots and output boards (for LED, 7 segment displays etc.) are more tricky. But simple switches on input boards are straightforward, as you will see later.

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

I'd love to get into the team speak group as well, Rocketeer! Is Cat another one of the local guys? In any case I'm going to commit some ideas to paper soon. I left you a message on the www.mycockpit.org board just in case you didnt see it. I also added your MSN name to my list so hope to see you on there!

 

Chris

[rocketeer]

His tag is CAT_101st. You'd see see him a few times in this thread. PM him to get setup on teamspeak. We talk to each other sometimes using that. I've just explained to Aeroscout on MSN about wiring the switches. When he gets his USB board, he'd be sharing his wiring experience too so you'd have one more chap on the group to talk to regarding this interface thingi from the IO board to the PC. When you get it going it'd be so fun in your sim..

 

When I finsihed my three panels my wife thought the switches look nice and too bad they were just for display. I told her they were functional and she didn't believe me till I gave a demo. She doesn't have any interest in flying, but because the functional switches make it seem more realistic, she actually considered trying a simple sortie in FSX one of these days with my help. To say the least she was impressed that I could make switches work for a game. That itself was rewarding. Suddenly my hobby doesn't seem so stupid after all. She thought the whole fuss with panels and switches was just for a mockup cockpit.

[joey45]

how do you get comms through the headset?

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

How to get comms thru headset?

 

I get comms thru the headset in a pretty simple way. I have an Xfi sound card and logitech USB headset. I use the X-fi for all sounds and then by right clicking the volume icon in the system tray and selecting "adjust audio properties". From there select the voice tab and set voice playback/recording to the logitech headset (or USB sound device). I also make sure all other settings are set to the Xfi card and in my ventrillo settings I make sure the input/voice options are set to the headset. I'm sure you've already figured out that you can only do this with USB headsets or sound devices. I'm not sure if they make them but a USB sound card with standard mic/headphone connections would probably work too if you have a headset you dont want to part with!

[joey45]

USB Headset.... ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo might invest in one of those...

[Aeroscout]

Umm... don't get a USB one, get one that has the generic pink mic jack. This way, you won't waste a USB port that you could use for something else.