My Monstertech F/A-18 VR simpit

[D0rmicum]

Everything started with a Monstertech FlightStand with pedal extension:

Monstertech Flight Stand

 

After adding severalprofiles and a seat, today it looks like this:

 

 

Side stick will be shifted to a center mount stick once I'm curageous enogh to cut into my seat. After that I can move the right console to the correct height and position. UFC and MFDs are still too low and will be changed with the center mount stick as well.

The helicopter stick is a stand alone solution currently and just plugged in when used.

 

 

 

 

Any comments welcome. Hope the pics work as my old hosting service has doubled the fees and I had to check another solution.

Edited June 18, 2020 by D0rmicum

[streakeagle]

That looks really nice! The metal frame makes it look sturdy but clean. I see everything you need to fly any aircraft in DCS. The center panel with the MFDs and comms is what I need to do.

[sirrah]

Very nice and compact setup there :thumbup:

[Fusedspine33]

I tried several different size stick extensions before finding this one from Virpil. I was convinced that cutting into my chair was going to be the only solution. The curve and length allows me to place the base lower than the seat bottom and it provides full deflection without unnatural/uncomfortable body movement.

 

 

https://virpil-controls.eu/vpc-flightstick-extension-200mm.html

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Cake]

Sounds interesting, but I cannot see any of the pics.

[D0rmicum]

Sounds interesting, but I cannot see any of the pics.

 

Thanks for the info - seems there was a problem with my pichoster. Using another one and hope it works now

 

@Fusedspine33: thanks for the heads up! Have this one as well but never tried it so far. Will check if it helps!

[Mr_sukebe]

What’s the control box on the right? That’s very smart looking

[D0rmicum]

What’s the control box on the right? That’s very smart looking

That's the Tekcreations hornet right replica panel. Very nice panel! There are some others available on the site as well:

Tekcreations Controllers

[Cake]

Thanks for the info - seems there was a problem with my pichoster. Using another one and hope it works now

 

@Fusedspine33: thanks for the heads up! Have this one as well but never tried it so far. Will check if it helps!

 

I'm glad you did because this is awesome and super helpful.

 

I looked at the Monstertech website, and it looks like you have way more than the basic package with rudder extension.

 

I like the idea of setting this up as an exclusive use system that is in an unused space and not part of a traditional desk. With my RIFT on the fritz, I have been doing more track IR while waiting for my reverb gen 2, but I guess I want a system that supports both Track IR and is VR friendly. Maybe a little more VR focused, so I likely won't have all of your other cool goodies.

 

I think I am stuck at the stage of determining the seat first. I've been shopping online, and it strikes me as very odd that almost all cockpit / gaming chairs have side bolsters to make them look like race car seats. No lateral {yaw} g-force in a home cockpit so I think this is counter to good function. From real ejection seats to small airplane seats, side bolstering is minimal if non existent.

 

I've looked online at possibly buying a surplus ejection seat for a base, but am kind of thinking I'm more concerned with comfort. Seems like the ultimate would be a fully adjustable pilot seat from a mid sized or larger business jet {or small airliner) but this stuff is hard to find. Maybe a Herman Miller chair...? I dunno. Can't make a decision.

 

A couple of questions on your setup.

 

1. What exactly did you order as far as Monstertech stuff? Seems like you have a lot of extras from the pictures.

 

2. For the rudder pedals...

a. Which pedals do you have?

b. Where do you rest your heels? Seems like they should be on a flat floor but there is none in your setup?

 

3. Which seat are you using? Yours seems to have much less emphasized side bolsters (good) and how is the lumbar support?

 

Your set up really stands out as functional to me. THANKS!

[streakeagle]

Those pedals are clearly from Slaw, which I don't have but understand are absolutely the best you can get for air combat simming.

 

That style of pedal puts the arch of the foot resting on the pivot axis with the heel resting on the floor. You can see the rails holding the pedals are more or less centered on the pedals, so the heel can slide on those if you aren't comfortable with having the weight of your foot on your arch on the pedal.

 

Real aircraft that have pedals like this typically have wear marks on the deck from heels sliding back and forth on them.

 

Edited June 22, 2020 by streakeagle

[D0rmicum]

A couple of questions on your setup.

 

1. What exactly did you order as far as Monstertech stuff? Seems like you have a lot of extras from the pictures.

 

2. For the rudder pedals...

a. Which pedals do you have?

b. Where do you rest your heels? Seems like they should be on a flat floor but there is none in your setup?

 

3. Which seat are you using? Yours seems to have much less emphasized side bolsters (good) and how is the lumbar support?

 

Your set up really stands out as functional to me. THANKS!

 

Hi Cake

 

Sorry for my late reply but had some real life issues during the last weeks, getting better now. Here my inputs to your questions:

 

1. I started with the Monstertech Flight stand including the pedal extension. Additional to this I'm using a customized base for the seat (manufactured by Monstertech), an additional Warthog throttle base for the right console, four MFD holder (one left, one right, two center), some connection plates, etc. Everything was ordered at Monstertech. Was cheaper than trying to get everything from local vendors. I've just cut one profile from the original stand in two pieces. If you'd like to have a kind of a shopping list, I can try to create one.

 

2. As streakeagle has already posted, I'm using the Slaw Device RX Viper pedals and love them!! Best pedals I've had so far and don't expect to change them. Currently my heels are resting on the alu-profiles but I've already a metal sheet in work to cover the space between the two beams. Wood could work as well.

 

3. The seat was a big problem as I had the same issue you've mentioned and ended up with the Playseat Revolution (seat only):

Playseat Revolution

It's even foldable and rests on a rail that is turned 180 degrees (have to grab the handle behind the seat but in front it would have interfered with my (planned) center stick solution. Still need to cut out a part of the seat. Lumbar support is OK but it's not the most ergonomic chair. It's a pretty stiff seat but I like that. Overall I can sit the whole day without bigger problems but a real car chair might be the better solution. It's crazy but finding a good sim chair with low side bolsters was impossible and as I had no chance to get an affordable car seat in good quality I decided to go for the playseat as I found a new seat only (someone wanted a "real" racing chair and sold the included seat alone).

 

Let me know if you've any additional questions.

[DutchCoolHand]

 

Hi Cake

 

Sorry for my late reply but had some real life issues during the last weeks, getting better now. Here my inputs to your questions:

 

1. I started with the Monstertech Flight stand including the pedal extension. Additional to this I'm using a customized base for the seat (manufactured by Monstertech), an additional Warthog throttle base for the right console, four MFD holder (one left, one right, two center), some connection plates, etc. Everything was ordered at Monstertech. Was cheaper than trying to get everything from local vendors. I've just cut one profile from the original stand in two pieces. If you'd like to have a kind of a shopping list, I can try to create one.

.

Yes, I would like a list, I went to the monster tech website and looked at the flight stand and the pedal extension but it does not get close to what you have. I wish their framer builder would work. I like the smaller foot print of your setup