Essential DIY cockpit panels??

[Stringer52]

I've set a goal to really get to know the Viper in DCS. I'm also getting into 3d printing and some doing some DIY panels using the Arduino and DCS-BIOS.

I was just wondering if anyone can suggest a short list of panels you feel are essential to have at my fingertips while flying?

I don't see the point in replicating all the panels, particularly not those accessed only on the ground, such as during startup, raising and lowering canopy, et.

I'm sure I'll figure it out once I'm airborne, but I'm interested in hearing the community's ideas.

Thanks in advance.

 

John in Indiana

[darkman222]

Depends on how much work and money you want to put into it.

I have a VR setup and for regular daily combat operations I need:

 

an F16 winwing hotas 100 % of the time

The ICP 70% of the time

The right and left MFD 40% of the time

 

Rest is optional, and a waste of money

I did not print or build anything by myself, I bought winwing hotas , simgears ICP, Thrustmaster MFDs. You can try to build it yourself, but  I doubt that this will work as flawless as the purchased hardware.

So far it was worth every penny I spend on it and I can highly recommend all of the above.

If the new winwing ICP is good... Seems so, watching test reviews...

 

Edit: I attached a picture of my setup. Everything is mounted with monster tech table mounts also the throttle which is not in the picture.

What I am saying is, really consider if it's worth creating everything by yourself when you can buy it and it will work right out of the box. As you seem you want to have a rather functional desk pit than having a cockpit replica or parts of it.

Edited December 30, 2023 by darkman222

[Stringer52]

Yeah, I;m really of the same mind. I've built panels for other sims, but I always begin to realize I'm doing more building and tinkering than flying. Also, I simply get tired of all the wires and stuff entwining the computer desk. A 2D setup is fine for practicing, but with my 4090 card and Reverb G2, VR is the  way to go.

I have the Winwing Viper HOTAS, and that seems to be enough in VR. And I have the old Thrustmaster MFDs attached to a small second monitor that work well in 2D. I'm having a really hard time resisting ordering the Winwing ICP because it looks so cool.

Besides, reaching for the mouse and manipulating those great in-game cockpit panels can't be any more time-consuming than reaching for all the switches mounted to the desk. And I never lose situational awareness in VR.

I firmly believe less is more and prefer not being stuck to one plane, or sim. I have the Tobii, but for some reason headtracking in 2D just never did it for me.  Those elaborate cockpits some have built do look cool, but then they have small monitors that would kill it for me. To each his own, I suppose. 

This is my setup I built strictly for the Viper. The desk behind it is where I attach the Honeycomb stuff for other sims and a second monitor for Navigraph. All are removable so the desk can be cleared for 3D designing, printing and other stuff. When I fly the Viper, I simply place the monitor and rudder pedals on the Viper. Very modular and with minimal mess.

Here's the flip side. I've even attached an old Logitech throttle quadrant to the side of my chair for helicopters. I just remove the Honeycomb Alpha and clamp my old joystick for copters or Spitfires.

All very quick-change.

Edited December 31, 2023 by Stringer52

[Eldritch972]

I have also a mostly purchased setup with Winwing HOTAS and Thrustmaster MFD's, but I recently built an ICP from this setup here: https://martijnve23.github.io/F16-ICP/ 

It works perfectly and with a custom 3d printed bracket it attaches nicely to my desk, so I can strongly recommend this build if you have a 3D printer.

null

[darkman222]

Both of your setups look already amazing as desk pits.

I am flying the viper 90% of the time, every other aircraft is adapted with the button binds to the F16 logic. Which works surprisingly well.

If I were you, I'd go for an ICP and that's it. You'd tend to use the ICP much more often than the MFDs. It's worth the money.

Flying in VR only I must say the simgears ICP is great, because the housing gives the exact same feel as it looks in the jet. And the form and gaps at the side of the housing gives me an instant idea where my hands are at. Maybe that's a downside for the winwing ICP. Also as I am in VR I don't see the DED display anyway.

( I know it's built after the block 60 F16s ICP with DED on top, but we don't have that f16 in in any simulator at the moment)

Edited December 31, 2023 by darkman222

[Stringer52]

Great job on the ICP.

I took a look at the 3d printing project and had to chuckle .... there was a day when I would attempt something like that; however, at my age (71, longtime retired, widowed, kids grown, downsized house) I can afford to simply buy  anything I want.  But I feel feel sort of done at investing much more in this hobby.  Although the Winwing ICP is almost too good a deal to pass up.

I've been flightsimming since the days when our only choice of aircraft was the Wright Flyer and everyone was just beginning to ask, "What's a polygon?" In fact, just today I packed up my Honeycomb stuff after a short flight in MSFS after the realization that it had gotten kind of boring, except for flying the MD500 in VR. But flights in a GA? I think I'm done with that.

So many of the hobbies I had counted on to carry me into retirement, some of which I had been doing since childhood, have simply played out and I don't want to do them anymore.

So, I think I'll just stick to what I have and make the best of it. Besides, I need to focus if I ever to hope to master even a small part of DCS and the Viper.

[darkman222]

As you like. I am not affiliated with simgears. But they even use the original Otto dobber switch from the real jet. That's why the pro ICP is so expensive.

You don't know what you're probably missing

Go ahead and see how much time you want to put into learning the viper. If you see that you like the viper you can re consider shaping your hardware more towards it.

Edited January 1, 2024 by darkman222