The Ikea pit (sort of)

[talisman]

No no, your not missing anything. I no longer need my keyboard and this is basically just a USB numberpad.

 

I was going to change the key designations in BS to make it work.

 

Just not sure if it will work yet :S

[CyBerkut]

Ah, OK. Well if it does work, you have a low cost solution. Just watch out for unintended consequences.

[talisman]

just had a quick test - and do you know what? It only bloody works.

 

I just assigned the commands to the associated "num" keys and all is well. Even the del key and the num lock keys work fine.

 

gotta print some labels now.

[Gadroc]

Nice find. I'll have to keep that in mind when I get to that panel.

[talisman]

OK i just threw this together tonight, its not brilliant and some of the varnish didnt dry clear, but hey - were immitating an old abused russion helo that wasnt made to look pretty - right?

 

 

This seems to have most of the functions that i ever use, i know you have to loose some of the buttons, but anything is better than nothing.

 

Also, i decided against turning it on it side. As a bonus, having the wayoint button over the original "Num lock" button - gives me a handy LED indicator when i press the button.

Edited December 20, 2009 by talisman

[G3]

great use of an ext usb number pad, good one :thumbup:

[talisman]

oh dear, i got bored again. That means that its time for me to take perfectly good panels and "improove" them, it also means that everyone has to eat at the kitchen table as i have the dining room one covered in crap.

 

 

That was the state of play as of 3 nights ago, as you can see its a proper mess, but it all tidied up now. Just trying to figure out how i had connected the switch matrox took a couple of hours head scratching.

 

 

This was yesterday evening, the new toggle panel is in place and its starting to come together.

The PSU in the back there is behind some accrilic and is used to power most of the pits accessories. It has more than enough juice to power panel lights, a monitor, and approx 20 indicator lights.

 

The cut down keypad PVI-800 can be seen on the top of the panel.

 

This is today - the panel is complete, i have added the extra lighting toggles and the Abris bittons. It does not have all of the functions - but it does have everything needed to start - fly - and kill. Because i have used accrillic sheets - each if the panels are now fully backlit.

 

This is a closup of the front panel. You will see a couple of switches that have odd names "Radios/Eject sys" is one of them.

 

These buttons have a number of keystrokes tied to them. then this button if flipped, all of the radio toggles and the eject seat arm toggles will be activated one after the other. This is a little macro of the startup procedure but keeps the number of toggles required down and makes it easier to fly.

 

The cheapo keypad on the top - sits in a recess and, i think - looks quite good. It works perfectly.

 

 

A little taster of things to come. The acrillic sheet on the left of the panel monitor will be the datalink panel. I cant go overhead - so the datalink and the counter measures will go in ither side of the 15" monitor.

 

Thats all for now folks.......

Edited January 11, 2010 by talisman

[Gadroc]

Very nice!

[talisman]

Thank you

[Ruahatu]

Hello Talisman,

First congratulation for your pit !!

I have a question for de Léo's card. Is it possible to communicate with de Sim about de state off the switch at de begining of the flight.

 

Other question, no need to do something in LUA files with this card ???

 

Thanks

Edited January 14, 2010 by Ruahatu

[talisman]

Greetings Ruahatu,

 

Thank you for your kind words.

The BU0836 cards do not know the state of the switches in the simulator, the cards only function as a "joystick button" and as such dont communicate with the simulator. I use a program called Xmapper which sends a keystroke to the simulator when a switch is flipped.

 

For example - if i hit the toggle for ground power - the Xmapper software first sends a keystroke for the switch cover - then the swith - then the switch cover. If i hit the toggle again, the same happens.

 

When first starting the sim - i have to make sure that all of the toggles are in the correct places before startup otherwise things can get confusing. I dont see this as a problem - because even if the simulator did know the positions - they would still all need to be reset anyway. I just hit pause first.

 

No editing of the LUA need to be done - full stop.

 

I hope this answers your questions :)

 

 

EDIT - Xmapper shoud read Xpadder!

Edited February 16, 2010 by talisman

[Ruahatu]

Thanks for your perfect answer.

[talisman]

Work continues............

 

 

Once again you all get to see the cup that supplies the wonder that is coffee.

 

I managed to finish the wiring on the right panel last night and installed the new blue back lighting. Its looking sexy now.

 

I have worked it out, im have now used approx 490 meters of wire and over 200 buttons, switches and diodes.

 

I have also gone through:

 

2 cutting mats,

 

2 band saw blades,

 

2 soldering irons,

 

and 5 packs of solder. eeep.

[Sokol1_br]

It looks like a fairly standard add-on number keypad, so I presume it would conflict with your main keyboard if you're thinking of just changing key designations in the DCS:BS options...)

 

 

Maybee HIDMacros help in this case.

 

http://hidmacros.medek.info/

 

Sokol1

[CyBerkut]

Maybee HIDMacros help in this case.

 

http://hidmacros.medek.info/

 

Sokol1

 

Nice find! I see he solved it another way, but that could help some folks.

 

:thumbup:

[Ruahatu]

Hello,

I have an oder question with the switch ON-OFF-ON for the Long-medium-short weapon mode switch.

 

How do you configure it with the Léo card??

 

Thanks and sorry for my englisch :music_whistling:

[talisman]

hello there, for switches that have 3 or more functions i simply use a push button and press it several times.

 

You could however just use a 3 position 3 pole switch with a different function for each pole.

[talisman]

So this evening i finally finished the pit! Or at least this version of it. :D

 

New panel on the right and the two new panels between the main screen. My cyclic is weight balanced so itstays where i put it - thats why it looks a little off balance.

 

 

My new unnunciator panel, illumatates as i go through the startup sequence.

 

 

Images shows the innunciator panel. This panel also has the counter measures functions included. The panel for instraments and the datalink panel are to the left.

 

 

The almost finished pit, its generic in nature but still has every function of the blackshark. I just need to sort out back lighting for the other panels and we are all done!

 

A big thanks goes to my wife - who not only puts up with my hobby, but even paid for over a hundred toggles and buttons and bought me 2 of leos boards for my christmas.

 

Guys if you EVER need advice then take this - Buy your wife her own computer - and then World of Warcraft - sometimes i dont see her for days!

Edited January 22, 2010 by talisman

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

Yes on the computer but I don't want my wife posting craigslist ads selling herself for ingame gold! ROFL!

 

Hell she gets her own PC just so mine stays untouched! You'd be amazed all the problems face-book and Myspace cause my simming computer!

 

Great set up Talisman hope you enjoy flying it after all the work that goes into it!

[walker450]

I just read your entire thread.... WOW!! Nice work!!

[talisman]

Thank you ever so much walker.....much appreaciated.

[talisman]

Just a quick update - Bought a set of Thrustmaster MFD displays - Pit now looks like this:

 

 

Its not exactly "like the original" but who cares? They light up, they sit in my new panel quite nicely and look bloody good. This now increases my button count by 56 and are brilliant for the sim.

What do you guys think?

Edited May 22, 2010 by talisman

[CyBerkut]

They look spiffy! For myself, I would want to display other things inside of those button rings... But pay that no mind. You've done amazing stuff, and you should go as you see fit! *Very* cool!

[talisman]

Ohh any ideas - what i would love to to is export the data and use different gauges - like the 737? If you get my meaning.

 

Basically i would love to have the knowledge to create something like BSVP and change the gauges to make a more modern feel to the shark. Basically the same info but a little updated.

 

I was anlo thinking about using touchpal to create a screen that would fit with the MFDs. If i had the knowhow i would like it to show the status of the autopilot stab lights, ekcran, and unnunciator panel. Even the stores remaining tab. I like the gauges but the huge impact of them on the frame rate makes them almost impossable to use unless im displaying them.

 

Is there a tutorial or how to about making/editing touchpal profiles? Im not adverse to learning?

[71st_Mastiff]

My actual original IKEA cockpit. I reinforced the pit with oak paneling on the back ground to make it more sturdy during the earth quakes. I just finished it yesterday to have a 5.3 magnitude to test it out and it faired well, although its wasn't the very strong one we had in April 9th.