Deadman's A-10 C Cockpit Build

[agrasyuk]

Looked into it, seems perfectly functional (but no hands on exp) . Reason I am leaning towards arduino however is flexibility. IMHO having several independent devices that communicate over USB or network is better then one big IO device that lots of daughter-boards connect to.

[Deadman]

flexibility in what way ? Could you be more specific about about your selection of a USB system over the other thanks.

Edited July 2, 2014 by Deadman
clarity

[agrasyuk]

Flexibility - same off the shelf, freely available and inexpencive board can be configured to whatever combination of a inputs and outputs needed (within limitations obviously). UFC with ~30 buttons and one indicator? That's arduino Uno (bttns via matrix) . SAS with switches, analox axis and output? exactly same Arduino Uno can be used.

Not sure if important to you, but unlike PScockpit or OpenCockpit with aarduino there is no central IO master board that concentrates all the connections to switches/LEDs. To me this means reduced wiring complexity.

 

There are pros and cons for each approach.

[Deadman]

Hey Thanks for the information .Electronics and programing are not my strong points I am looking for a system that work with Mil spe switches mostly the Mags switches witch The PS cockpit system works with as well as encoders. So I think It may be time to start an inventory of what is needed Thanks again

[Deadman]

The grip connection is finally wired and the grip attached hopefully for more than a half hour. I got it all together and of course some thing was out of alinement so I had 1/4 inch in play it the roll axis took it apart raddled it a bit and all smooth now.

Inserting the connectors in to the housing never do this with only one tool

Tracing wires they all had to be pulled through several small access holes

 

A pick of my favorite old school A-10 pit

[Milli]

^^

That "old school A-10 pit" is simply amazing.

 

Regards,

Milli

[Deadman]

Thanks I finally took some time and put it all together a friend came by wile on vacation. I though it would be a bit better together instead of pointing at 6 boxes and saying well that is the simulator. Well his head nearly fell off he and his son both sat in the pit for a wile it would have been great to have it running but with a new computer and control boards and power supplies to purchase it may take a few more months.

[agrasyuk]

Looks as if it is a real thing. Oh wait a minute... Lol )

 

Wonder how is that reference document/book coming? While sim-room gets finished (drywall is up, mudded and sanded, awaiting primer) I'm modeling my new framework in sketchup, wondering what is the distance from the floor top of the instrument panel ends up.

 

Regards!

[Spyros]

A pick of my favorite old school A-10 pit

This cockpit is fantastic!

Now you only need a DCS level A-10A to go with it.

[MacFevre]

That is really incredible. Lucky friend! ;) I'm sure his wife wasn't nearly as impressed, but I bet his son enjoyed it as much as he did. Really great job putting all that together. Now let's find out what's in the rest of those boxes. :)

[Hempstead]

Flexibility - same off the shelf, freely available and inexpencive board can be configured to whatever combination of a inputs and outputs needed (within limitations obviously). UFC with ~30 buttons and one indicator? That's arduino Uno (bttns via matrix) . SAS with switches, analox axis and output? exactly same Arduino Uno can be used.

Not sure if important to you, but unlike PScockpit or OpenCockpit with aarduino there is no central IO master board that concentrates all the connections to switches/LEDs. To me this means reduced wiring complexity.

 

There are pros and cons for each approach.

 

 

If you really want flexibility.... you might wanna wait for my Hempstick controller firmware. Yes. I wrote the firmware last year. I don't design the electronics. I just use ready made boards that uses Atmel's ARM processors, like Arduino Due, and Atmel's SAM4S XPlained Pro. These are 32bit MCUs, up to 120MHz,

 

I have been using the predecessor version of this firmware for my CH rudder to work in TARGET for 2 or 3 years.

 

It contains a FreeRTOS, and is full Multi-Threaded, using interrupt based button/switch reading (unlike Arduino's dumb polling loop for reading sensors/buttons/switches wasting CPU cycles). It can do 1000 sample rate (max. USB Full Speed can do; some Atmel MCUs can do high speed USB, enabling even higher sample rate, but I doubt the utility of over 1000 reports per second). This leaves the MCU cycles free to do a hell lot more things, like reading TM Cougar/Warthog sticks (although I actually use an on die hardware module to read the stick without CPU cycles. ;-). If I have time, and am able to crack the damned protocol, maybe I will support controlling NeoPixels. The source code is up on GitHub, but the main web site is still not up yet.

 

If you are interested, keep an eye on http://www.hempstick.org. It will be up soon, as soon as I can make a bracket to mount the new rack mount server under one of my tables. ;-)

[Deadman]

Well the book is slowly coming along I took a several month break from the book and forms.

I have picked up a second job so i am working 60 hours a week.

My focus now is on making a list of panels and switches for the PS Cockpit system that is currently available and has had several years of use.

Mostly so i know what to purchase and because there is not one that I could find all ready made for the A-10C.

This will end up as a C model after what i spent on the F-16 C grip sold the B8 and modifying the stick here is no going back.

So I still need to modify the Main Instrument Panel make the bezels, New glare shield fire pulls,light plates and UFC.

Yada yada yada any way lots of stuff to build very little room, time and

money for tools I would love to get a cnc router and a laser to finish a few things ah well.

[Duckling]

Yada yada yada ? :-)

A -A and a -C instrument panel is a total respect DM! It an absulut beauty and the topmost part of the instrument panel i've never spotted for sale ever. A master piece. A true piece of history put together. Well done !

[Deadman]

Thanks Gus. I though you may like that shot. I picked up the glare shield some thing like 6 years ago. I rebuilt the right side of it so it does look peaty good now. I really just want it turned into a C but the A-10 Faerie just can't find the house Yada yada yada means i was talking to much.

Edited July 8, 2014 by Deadman

[Deadman]

Here is a copy of the spread sheet a remake of one that JShepherd posted for the F-16. It does not seam that any one else is interested yet

in the system. Witch is to bad Gus or any one else with card experiance pleas etake a lok any advice will be appreciated thanks

Edited July 10, 2014 by Deadman

[Deadman]

If the spread sheet just has three lines for you . Look to the left of each line you will see a + click on it the one lone should open to list all controled items in that area.

[agrasyuk]

Size of attachment is just 22 bytes. Did you by a chance forgot to put the actual file and into the archive?

[Deadman]

I re zipped the file and re up loaded it should be good now, no idea what happened to it

[Hansolo]

Hi DM,

 

Spead sheet works fine now, for me at least. Do you want to know how many inputs/outputs are needed?

I have attacked my list. It is far from complete. Mine is based upon using only one input for a e.g. ON-OFF switch. I would imagine that PS Cockpit can handle this as well and doesn't need one input for OFF position and one input for ON position.

If it is a complete list of I/O you need I can try and put my list into the spread sheet.

 

Cheers

Hans

Cockpit IO's.pdf

[Deadman]

HI Hans I have no Idea yet on the total inputs as far as I can tell with the each position of the switch does not need to be wired one can be programed as the off position in the Lua file. I want the list to be a complete I/O listing I should probally add more pages so that the wiring positions could all so be added in to one complete document.

I have not heard back from JSheperd as to what panels he currently has he will be making more shortly

[Deadman]

Well I got a few things done today I cut out a bit of cross support that was limiting the adjustment of the ACES II cleaned up and added the Restraint Emergency Release Handel.

 

The Firing Control Safety Lever and switch

 

And The Inertia Reel Locking Lever

 

Tomorrow I will try and get the correct size hard ware for the ejection handles locally if I can not i will order on line. I still need to figure out a switch for the ejection handles

[JCook]

Thanks for posting those pictures. With the cover plates removed it is easier to see the construction of the seat's angled parts.

[Deadman]

Your welcome Glad I could help you out

[Deadman]

Some one ask me recently if i was going to put a canopy on the cockpit. Personalty i think it would make it to tight and hot in the cockpit. The cockpit would all so be Huge and you might need to remove a bit of ceiling to open the canopy. Here are a few pictures off of the Net of A-10 Cockpits with the windscreen and canopy intact you be the judge.

[Hansolo]

Okay that settles that problem. Mine is definitely going to be without canopy. Otherwise I would have to remove part of the living room floor and I don't have to ask my girl friend to know the answer to that idea :lol:

 

Cheers

Hans