Deadman's A-10 C Cockpit Build

[Mike Powell]

Peter's right. You've got appreciative readers, Deadman.

[Deadman]

Thanks guys I will need help from both of you when it comes time for wiring and the visuals :thumbup:

[Slayer]

What I'm curious about is what you will be using for a power supply for all this? 24Volts? and how do you get all the odd cannon plugs to connect to the gauges?

[Deadman]

I have not gotten the instruments hooked up yet.I have all ways held tow options of either running the real power or converting the instruments to run off of air cores steppers or systems with Mike Powell's books. The next phase is to build the cockpit and the Main Instrument Panel. But as all way time money and real life sometime have priority.

[TomDK]

Deadman,...just to let you know:

I'm also subscribed and reading every new step you are doing with great interest! - thanks for posting this- and keep it coming!

:)

 

 

Same to me !

I am following your thread, its awsome what you are building with all the original parts. I am waiting for pics of the whole simpit :thumbup:

[Deadman]

Hum I am trying to think of what to post next I am not sure. Just got some of the cover orders sorted. Ordering is still open do to some members not purchasing the covers they said they wanted.

 

I will cast some knobs here shortly for a few member that are going to order.

 

I was looking at purchasing a CNC Router table to make exact replica panels from mine, but I think enough people are making panels now.

 

I have a reversed engineered Main Instrument panel I am still looking at caving cut then molding and casting mine from high strength reinforced resin.

 

I still need to work out the glare shield /Fire handle housing plan.

 

well off to bed see you guys later

[cichlidfan]

Peter's right. You've got appreciative readers, Deadman.

 

Agreed. I always keep up (or catch up), too!

[elchacal]

Great work!

[moken]

Great!

 

Could you tell me above datasheet or spec is where come from?

[Deadman]

All of the Milspec are for hours of research on the net if you mean witch sites on the net here are severial of the sites that have been listed before. http://www.everyspec.com/ http://www.tpub.com/

What are you looking for MokenI may have it.

[Deadman]

What do you guys want for parts now? Knob orders have slowed to the point where I may have time to work on something else what are you guys interested in?

[showtime817th]

What do you guys want for parts now? Knob orders have slowed to the point where I may have time to work on something else what are you guys interested in?

 

How about one of these, EKRAN SYSTEM panel???:D

 

Showtime817th.

[Deadman]

Hum that is interesting, but a bit out of my area:huh:

I guess even though my entire thread is about an A-10C cockpit build i should have specified. I am talking about just A-10 parts cast from originals or from real Mil-specs not just a SWAG:smilewink:

Edited September 12, 2012 by Deadman

[TomDK]

I would like to see "ready to connect panels". Specially the ones who are not easie to make. F. eks. a working radio.

 

Many panels are possible to make on a simple, but ugly, way. Buying some switches and a joystickcard from brydling .. here we go. Other panels are too complicated to get the parts from electronic stores. here it would be great to get them from a pro likeyou. I think ist also easier doing for you to buy material for 10 peaces and mount one after the other.

Also a payable ejection seat setz would be great. But heavy shipping costs ...

 

Let see what you are planning to do next. :thumbup:

[Deadman]

HI Tom thanks for the kind praise It is all possible to make replicas ( an exact reproduction). It comes down to selling it fully functional panels such as the An/ARC 164 or 186 radios the switches alone could be over $100.00

I don't think members will be able to afford realistic complete panels.

 

Right now I want to make a Main instrument panel and the MFCDs I am not sure if any one else is interested in these items or not, both will be fairly expensive. I am not sure how many people are making High fidelity pits.

Edited September 12, 2012 by Deadman

[grayson]

Hi Deadman,

great idea about the MIP, i for one would be very interested and consider it an essential investment, my side panels are filling up nicely thanks to Linden and yourself. My ACES II seat is 95% complete thanks to Flim and your decals, so its time i thought about the front panel( got a landing gear panel and ACHP panel fromY2kiah to start off with). I also got a UFC kit from Y2hiah but it had a mishap while being built, I sat on the front panel and broke it.... DOH. best regards mate.

 

ps: will pm my knob order tonight.

[TomDK]

IMHO it makes sense to offer full working panels.

Your example is quite cheap and fair:

 

panel, laser cut = 50 dollar

all needet working switches = ? 40 dollar ?

knobe like original = ? 30 dollar ?

 

So its quite fair ... plus your work.

 

I have a friend with a laser CNC. He made 2 panels for me. Problem is, it is much work to bring the panels in a vector layout to laser them. I payed him around 30 dollar a panel. Thats quite fair. ordering the switches, soldering everything ...

 

I checked the net for "ready to use" - parts for a homecockpit for A-10. there are no usable offers. So the market is yours :thumbup:

[Deadman]

Your pricing is a bit off for a " fully functional panels "

1 I don't have access to a laser as other panel maker have.

I made a large investment to make the knobs not even half of the people that answer the poll even ordered the knobs.

Purchase a piece of equipment for several thousands of dollars will be a problem with out a sustainable plan.

 

2 Panels would all be prices differently do to size so say $50 per panel might be an average.

 

3 You have not include the cost of back lighting the panels. I have only seen pictures of two maker's panels neither incorporated in their designs back lighting there option was to just place a sheet of EL behind the panel witch would leak light like a sieve with out the proper recessed cut in the back of the panel.

 

4 Not including the aluminum back plate they would need to be cut on a cnc router or better yet a plasma table.This is another investment of several thousand dollars.

Personally i have no faith with using any other type of backing plate for the toggle switches.

 

5 $40 for switches once again you cannot say this with any certainty witch panel are you making they all have different numbers of switches.

 

6 Read Gadroc thread on the CMSP panel run he did. The cost $225.00 and I don't think he charged for his time.

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=82399

 

The market on panels has been a funny thing. There have been several makers (Gadroc,y2kiah,linden,and pitbldr)

I don't think any has produced a complete line or all of the panels on the right and left console in the correct measurements. (please correct me if I am mistaken)

The reason i bring up the measurements is not to disparage any ones work, but to point out that if the base plate is not the correct width. There is no to little possibility to incorporate different maker's panels or real panels that one may find I.E the IFF panel or KY58 secure voice panel in to your build.With out the cockpit starting to look like Frankenstein.

 

Personally i think try to make a substructure for panels form different makers will be a pain in the ass.

 

The reason I have brought this up is there is now less of a market for me to get in to making panels.

 

Thanks but with the limited input so far if i mold a part for a friend or some one on a custom basis i may offer it to the community to reduce the over all price. You guys have no idea how many hours are put in to projects.The main factor in getting an item out there for sale is the quantity of sales reducing the price to a reasonable rate for you guys and still being able to pay off material equipment and a bit of my time. So for now I think I will stay away from panels.

 

 

 

 

IMHO it makes sense to offer full working panels.

Your example is quite cheap and fair:

 

panel, laser cut = 50 dollar

all needet working switches = ? 40 dollar ?

knobe like original = ? 30 dollar ?

 

So its quite fair ... plus your work.

 

I have a friend with a laser CNC. He made 2 panels for me. Problem is, it is much work to bring the panels in a vector layout to laser them. I payed him around 30 dollar a panel. Thats quite fair. ordering the switches, soldering everything ...

 

I checked the net for "ready to use" - parts for a homecockpit for A-10. there are no usable offers. So the market is yours :thumbup:

Edited September 13, 2012 by Deadman

[moken]

HI Tom thanks for the kind praise It is all possible to make replicas ( an exact reproduction). It comes down to selling it fully functional panels such as the An/ARC 164 or 186 radios the switches alone could be over $100.00

I don't think members will be able to afford realistic complete panels.

 

Right now I want to make a Main instrument panel and the MFCDs I am not sure if any one else is interested in these items or not, both will be fairly expensive. I am not sure how many people are making High fidelity pits.

 

I am interested original size MFCD or anythng, please count me , thank you

[y2kiah]

Hey guys I just want to throw this out there, because I haven't had a lot of time to work on my next long post, including a review of Deadman's knobs, and time is running out on those knobs.

 

These parts runs are often a one-time only offer, and there may never be another opportunity to get a full set of replica knobs ever again. Deadman's work is absolutely top notch, and I have real knobs to compare them to. I have also seen the quality of casts you can get from the "other guys" and there is no comparison. If you are building an A-10 pit, you need these knobs so get them before the offer is closed (if it hasn't already closed).

[JCook]

I agree. Deadman's A10C knobs are high quality - I am very pleased with my purchase. If he has any sets left people should grab them because this custom product offering may not come around again.

 

Deadman - here are a few ideas for future products:

 

A lighted landing gear handle.

 

ACES II ejection seat kit :-) If not the whole kit then the various knobs, levers, etc. that are part of the seat...

 

ACES II seat pan and back rest - molded plastic? Fiberglass?

Edited September 13, 2012 by JCook
More ideas

[Deadman]

y2kiah and JCook thanks for the reviews The knobs are made to order, but the equipment as the stuff to make covers takes up a bunch of room in my mess of an office.I just can't have everything around just waiting for one person to possibly order so yes knobs and covers are ending I have a few orders to get out then I am looking possibly for a new project I have not had really any feed back personally I am looking in to making a Main instrument panel that i have designed. and the Fire housing and MFCD bezels. this is a lot of work and money and will be a one time deal if i can pull it off

[Dropship Pilot]

I can only agree that the knobs have the look and feel of injection molded parts. Great job! :thumbup:

 

I'd be in for full size MFCD bezels. And some dimensions and or a cast of the landing gear handle would be great if you have an original and/or the data available. :D

 

Thanks a lot,

Stefan

[TomDK]

Hi again ...

Yes, you are right with all points you state !

Your pit is becoming a perfect copy .... that costs. I realized that this will be my second expensive hobby beside pinball machines :)

I just ordered panels from linden, than you came with a second order for knobs ... but I am sure if all is payed a long time no parts will come, but if parts will show up .. all to the same time :)

Having the parts and the real work will start .. bringing them together and connect them to the A-10. That means the knobs will be a looong time in the corner until the panels will follow.

[Deadman]

Well I try to up load some picture to Photo bucket to help me describe why I have not cast the Landing gear handle. To show the complexity of the unit and casting it correctly but I keep getting errors I have update java but still not working may be tomorrow

 

as far as any ACES II components, parts, or complete seats those would be prepaid with a minimum

amount of orders before i even start the project.

It would be pricy wood and plastic F-16 replica seats are selling for $1992 with out all of the part or the seat pan just as an example

Edited September 15, 2012 by Deadman