pitbldr Posted December 8, 2010 Author Posted December 8, 2010 First draft of my left console assembly. I've already built the frame that will support the panels (modeled in black) and I'll be cutting out the ribs later today from 1/2" plywood. I have not decided yet if I'll used plywood or aluminum to "skin" the sides. I'm sure aluminum will look better with paint, I'll just have to see what the cost will be for several large sheets. I've also left space for what I hope one day will be a Warthog. That will undoubtedly alter the design in a few areas. Once I've built this, I'll begin working on the front portion of the console that angles up.
Sharkster64 Posted December 8, 2010 Posted December 8, 2010 Wow, This is looking like a superb build. I wish I had this kind of talent. Good luck with the build. :thumbup: [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Call Sign: Warhammer
pitbldr Posted December 8, 2010 Author Posted December 8, 2010 Wow, This is looking like a superb build. I wish I had this kind of talent. Good luck with the build. :thumbup: LOL - it's not as much talent as it is trial and error! :D Thanks!
rocketeer Posted December 8, 2010 Posted December 8, 2010 Wow, looks really great! so much better than my quick and dirty setup. The height of the panels looks a bit high though, but without scale comparison to other objects it's hard to tell if I'm wrong. I find the comfortable height for me is at or below or your seat. Anything higher you'd be raising your hand all the time which will not be comfortable. My A10C cockpit thread
pitbldr Posted December 9, 2010 Author Posted December 9, 2010 Thanks! :) It's actually only 12" high at it's highest point. Since I don't know yet what type of seat I'll be using, I opted to make it lower since I can always add a base for it to raise it up if needed.
Feed Posted December 9, 2010 Posted December 9, 2010 That's what I did, too - boxes are just 6" deep, and sitting on a PVC frame - height adjustments are relatively cheap and easy. Of course, most of it has been lucky circumstance as opposed to intelligent planning. :music_whistling:
pitbldr Posted December 11, 2010 Author Posted December 11, 2010 Here it is "in the flesh"! I think I'll be tweaking a few things, but it's gonna get the job done. Even my wife thought it was cool! :D Obviously the panels and plates are not painted or engraved yet. 1
Pogo Posted December 11, 2010 Posted December 11, 2010 Very nicely done! Cheers, Pogo Intel I7 920 Std Clock - 6GB DDR3 RAM - 2 x GTX260 SLI - 10K 130GB Velociraptor Drive - Vista 64Bit - Saitek X52 Pro Hotas - Saitek Pro Rudder Pedals - TrackIR 5
Triggerhappy69 Posted December 11, 2010 Posted December 11, 2010 Here it is "in the flesh"! I think I'll be tweaking a few things, but it's gonna get the job done. Even my wife thought it was cool! :D Obviously the panels and plates are not painted or engraved yet. No wonder she think it's cool..? Because IT IS COOL..!:thumbup: I like the way you've managed to combine the structural strength and "workability" of wood with the visual correctness and simplicity of aluminum plates for the panels mounting.. Actually I like it so much I am planning on steeling this way to do it, if you don't mind? Keep us updated with LOTS of pics mate.. I'm allready looking forwards to the next ones.. "But (504)Brewber said they were'nt friendly.. So I took'em out.!" [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]
Kuky Posted December 11, 2010 Posted December 11, 2010 One word ... outstanding !!! :thumbup: PC specs: Windows 11 Home | Asus TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D + LC 360 AIO | MSI RTX 5090 LC 360 AIO | 55" Samsung Odyssey Gen 2 | 64GB PC5-48000 DDR5 | 1TB M2 SSD for OS | 2TB M2 SSD for DCS | NZXT C1000 Gold ATX 3.1 1000W | TM Cougar Throttle, Floor Mounted MongoosT-50 Grip on TM Cougar board, MFG Crosswind, Track IR
pitbldr Posted December 11, 2010 Author Posted December 11, 2010 Thanks guys!! :D Trigger - take whatever you need!
CAT_101st Posted December 12, 2010 Posted December 12, 2010 nice work. Wish I wase able to do that level of work. Home built PC Win 10 Pro 64bit, MB ASUS Z170 WS, 6700K, EVGA 1080Ti Hybrid, 32GB DDR4 3200, Thermaltake 120x360 RAD, Custom built A-10C sim pit, TM WARTHOG HOTAS, Cougar MFD's, 3D printed UFC and Saitek rudders. HTC VIVE VR. https://digitalcombatmercenaries.enjin.com/
pitbldr Posted December 13, 2010 Author Posted December 13, 2010 Thanks! :) I think anyone can do this.... if I can, anyone can! Just got to be willing to waste some material, start over... twice, borrow ideas from others more skilled :music_whistling: and sit staring at things that did not work until another idea pops into your head! :D
Avilator Posted December 13, 2010 Posted December 13, 2010 Sounds like engineering school!:D I only respond to that little mechanical voice that says "Terrain! Terrain! Pull Up! Pull Up!" Who can say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow. -Robert Goddard "A hybrid. A car for enthusiasts of armpit hair and brown rice." -Jeremy Clarkson "I swear by my pretty floral bonet, I will end you." -Mal from Firefly
pitbldr Posted March 10, 2011 Author Posted March 10, 2011 Little update on my pit. Left console about 95% there, not including the wiring/electronics - that will come when all the panels are finished and the switches are in place. Couple panels need to be redone due to painting issues and still need another VHF panel, but everything else is good to go. As you can see, I've mounted my throttle in the console. To do this, I removed the bottom plates and side plates - it's light as a feather now! It was worth it though to have it integrated into the console. Still need to paint the aluminum frame and skin the console - again after everything is wired up. I've also included a shot of the inner right console and yes I know that the WP button on the CDU is turned. :) I taped the back to keep the buttons in place and noticed afterward I had put it in wrong. Lastly, you'll notice that some of the panels with readouts like the UHF don't have holes cut for those yet. I decided to wait until I know what I will do there before I cut out the spot for any display. 1
Blaze Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 Wow, that's awesome! :clap_2: i7 7700K | 32GB RAM | GTX 1080Ti | Rift CV1 | TM Warthog | Win 10 "There will always be people with a false sense of entitlement. You can want it, you can ask for it, but you don't automatically deserve it. "
HitchHikingFlatlander Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 I think I need a new pair of pants! Damn fine work there! Thanks! I think anyone can do this.... if I can, anyone can! Just got to be willing to waste some material, start over... twice, borrow ideas from others more skilled and sit staring at things that did not work until another idea pops into your head! LOL we already do this and still bang our heads against the wall! http://dcs-mercenaries.com/ USA Squad
Gadroc Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 Very nice! Can't wait to get a few more things done so I can go back to working on some more of mine.
Feed Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 Oooooohhhh ..... AAahahhhahhhhhhh .... WOW, that is awesome. I was wondering how much longer it would be before we started seeing full panels come together. How much longer before some in-flight vids? ;)
pitbldr Posted March 11, 2011 Author Posted March 11, 2011 Thanks all! :D I know what you mean Gadroc, I had a week where I had no time to work on the pit. RL has tendency of getting in the way. I'm guessing that I am still a few months out before I can interface it with the sim, but would love to do a vid when I reach that point. :)
pitbldr Posted March 31, 2011 Author Posted March 31, 2011 (edited) Where does the time go!?! Work has been keeping me busy and slowed me down on the pit project. :( However, I have completed (hopefully :D) my UFC design. If all goes well, I hope to fabricate and assemble all the parts in the next week or so. I'll use standoffs to hold the backplate at the correct distance so all the UFC buttons to rest on top of the pushbutton switches. If there's any problem with that design, I'll just drill a shallow recess into the bottom of each button so that it rests on the switch actuator. I hope to use an illuminate pushbutton behind the master caution button so that I can back light that. Backlighting the rest of the buttons and the panel will be possible, but probably not done this time around. Edited March 31, 2011 by pitbldr
Tnt Snipes Posted March 31, 2011 Posted March 31, 2011 Little update on my pit. Left console about 95% there, not including the wiring/electronics - that will come when all the panels are finished and the switches are in place. Couple panels need to be redone due to painting issues and still need another VHF panel, but everything else is good to go. As you can see, I've mounted my throttle in the console. To do this, I removed the bottom plates and side plates - it's light as a feather now! It was worth it though to have it integrated into the console. Still need to paint the aluminum frame and skin the console - again after everything is wired up. I've also included a shot of the inner right console and yes I know that the WP button on the CDU is turned. :) I taped the back to keep the buttons in place and noticed afterward I had put it in wrong. Lastly, you'll notice that some of the panels with readouts like the UHF don't have holes cut for those yet. I decided to wait until I know what I will do there before I cut out the spot for any display. Yummmmmy... [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]
pitbldr Posted April 4, 2011 Author Posted April 4, 2011 UFC Ok, I was going to wait until I had this all painted and engraved, but then thought that some might like to see it in this state, so here's a couple pics. Plus I am pretty excited about it!! I've already had it connected to the sim and it worked great! My wife was even impressed! Everyday she get's a little better picture of what exactly I am doing. :D All the buttons are free floating, they are just resting on top of the push buttons. Even the rockers are this way and after a good 30 minutes of testing, none of the rockers actuated both buttons at the same time. I thought at first I may need to add a part so that the rocker would have something to pivot, but it's looking like I won't need that. The USB cable connects through the right side into Leo's board
Recommended Posts