How to build a home Simulator

[Pepper2012]

Hi, I am an 18 year old student pilot and I am new to this forum. I have in the past used the mouse and keyboard as my controls for the aircraft systems. However, I wish to go further and create a full blown cockpit replica of the DCS A10c Warthog. I wish to use 3 monitors as a panoramic view of the horizon and one large screen to display the intrumentation (using the Helios software). I am not sure whether this is possible. I need a new PC and was not sure of the best type of computer and graphics cards to support these screens. Also, I am looking to buy the new Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog Joystick and to custom made panels with toggle switches connected via a USB interface to the main PC. (Which I understand can be mapped much like a joystick in the DCS A10C game). I am not sure how many USB connections the A10C game can support, nor whether this is the best Joystick to use. I am also looking at purchasing the Thrustmaster MFD Cougar Pack and placing them on top of an LCD screen, then Exporting the MFD's in the game to these screens. This is currently the plan for my Sim, If you guys have any advice or suggestions on what the best approach is, would be greatly appreciated.

 

Regards, Pepper2012

[Depth]

Welcome :)

 

Building a real size replica is a gigantic undertaking and the price tag is going to be pretty stiff for what you're describing. For 4 monitors you're looking at two graphics cards.

 

The thing you should ask yourself is if your interest in DCS in the long run is worth the cost. Don't get me wrong, this is a fantastic sim with a great community but I can't count how many times I've thrown away money by completely swapping my interests around.

[Rusty_M]

That's a big step up from Mouse & Keyboard.

 

good luck

[TomDK]

That makes life so beautifull :)

 

I am 44 years of age, played american football, played squash, started with sims ... put them back in the corner due keyboard flying was to complicated and I didnt get the "long breath" for this hobby. I drove RC cars, flew RC helicopters , swapped to restore and collect pinballmachines and found back to sims.

So A-10 was what I have been looking for: It trains the brain, you need time and a homecockpit is nice and fun to build.

 

If you want to become flexible you should think about glass cockpit with helios. If you like to learn one aircraft really to know ... build a real pit.

 

I qould like to get the same what you are planning. So far I started step by step with:

 

- a new pc only for A-10 with 16 GB RAM and eyefinity6 gpu

- TrackIR

- TM HOTAS Warthog

- a 27" monitor as mainscreen

- a 24" touchscreen running helios

- a cockpit build with plans from the forum (reactorone I think)

- a arcadeseat

- flight pedals

- monitor arms for 3 main screen

- a el panel lasered, a fuel panel lasered

- a usb card for connecting 256 buttons and some axis

 

On monday arrives from the US:

 

- a oxygen panel, original

- a tactile feedback seat :music_whistling:

 

 

So next will be the 2 more 27" screens.

 

My plan is also to get the simpit little flexible to play also a carsimulator while adding a steeringwheel construction.

 

 

So good luck with your project ... here is mine:

 

 

http://bilder.einzelart.de/thumbnails.php?album=74

[G00dnight]

TomDK,,

Dont you think an Arcade Seat is a little bit over the top. The rest seems reasonable though..

[cichlidfan]

TomDK,,

Dont you think an Arcade Seat is a little bit over the top. The rest seems reasonable though..

 

You haven't looked at the home pit threads much, have you?;)

[jp203000]

As long as you have enough money,you can even buy a real A10C ,let alone a home cockpit. A decent cockpit will cost several thousand dollars .I can't afford it .hahaha ...

Edited March 31, 2012 by jp203000

[Demongornot]

We can create a lot of various SimPit.

For example me, i use the simplest possible, i have the Hotas Warthog, the Stick between my legs and the throttle on my left put on the original box (perfect height) and a Saitek Pro Flight Rudder that i have attach 2 cable, when i want fly i use the cable and catch in into the wheels of my chair and i use a box on my right where i put my mouse, and i play with Track IR, i can't play with Eyefinity cause DCS suck every little poor FPS of possible under the fact that its not optimized (and ugly) and the worst he can't take Crossfire/SLI, for me that look like a bad joke, ugly graphic and low FPS with the best computer config today and impossible to compensate in by taking dual GPU (like the fact that DCS is based on the CPU power and it can't using multithread, perfect stupidest couple ever, another STUPID thing who proof that its extremely unoptimized at a freaking level)

Good luck for multimonitor...

 

Anyways other possibility will be to create an identical solution (Hotas Warthog + rudder + mouse) and will using screen glasses, actually the resolution of the screen glasses are really low sadly but that have the advantage of the 3D and that save a lot of power due to low resolution and unlike Track IR the head movement are at 1:1 scale, and you can do better and use a glove with an IR system and 2 buttons with a software for simulate a mouse directly dependent of where you looking, that want mean that you have the more realistic head movement ever with best immersion possibility and possibility to directly click into the cockpit without mouse.

For a nice immersion its the priceless solution, you just need good screen glasses (300$, 500$ for a nice model) who can integrate nice head movement sensor, or create your own by using a screen like a little 10" screen on your head with mirror system for see it with both eyes and try to get better resolution than google on the market and for hand cockpit clicking possibility i thing the best solution will be with a Wii remote and several IR camera like Free Track camera.

 

Other solution will be a semi cockpit, Hotas Warthog, Rudder and several keyboard.

 

After you have another solution but the cost begging to be high and the immersion are not perfect, you can directly using several touch screen all around you and simulate front panel (wit a giant or several front of you) left and right console (with 4 touch screen) and a main screen front of you.

 

After that we have a more advanced sim that will begin to be harder and longest to create and big cost, you can create a full cockpit without gauge, every button and cockpit side reproduced and you use a lot of screen for show gauge, for example a big on the front right who will show right MFCD and engine gauge and a lot of other for every screen + main screen.

 

After we have one of the best SimPit possibility : create a full cockpit with every working gauge but its the more complex and harder and the solution who cost the more and finally you will using it with a single screen front of you (i think its completely useless)

 

And the best solution for a little more cost will be the same cockpit but with a giant flexible screen (or two/three of them, depending of the size) who completely recover the canopy at 100%, you just have to put a system in your helmet (cause with a 100% replica cockpit you must using a real suit and helmet :D ) who will detect your head position and move where the screen show the image (sadly with the unoptimised graphic engine of every simulator its the only way, a 360° display will kill a NASA's computer...)

 

And if you have more budget you can do the last final immersion thing to this cockpit : using a platform who moving by hydraulic or electric system, put your cockpit on it for simulate basic movement effect and vibration, using a voice reconnaissance system for say : F1, F2, F3 etc for radio com, use a system who make feel realistic for respiration with oxygen in the mask, and a belt who will tighten you when you take G, put nice speakers all around your cockpit and another in your helmet for the radio and aircraft system.

 

And if after that (the best ever) you want more, you have a last solution : 3D view !

You have an helmet, flexible screen with polarization i don't think that exist, but flexible screen with 120hz or more that exist, you can using two LCD screen filter in your helmet synchronized with your screen and have a nice 3D view in your perfect cockpit !

 

But that will cost more than a real aircraft (like the beautiful Piper J3 Cub)

 

I think its all different level of cockpit realism/complexity possible.

Except maybe if you have billions of dollar and you want pay for holographic display, supercomputer dedicated to this simulator and artificial G effect technology :D

[TomDK]

The arcade seat was the cheapest solution, got it new for 50 bucks from ebay. The wooden M.Baker seat is a great solution but I am not good in wood handcrafting. So this racing seat is fine for me.

 

Money ... yes ... there are many many people out flying with mouse and keyboard much much better than me. But for me is building the pit also kind of fun. The basic is a usable powered computer, all the rest will show up depending on money for the hobby and time. As you can see, I am also not Richy Rich ... buying every month a part. Step by step .....

 

Good luck with yours !

[Deadman]

Well you have made the first step and decided that you want a cockpit replica of the DCS A10c Warthog. with the key word being replica [ˈrɛplɪkə]n an exact copy or reproduction.

 

I would suggest first you get Mikes books here http://www.mikesflightdeck.com/

 

Then start doing your home work on parts.

Check all of the build threads under Home cockpits http://forums.eagle.ru/forumdisplay.php?f=101

 

The Mil spec have been posted by Mike on his site i think or there is a link there and here for some instruments.

In my build thread there is an extensive list of switches listing the part number.

Now just figure how much you want to spend and through that number out the window :thumbup:

It is a long term process Welcome

[metalnwood]

We can create a lot of various SimPit.

For example me, i use the simplest possible, i have the Hotas Warthog, the Stick between my legs and the throttle

 

You use the stick between your legs as well as the hotas warthog. Sounds like a fun sim!

[Pepper2012]

Home simulator

 

Thanks heaps guys, your information has been invaluable to my cockpit build. I have gone off and bought the thrustmaster HOTAS and am currently using the helios software to design panels.

 

Cheers, Pepper2012:)