The other BaDCrC cockpit

[BaD CrC]

For some of you guys being on this forum for some time now, you probably have come across my Ka50 pit building thread (in my sig).

Now the problem I had with this pit is that it is not easily transportable to LANs, and it can be used only with Ka50 module.

 

So I decided to build a generic one about one year ago using Helios and multiple 23' touchscreen monitors.

 

Bolted a playseat on a strong platform that I build from scratch using a metallic structure and some thick medium planks. Then I use some tubing I found in the plumbing section of my DIY shop and some monitors VESA holders to fix 5 ACER 23' multitouch screen monitors. Since my 7970 can only manage 4 monitors at one time, I used a Matrox Dual Head to Go DP edition to plug the 5th one.

 

The configuration running DCS is an o/c i5 950 @ 3.8Ghz with 12Go RAM in a nice custom Flight Data Recorder looking case with a watercooling system.

 

Controls are provided by a TH Warthog set, a saitek pro flight rudder pedals and a TIR 5.

 

All these components can be easily de-assembled and stored in a medium size car (Peugeot 308 for the europeans reading this) to go to LANs.

 

View of my pretty crowded office with my LAN pit in front of my Ka50 pit (see the link in my sig for more details about my Ka50 pit).

 

 

A couple of views with DCS BS running along with Helios.

 

 

The back of the pit with computer and monitor mounting. The whole platform requires only power plug and one ethernet cable to run.

 

[Cali]

Nice set up, most of us are happy with one pit and you have two! You a single guy or you have a very loving wife.

[nobrot]

I could only the imagine the faces of my mates if I were to turn up to a LAN with one of those... very cool... I like the idea of a multi-purpose pit... it makes me wonder if I could plan my build so that I could potentialy mod it for other sims, it would mean pulling side consols and front panel and replace with touchscreens, could work I rekon :), I am thinking Star Citizen!!! A10/Deep Space fighter...

[gunterlund21]

Bad how do you handle getting access to the right and left panels in your lan setup.

[cichlidfan]

Bad how do you handle getting access to the right and left panels in your lan setup.

 

Since all of the monitors are touch screens, if he can see it, he can click it. TIR pause, or at least precision mode, is most useful in those situations.

[BaD CrC]

Since all of the monitors are touch screens, if he can see it, he can click it. TIR pause, or at least precision mode, is most useful in those situations.

 

Yes, you can do that, but experience shows that it can become quite tricky to flip a switch on a touchscreen in the cockpit while flying and trying to look with TIR.

 

Instead I programmed some switch buttons with Helios (showed circled in red on the picture below) which pop up the different side panels. Once I don't need them, I can remove them to prevent side view obstruction.

 

 

Here is the right side panel shown during start up on the right touchscreen monitor.

 

 

And some of the left panels on the left touchscreen monitor. Same principle. Can remove them using small touch switches to prevent view obstruction.

 

Edited September 8, 2013 by BaD CrC

[Milli]

These are works of art.

 

Regards,

Milli

[TimeKilla]

Can you post your secondary pit for other modules?

[GregP]

WOW! Nice setup! As a multi-monitor guy myself, I love it. Although your pit takes it to another level.

 

Yes, you can do that, but experience shows that it can become quite tricky to flip a switch on a touchscreen in the cockpit while flying and trying to look with TIR.

Since all of the monitors are touch screens, if he can see it, he can click it. TIR pause, or at least precision mode, is most useful in those situations.

 

I understand your method of using Helios and then creating buttons for the side monitors, and I also see you prefer not to have to deal with TrackIR panning and touchscreens at the same time; and given the complexity of your setup, you probably thought of this but then decided against it; but at the risk of being accused of spamming the forums :) have you ever thought about using a T-shaped render area that you could then directly interact with, rather than using a static Helios image?

 

This video will give you an idea of how it looks:

 

N8DLgAd8gF4

 

And I describe how to set it up here.

 

If your main problem is TrackIR/touchscreen, have you considered assigning a HOTAS control to TrackIR Precision Mode, as cichlidfan also mentions? This would let you temporarily stabilize your view when you want to click the touchscreen.

Edited September 8, 2013 by GregP

[Flim]

So Bad, what do you like better... touch and physical?

[tacno]

Hi BadCRC,

 

I'm always impressed by your "travel" homepit. It's simple and very effective.

Everyone should have one for the holidays :D

[BaD CrC]

Can you post your secondary pit for other modules?

 

Will do. I started a A10C pit some time ago, but really I don't fly airplanes much.

[BaD CrC]

WOW! Nice setup! As a multi-monitor guy myself, I love it. Although your pit takes it to another level.

 

I understand your method of using Helios and then creating buttons for the side monitors, and I also see you prefer not to have to deal with TrackIR panning and touchscreens at the same time; and given the complexity of your setup, you probably thought of this but then decided against it; but at the risk of being accused of spamming the forums :) have you ever thought about using a T-shaped render area that you could then directly interact with, rather than using a static Helios .

 

If your main problem is TrackIR/touchscreen, have you considered assigning a HOTAS control to TrackIR Precision Mode, as cichlidfan also mentions? This would let you temporarily stabilize your view when you want to click the touchscreen.

 

With a T Shape config, you'll miss the overhead panel of the Ka-50 which the A10 doesn't have. Then, although a triple screen with a large fov reduces a lot the need for using tir, you still need a lot more tir in a chopper than in a plane which basically go forward all the time. In a chopper, you hide behind buildings, un cover flying sidewards, engage ennemy at close range with your gun at quite various angles while avoiding all the obstacles you can find in DCS when flying below 15 meters (a lot). So, even if your suggestions are good, finding a switch while looking elsewhere is critical. And irl, I suppose this is what pilots do. They don't keep their head down in the cockpit.

[BaD CrC]

So Bad, what do you like better... touch and physical?

 

Definitively physicaĺ is adding an order of magnitude in immersion than touch screen. The feeling under your fingers of the big master arm switch loudly clicking a few seconds before unleashing your firepower is something that a swipe on a flat tv screen will never render properly. :joystick:

[BaD CrC]

Hi BadCRC,

 

I'm always impressed by your "travel" homepit. It's simple and very effective.

Everyone should have one for the holidays :D

 

Salut Tacno.

You are too modest. Your pit is shaming everything I have done so far in pit building. :thumbup: