I'm ready to start with a budget of $5000 US

[tom11011]

After lurking forever, I feel I am ready to start building a 737NG simulator. I have a budget of $5000 to start with and will be able to make regular investments in this hobby.

Even after lurking for so long, I have to admit, there is just so much information out there. My goals are to build a really nice and authentic sim over time where no expense is spared.

So, knowing this, I wanted to get everyones opinion on where to start. What should I buy first? I'm hoping the $5000 initial investment will get me flying right away with regular smaller investments to follow but it doesn't have to be that way if something I just have to have is an extra $500 or $1000.

Today, I only own FS-X, a new projector, and a spare computer about 1 year old.

How would you do it?

Thanks!!:D

[Trevor Hale]

First off, Welcome to the hobby. and Welcome to Mycockpit.org.

5 grand is a great start.

If I were you, My suggestion... Personally would be the following.

1.(CP FLIGHT MCP and 2 efis panels) (with interface card) for switches
2. Project Magenta (gc, fmc, mcp, pmsystems,)
3. Phidgets LED64 card
4. if money left (Engravity CDU)

Best regards,

Trev

[Michael Carter]

That's a nice starting figure.

For me, I could furnish an entire 727 cockpit with that amount. Less the shell probably.

Good luck with your build and welcome to the site.

[tom11011]

Trevor, I'm thinking I may want to go with the new for 2008 B737NG PRO-M MIP/MAIN from Flight Deck Solutions.
http://www.flightdecksolutions.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3412

I think this would limit my MCP to something that is to scale. I think cpflight is 85% to scale.

When you say 2 efis panels, do you mean the 2 on the capt side as well as the center panel?

I'm not familiar with the Phidgets LED64 card, can you elaborate a little?

Should I not think about some cheaper yolks and pedals before the cdu?

Boeing Skunk works, I'm guessing for $5K you are talking about actual parts of retired 72s?

thanks guys.

[Michael Carter]

Yeah, pretty much the way it is now, and I could probably get a decent pair of Weber's included too.

[Bob Reed]

Trevor, I'm thinking I may want to go with the new for 2008 B737NG PRO-M MIP/MAIN from Flight Deck Solutions.
http://www.flightdecksolutions.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3412

I think this would limit my MCP to something that is to scale. I think cpflight is 85% to scale.

When you say 2 efis panels, do you mean the 2 on the capt side as well as the center panel?

I'm not familiar with the Phidgets LED64 card, can you elaborate a little?

Should I not think about some cheaper yolks and pedals before the cdu?

Boeing Skunk works, I'm guessing for $5K you are talking about actual parts of retired 72s?

thanks guys.

I think your thinking here is good. And yes the CPFlight MCP is 85% scale. In your initial purchase you are going to need to get a yoke and rudder pedals so put them in the list. Which ones? Well that is something you will have to decide. Will they be temporary? All things to think about....

[tom11011]

I'm thinking they will have to be temporary at first but the goal being to replace them down the road.

Bob, I'm sure you get this all the time, but where did you get your throttle quadrant and why did you choose 2 plasma screens instead of a projector?

thanks

[737NUT]

With a projector, the lights have to be off in the room so now your panels will need to be lighted to see them. Plus you need a tall ceiling and lots of throw room. With plasma's, light is not as much a problem and less space is needed for the visuals. Multiple Projector is the way to go if you have the space. They put off so much light that you probably wouldn't need to light your panels.

[dnoize]

And yes the CPFlight MCP is 85% scale. ....

not anymore:

http://www.cpflight.com/sito/news/comunicazioni.asp

http://www.flyengravity.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=500


Stef

[Tomlin]

I say at the very first you should consider getting what you absolutely need to get flying, and then go from there. If you cant fly it, then it gets old really fast to many people.

1) Project Magenta Boeing Suite (...and yes, if there was a viable competitor, then I'd go that route, but there isnt UNLESS you get with Gwyn (Westozy here) and he can show you how to use PMDG 737NG instead, but if you want full function later, bite the bullet and get PM Boeing suite)

2) The LCD monitors needed to fit the instrument panels- ask Peter Cos which ones

3) A 3rd (and cheap) PC to run additional PM Boeing software on (if required)

4) A Yoke and some pedals- you only need them for the Captain side right now-dont fool yourself into buying anything too expensive at first- just get flying. CH works great, and you can ALWAYS re-sell them, or use them for a desktop sim when you want to fly a Cessna or Baron or somthing else besides your 737! $200 tops for both of these if you look hard enough!

5) FDS SYS Interface cards- your aircraft virtually has unlimited support for interface files that can be imported in seconds and used as soon as you get everything wired up correctly. I love mine- I just had some slight issues because I built an aircraft that has little following.

6) Order your FDS parts (MCP, Main panels, etc.)

This gets you flying on your instruments and looking forward at the big view with the projector, and you have some controls to use besides a joystick. It also allows you to start understanding how to wire up switches and gives you somthing besides mouse clicking to do. Then you de-wire everything, and wire it up onto your new FDS panels. IMHO, FDS makes the best 737 panels, but there are other really good vendors out there too. However, for basic switching, you cant go wrong with the FDS SYS cards. This gives you somthing to fly (very basic) till your panels arrive.

[Geremy Britton]

always consider all options, just becuase you have the cash saved up may mean you can buy the gear but then realise there is a better one this is one of the main things you need to consider in simbuilding an i getting something that
>looks good
>does the job
>right price

a major money eater is later deciding to sell gear that you bought in a hurry in getting started then selling some at half the price because you decide to change something - this indeed has happened in this forum (not mentioning any names;)) and that is a hurdle i'm watching out for.

good luck and welcome to our world,

geremy

[Bob Reed]

always consider all options, just becuase you have the cash saved up may mean you can buy the gear but then realise there is a better one this is one of the main things you need to consider in simbuilding an i getting something that
>looks good
>does the job
>right price

a major money eater is later deciding to sell gear that you bought in a hurry in getting started then selling some at half the price because you decide to change something - this indeed has happened in this forum (not mentioning any names;)) and that is a hurdle i'm watching out for.

good luck and welcome to our world,



geremy

YES!!!! I agree with you Geremy! You need to make sure you do the research to see what will work for YOU and YOUR plans! All our recommendations mean nothing if it will not work how YOU want it to. We can point, but you need to make sure it works as YOU want it to and how YOU plan to use it! Otherwise you waste your money and you get frustrated, none of us want to see that.:D

[Bob Reed]

I'm thinking they will have to be temporary at first but the goal being to replace them down the road.

Bob, I'm sure you get this all the time, but where did you get your throttle quadrant and why did you choose 2 plasma screens instead of a projector?

thanks

Hi Tom. Yes I do get this all the time. The TQ is an early Symularity (?) Works ok. The motors are there for automation but I have not interfaced them yet. My plasmas.... I got them for working on another sim and that is why I "chose" them. My sim space is very limited in the front of the sim. 6 feet and in that is my washer and dryer. So there is no room for anything else. I do not recommend 2 screens this would be ideal for 3 but there again I would not have room for 3 monitors the size I am using (42") nor do I plan to buy a 3rd plasma screen for this use. I am working on other plans. I will say that my out the window view is VERY VERY nice only problem on approach (2 monitor issue) is the runway can be hidden behind the screens frames. This is why I do not recommend 2 monitors. But all in all this setup works pretty good.

[Trevor Hale]

Trevor, I'm thinking I may want to go with the new for 2008 B737NG PRO-M MIP/MAIN from Flight Deck Solutions.
http://www.flightdecksolutions.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3412

I think this would limit my MCP to something that is to scale. I think cpflight is 85% to scale.

When you say 2 efis panels, do you mean the 2 on the capt side as well as the center panel?

I'm not familiar with the Phidgets LED64 card, can you elaborate a little?

Should I not think about some cheaper yolks and pedals before the cdu?

Boeing Skunk works, I'm guessing for $5K you are talking about actual parts of retired 72s?

thanks guys.

The New CP Flight MCP is 100% scale, and the EFIS panels go on either side of the MCP, to control the ND (range, and mode)

The Led64 card allows 64 led's and is easily programmed to connect directly to PMsystems, no other software required. (sweet unit) You will need an interface, so if you go an buy the FDS one, make sure you have some other aux switch inputes to that unit.

Either way, everyone has their own opinion. Good luck and enjoy the hobby.

Trev