Generic Cockpit

[davek]

Well after spending lots of $$ on bits and pieces I started chucking some timber together and have got to this stage.

RHS will be BA609 and LHS will be ? aircraft

I didnt base it on any particular cockpit design just got different ideas from all the photos on here and the net.

I bought
Flightlink Collective and Cyclic
Goflight radio stack
Goflight Autopilot (small)

I will run it off one computer with split cable for panel monitors and an overhead projector. Will probably use FSXpand for the panel.

I have been using MDF to get an idea of designing panels and once the CNC machine arrives I can then cut them out to fill in the holes.

[Anderson/SBSP]

Very cool!! Let´s know about the updates!!!

[BlackWidow]

Very Nice. What are the seats from?

[Shawn]

Looks fantastic, please keep us updated on your progress. I thought long and hard about building a BA609 simulator, great idea building something slightly different from each seat. The boat seats work well, I put boat seats into my first simulator, they needed to be adjusted to have a slight backwards lean but after that they were quite comfortable. :D

[davek]

As Shawn says, they are boat seats. Not what I intended to use but I had put new ones in the boat and had these lying around so started off using them for measurements. They are not fixed in place as yet, but are a good fit and reasonably comfortable so I will keep them for a while. Living remote, it is difficult to get parts, such as seats.

In front of the radio stack is a check list from a 717 that I bought from ebay for $15. Although its a 28v system, it still lights up reasonably well with 12v.

Best thing about a generic cockpit, rather than a specific aircraft is that I cant make a mistake with the layout of where things go or how they look!

[Ronson2k9]

In the end it's like your own apartment. It's where you live.. Well if you didn't need food and sleep and other silly stuff. hehe. What makes you happy is where it's at. There really isn't a wrong way.

Quite an ingenious build I'd have to say. A tilt rotor and other aircraft. If I may suggest you could build a similar type... for the other side.

Dash 8
Saab 340

Or other similar twin turbo commuter aircraft. That way you have the same instruments and controls nearly but they are still very different aircraft.

Good luck and continued success. I'll be watching this build it's going to be quite interesting I'm sure.

[davek]

Well I had a huge blast in the intial build and between work and holidays I havent been near the sim for months.
But

Got a bit frustrated with not having a sim flight for a while so took the notebook into the sim and hooked it all up. Spent a couple of hours crashing (my version of flying) and between that and with visiting FS Weekend and all the flying I have been doing international and national, it has given me a boost into the shed again to start building again.

Spent the last two days working on the sim, had some false starts with trying to build a flaps lever and throttle quad. Had a win with the flaps and decided to build the TQ once I get the CNC up and running.

Monday I am ordering two computers to run it. One will be the all powerful main and a secondary for the instruments. The computer shop I am ordering it from is a games geeks place and they specialise in game machines.

No pictures at the moment. Stuff I have done over the past two days is mainly cosmetic painting etc. Once its looking a bit better I will take some.

I cant believe its Sunday and I have to go to work. The only plus on that is I might be tasked on a Helicopter case and get to do some real (in the back) flying.

[davek]

Thought i would share a couple of pics with you guys of the flight I did this morning.

Bell 412 VH-EMZ

My Driver
http://www.polyboatowners.com/dave/pic1.jpg
He hates it when I get out and say "thanks Driver" :twisted:

Me and the Rescue Crewie Tyson
http://www.polyboatowners.com/dave/pic2.jpg

It was a beautiful day when we left and this was brewing from the south east.
http://www.polyboatowners.com/dave/pic3.jpg

One of the many Islands that we fly over.
http://www.polyboatowners.com/dave/pic4.jpg
A lot of the islands are so small the runway cuts them in two halves. A Caravan can land with little problem, but they give the breaks a workout at times.

[MudPuppy]

Great looking pics; I'm not sure what you do but that looks like it would have certainly been a good day at work, whether it was Monday or not. :lol:
Derek

[BlackWidow]

WOW that is cool. I would like to see some more pics of that stuff. Thanks for sharing.

[davek]

Finally got some progress happening

http://www.polyboatowners.com/dave/dec09-06-web.jpg

the glare shield has a layer of sponge before the vinyl goes on.
Painted the Main Panel.
Fitted the GPS Panel for size and switch location.
Built and fitted the Gear Level
Built and fitted the flaps lever
The cyclic is out of place, forgot to move it before taking the pic.:???:

I am waiting for some parts for the CNC so I can make the panels. I have made some templates from MDF which I found is a good idea to give perspective to the size of switch clearance and location. Once the CNC is up and running I can sort out the spacing of the panels and get them done.

http://www.polyboatowners.com/dave/dec09-05-web.jpg

This photo shows the drawer for the keyboard and mouse. It pulls out enough for the keyboard to be used and keeps it out of site at other times.

Still a fair way to go but I am getting some progress happening.. :lol:

[twisted8]

Excellent work! looks great so far!

[BlackWidow]

Great work.. I have got to tell you that everytime i look at the work you have been doing it is real inspiring. Thanks

[No Longer Active]

I really like the bezels around the screen, did you make these yourself?

They are cool lcd monitors you have, top stuff!

[davek]

MIke. its a good thing you cant see it up close and personal.. its a bit rough in real life.. the benefit of charcoal grey paint! :wink:

Alex, the main board is 3mm MDF and the bezels are some architrave type moldings cut, glued and then filled and sanded. Worked out ok but like anything, once finished, you see something else which you like better.

Last night I fitted some lights under the glare shield, there is high glow and low glow for night work depending on if flying or on the ground. One thing I did forget to order were red LED's which would have been better for flying at night.

I also fitted the main cockpit light and the check list switch box. I moved the radio panel back and fitted it in front of there as when the collective is raised I cant see the radio panel properly.

[BlackWidow]

If i ever get to Australia I would love to see it in Person. I think its awesome.

[davek]

Plugs in Test

Have been doing some wiring today and decided it was time to do a Plugs In test.

http://www.polyboatowners.com/2010/images/dec09-plugs-in.jpg

[davek]

I have invested the last day and a half in building the OVH panel in MDF. My initial attempt raised my awareness of where things go and how much area around a switch is required, esp for wiring and backlighting requirements.

Its pretty much the final layout. I will install this once I take it down and give it a coat of paint, and then use this for flying until I have the CNC up and running and can cut proper panels with labels and backlighting. I am thinking this is going to take some time due to my complete lack of knowledge in all things CNC and the learning curve I am going to go through.

As I make each Panel, I can then just replace it into the OVH and wire up... well thats the plan for now

Also made and finished painting some home made knobs for the flaps and Gear levers.. painted in a blue I found in the shed for something different to charcoal.

[davek]

I spent pretty much all day building a TQ as a practice run.
The body was pretty easy with the CNC but I got stuck on what type of handles and how to attach them.
In the end they ended up too big but it was late when I closed up the shed.

Building this has certainly given me greater respect for those that are building quality units such as Gywn.

Each time I put it together, I realised there was something I have not put in place, put it in the wrong place or forgotten.

The text is not correct as i am still waiting for the right size CNC bits. I just used a v bit to a depth of 1mm as an idea how it would fit and work.

[BlackWidow]

Once again davek you are an inspiration.

[davek]

Made the roof lights today.

The one that is not illuminated is for the low glow so only two lights will illuminate.
When I turn on the main, 6 lights will illuminate.
I have placed them in the roof just behind my head and there is another light at the top of the OVH.

Good job I have no life and no wife...

[Westozy]

Nice tidy work Dave and great pics!

Cheers, Gwyn

[davek]

Finally got some more work done

I have decided to use the FS GPS with the panel layout. I have made the button panel for the MIP and will have a GPS on the main screen with no border showing. 374337443745

[Anderson/SBSP]

Very cool!! Great job!!

[Tony Hill]

Looking good. I look forward to watching your progress. "Generic" is a fantastic idea for a sim IMHO. Much more useful than us "specific" guys. Keep up the great work mate!

[davek]

Thanks Tony, yes i do drool over some of the pits on here, but i just cant decide which aircraft to concentrate on flying and it depends on mood so the generic is good for me.
I have been flying the 609 alot. its not very system heavy, which i dont mind, and its a pig to fly. the flight model is not the best and i nearly gave it away after the first couple of hours. now however, its getting easier, and the challenge is good to fly it successfully and smoothly considering the flight modeling, so i am sticking with it. still trying to decide on a final TQ setup. Either the collective type control or go for a more traditional TQ design so that i can also fly from the LHS. At present I fly RHS due to the collective setup.